System Design
Before starting, At Unite Security & Electrical, will need to ensure that certain information is available. This may be given in the specification or it may have to be obtained by consultation. As well as the purchaser, there may be a requirement to consult with other interested parties.
Key Points to Consider
- The type of system required i.e. L1, L2, L3 etc and where appropriate, parts of the premises to be covered.
- The action to be taken in the event of fire
- Whether other occupants of a multi occupancy building will be affected
- Whether other work is to be done at the same time. If so then consultation with other contractors may be required.
- A Method of calling the Fire Brigade
- Whether the type of occupants or activity in the building will require a greater provision of Manual Call Points than normal
- A likely attendance time of the Fire Brigade
Inspection and Servicing
This information is provided for the general guidance of fire detection and fire alarm system users. As it is a summary, it omits much of the information included in BS5839 part 1. It is therefore not intended to be a replacement for the detailed recommendations included within British Standard.
Routine testing by the user
It is vital for a regular test to be undertaken to ensure that there has not been a major failure of the entire fire detection and fire alarm system that may otherwise go unnoticed.
Weekly tests
- Test a manual call point during working hours to cheek that the control panel and alarm sounders operate satisfactorily
- Each week, a different manual call point should be tested
- Voice alarm systems should be tested weekly in accordance with BS5839 Part 8. If the system is connected to an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) for calling the fire brigade, it is very important that the ARC is notified before testing commences and when it is complete
Monthly tests
- Any automatically started generator used for the fire detection and fire alarm system should be tested
- Any vented batteries used as a standby power supply for the fire detection and fire alarm system inspected
Inspection and Servicing by a competent person
At Unite Secuirty, we can take over the complete Inspection and services for you, as our engineers are fully trained to complete the following Tasks noted below.
Periodic inspection and testing
- The period between visits to undertake inspection and service should he based upon a risk assessment but the maximum period between visits should not exceed six months.
- The log book should be inspected
- A visual inspection should be made to check whether structural or occupancy changes have been made that require changes to the fire detection and fire alarm system.
- False alarm records should be checked and relevant action taken if necessary
- Batteries should be checked and tested
- Control panel functions should be checked and tested
- Fire alarm devices should be tested
- Facilities for automatic transmission of alarm signals to an alarm receiving centre (ARC) should be checked after advising the ARC of the proposed actions
- All fault indicators and circuits should be tested and checked
- Printers should be tested
- Other checks and tests recommended by the manufacturer should be carried out
- Outstanding defects should be reported and the logbook completed and servicing certificate issued.
- The recommended period between successive inspection and servicing visits should not exceed six months.
Quarterly inspection of vented batteries
- Vented batteries should be examined by a person with relevant competence and should be topped up if necessary
Inspection and test of a system over a 12 month period
- The switch mechanism of every manual call point should be tested
- Every automatic fire detector should be examined and functionally tested. This includes, but is not limited to; smoke detectors, resettable heat detectors, optical beam smoke detectors, aspirating fire detection systems, carbon monoxide fire detectors and flame detectors
- All fire alarm devices (both visual and audible) should be tested
- Certain filament lamps should be replaced
- Radio fire detection and fire alarm system signal strengths should be checked
- Visual inspection of readily accessible cable fixings should be undertaken
- The cause and effect programme should be checked
- The standby power supply capacity should be checked
- Other annual checks and tests recommended by the system component manufacturers should be undertaken
- Outstanding defects should be reported and the servicing certificate issued.
- As this is labour-intensive servicing, it is recommended that the work can be spread over two or more service visits during each twelve-month period