A Beginner’s Guide to Fire Protection System

A fire alarm system has many components. Some are misunderstood, while others are widely known and installed in many buildings. This beginner’s guide to fire protection systems will help you understand the components and what they do. Learn about Smoke detectors, Pull stations, and strobes, the “sight” aspects of the fire protection system.

Standpipes are a misunderstood aspect of firefighting.

Standpipes are common firefighting tools used to provide extinguishment for a fire. NFPA 14 provides design standards for standpipes. It includes information relevant to end-users, such as pressures and distances traveled. It is helpful to understand what a standpipe system is and how to use it properly.

In the case of a fire, a standpipe is permanently installed. The standpipe intake is typically near a driveway or road so that water from a fire engine can enter. It extends through a building and has an outlet between floors. In high-rise buildings, standpipes are often installed between floors. Dry standpipes do not receive water until they are needed. Firefighters attach hoses to these outlets. If you require assistance installing these systems, you may reach out to some fire suppression company NYC.

Pull stations are a component of a fire alarm system.

A pull station is a fire alarm system component that allows an individual to activate a fire alarm manually. Pull stations are addressable or non-addressable and come in single-action and dual-action varieties. Single-action pull stations require a single action to activate the system. In contrast, dual-action models require two activation actions: breaking the glass on the pull station handle and opening the box. A child or practical joker can easily access single-action pull stations. A dual-action pull station can deter the practice of this activity.

In the early days of fire alarm systems, pull stations controlled the entire system. Coded pull stations were more significant than the pull stations we use today. They were equipped with a code wheel and gear mechanism that wound up when the handle was pulled. As the handle was pulled, the gears rotated a small wheel with teeth pushed up by a contact. The contacts then pulsed a code to a series of bells located throughout the building. Security personnel was able to identify the origin of the alarm by the code pulsed from the pull stations.

Smoke detectors detect fires before they start.

Smoke detectors can be connected by wiring or wirelessly. The former will sound an alarm as soon as one detector detects smoke, while the latter will be delayed. This makes them a good choice for buildings in which the likelihood of occupant alertness is increased. While wired interconnection is more convenient for new construction, wireless smoke detectors can be great for older buildings. Both types of sensors work to protect you from fires, but photoelectric detectors are more effective in detecting slow-burning fires.

The sensitivity of smoke detectors varies depending on the manufacturer. In general, manufacturers specify sensitivity in terms of obscuration, which is the effect of smoke on light intensity. The higher the obscuration level, the more sensitive the detector is. Another type of alarm is tactile stimulation, which has no standard. However, it is an essential feature in high-risk areas. These are ideal for large public and commercial spaces and can protect your building.

Strobes are the “sight” facet of a fire alarm system

The fire alarm system is an effective way to detect smoke, fire, and other conditions in a building. These systems shut down air handling fans and other electrical equipment. They also activate preaction sprinkler systems and gaseous fire extinguishers to help extinguish the fire. In addition, strobes are the “sight” facet of the fire alarm system.

Manual fire detection is the oldest method of detection. A person can yell if there is a fire, but their voice may not travel throughout the building. Manual alarm stations are often placed near large rooms, but their voice may not be transmitted throughout the building. This method is not always effective because emergency responders may not know where to look for the fire. Therefore, a fire alarm system with manual alarm stations is an excellent solution.

Manual override features of a fire alarm system

When you install a fire alarm system, you’ll need to determine the type of device. Some systems are designed to operate automatically. Others require a human to press a button to turn them on or off manually. In this case, manual override features may be necessary to ensure that a fire alarm goes off in a specific location. 

Occasionally, a fire alarm system will go into a Trouble State when there’s a malfunction. The system will display the trouble zone and sound a buzzer to alert maintenance personnel if this happens. These alerts are typically quieter than the actual alarm signal. Nevertheless, they’re still loud enough to be disruptive. You don’t want to be confused between these alerts during a fire.

Other components of a fire alarm system

Fire alarm systems must be coupled with alarms to send a signal to a monitoring station or directly to the fire department. While fire alarms are directed to the fire department in some locations, most locations don’t. Regardless of which type you choose, it is essential to know what each one does. 

The control panel monitors and controls the other components of the system. A control panel can have three states of operation: normal, supervisory, and trouble. The fire alarm control unit will initiate evacuation when the latter state is reached. The monitoring station will then signal the fire alarm panel to initiate a response. Once the fire department arrives on site, the occupants will be alerted by sirens and an alarm tone.