Fire Alarm Systems

DEFINITION:

Fire Alarm Systems – Means of warning communication in the event of fire in buildings.

British & International Standards include (but are not limited to) the following:

BS 5839-6:2013 – Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings. Code of practice for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises. This standard gives recommendations for the planning, design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises that are; designed to accommodate a single family, houses in multiple occupation that comprise a number of self-contained units, each designed to accommodate a single family & sheltered housing, including both the dwelling units and the common areas.

BS 5839-8:2013 – Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings. Code of practice for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of voice alarm systems. This standard gives recommendations for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of voice alarm systems which automatically broadcast speech or warning tones, in response to signals from their associated fire detection and fire alarm systems. It also covers systems that include a manual facility for the transmission of live voice messages as well as automatically generated messages for emergency purposes.

BS 5839-1:2013 – Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings. Code of practice for design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of systems in non-domestic premises. This standard provides recommendations for the planning, design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in and around non-domestic buildings. It does not recommend whether or not a fire detection and fire alarm system should be installed in any given premises.

BS 5839-9:2011 – Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings. Code of practice for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of emergency voice communication systems. This standard provides recommendations for the design, installation and maintenance of emergency voice communication (EVC) systems as part of a fire safety strategy. This national standard applies to the use of EVC during an emergency fire situation at buildings, including sports stadiums, entertainment and other public venues. BS 5839-9 2011 emphasises correct use of an EVC in broadcasting evacuation messages and not in raising the fire alarm.

BS 5839-3:1988 – Fire detection and alarm systems for buildings. Specification for automatic release mechanisms for certain fire protection equipment.