Basic Fire Alarm Guide

This guide is designed for general notes to aid a first fix and is not intended for design or commissioning.
If you have any doubts during the installation, contact an approved fire alarm company for advice.
Segregation
Although the cable is rated at 500 volts, fire alarm systems use extra low voltage (24 volts). Care must be taken
to ensure the maximum distance between the alarm and mains cables. If the cables are installed parallel in close
proximity for only a small distance, the alarm will have induced voltage that will cause numerous problems.
Earth (CPC) Conductor
The earth (CPC) conductor on fire alarm systems is not an earth cable. This conductor is used for circuit
monitoring and screening. This conductor must NOT be terminated to any possible earth source,
i.e. a bonding screw within metal Patrice or conduit back box.
Mains Power Supply
The supply should be on a dedicated circuit not going through a RCD. All isolation that feed the last distribution
board should be labelled to indicate isolation will power down the fire alarm. Ideally, a two gang grid switch
containing a double pole (fish tail) key-switch and a fuse holder should be installed for local isolation beside the
panel. Although in practice, a non-switched fuse spur is commonly installed.
Fire Alarm Configuration: Conventional:Sounders & Strobe Sounders:
Independent circuit from the panel which terminates in and out of each sounder, until the last sounder is reached
which uses an End Of Line device (a resistor or small circuit board). The panel monitors the EOL device to
verify continuity, open and short circuits. Due to this monitoring, all of the circuits must be in a continuous
series line with no radial (star) configuration, with the Minimum of two circuits per system.
Detection - Smoke & Heat:
Wired in the same way as sounders but on the detection panel input. Each circuit is indicated as a separate zone
on the panel (limited by the amount of zones on the panel). Each area should be within the same zone, i.e. in a
large room all the detection would be on the same zone (circuit).
When installing detection on a false ceiling, a supporting beam must span the frame to prevent relying of the
integrity of the tile. Common practice is to install a small 25mm thick wooded plank or ideally a wooden tile .
Detection - Call Points (smash glass):
Connected to the detection zone (same circuit as the smoke & heat detection). Installed on each door to air
(regardless if it is or not designated as a fire exit), or change of zone (i.e. landing).
NOT to be installed at the common disabled height. Must be coloured red and permanently visible.
Installation height: 1.4 Mtrs from the floor to middle of the call point. A slight adjustment is permitted to allow
alignment to other devices (i.e. light switch) not exceeding 200mm +/- 1.4 Mtrs.
Remote Activation Indicator (LED):
In remote areas (i.e. loft or void) a remote LED indicator will be installed in a sensible location to show the
unseen detector has been activated. This uses a dedicated 2 core cable between the detector and LED indicator.
Auxiliary Devices - Door access and closures:
Connected to a relay feed from a dedicated auxiliary output. None of the devices should have a power supply
from the panel. The panel should only be used as a switching device. If the auxiliary device (i.e. door retainer)
needs an extra low voltage supply (24 volts) an independent Power Supply Unit will need to be installed.

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Fire Alarm Configuration: Conventional Twin Wire:Sounders & Detection:

Installed and terminated in the same way as a conventional system, with the additional benefit of using the
detection (zone) circuit input from the panel, for both sounders and detectors. There must be at least one
sounder on two separate zones to comply with minimum of two sounder circuits per system.
Strobe Sounders:
Strobes must still use a dedicated sounder circuit and cannot be installed on the detection cabling
(unless the system being supplied is "AlarmSense".
Base Sounders:
Due to the convenience of using one cable for detection and sounders, base sounders are commonly used.
These are small sounders that are installed directly above the smoke detectors. Where the location report
indicates base sounders, you only need to allow cabling to the smoke detection in that area.
Fire Alarm Configuration: Analogue (Addressed):Circuits:
Unlike conventional systems which uses radial EOL circuit, an analogue system uses a loop (similar to a ring
main), the circuit starts and ends at the panel. All detection, sounders, strobe sounders and Input / Output
devices are connected on the loop. There can be more than one loop per panel (depending the panel).
Zones are segregated via software programming during commissioning and not limited to the cabling.
Repeater Panel:
A dedicated cable installed between the panels. The repeater is a remote control and display of the main panel.
Networked Panels:
Each panel has a dedicated loop or loops and runs as an independent system. A cable is installed between
panels, this allows each panel to report the status of each zone as one system instead of many panels.
British Standards (5839-1: 2002 Guidelines)
Minimum sounder circuits:

2 (one sounder on each circuit).

Call point mounting height:

Floor to centre of call point - 1.4 Mtrs.

Panel mounting position:

Easily seen and accessed when entering the building.

Smoke and heat detection:Minimum distance to a wall:

Distance from a obstruction:

500 mm
Twice the length of the height away from the obstruction
(i.e. 200mm away from a 100mm deep light fitting).

Room partitioning:

If the dividing beam/arch is less that 10% of the room height,

the area is categorised as one room.

Smoke Detection radius:

Smoke Spacing between detectors:

7.5 Mtrs.
10.6 Mtrs.

Heat Detection radius:

Heat Spacing between detectors:
Maximum distance from apex:

5.3 Mtrs.
7.5 Mtrs.
600 mm (see the British Standards page 51 for details on roof pitch).

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