Automatic fire alarm is designed to ensure that the source of fire is located as soon as possible and to notify in a timely manner that a fire situation has arisen. Not only the use of a variety of warning devices and fire detection sensors, but also the installation of an automatic fire alarm is becoming an actual direction in the methods of fighting fires.
Types of fire alarms
Several types of fire detectors are distinguished by their parameters:
- Light.
- Combined.
- Ionized.
- Smoke.
- Thermal.
- Manual.
In addition, they are divided by type of action:
- Threshold - it is advisable to use such sensors only in small buildings with a smallnumber of rooms.
- Addressed - these detectors accurately indicate the location of a fire hazard situation by analyzing the situation.
- Address-analogue - such systems are classified as "intelligent", since they are able not only to independently assess the threat that has arisen, but also, if necessary, reprogram the sensitivity threshold on the detectors, and also transmit a signal about a fire, not while stopping the fire alarm.
The newest automatic fire alarm is a set of sensors designed to determine the level of smoke, a sharp jump in temperature in a building, and an infrared signal is able to find the source of an open fire. The complex also includes lines or devices for data transmission, notification and the center of the entire system - a specialized computer that is designed to make decisions on commissioning devices located inside and outside the building. When the complex includes automatic fire extinguishing systems, the electronics makes a decision on the appropriateness of their use.
It becomes clear that an automatic fire alarm has the ability to significantly increase the safety of a building, and its installation can solve the problem of timely detection and elimination of a fire.
AFS systems maintenance
Maintenance of automatic fire alarms is carried out by special companies that install it at the enterprise. In suchmaintenance includes both a primitive cleaning of the system from dust, which tends to get into the sensors, and more complex procedures. Maintenance is designed to ensure the smooth operation of each detector individually and the entire system as a whole.
Conditionally, all maintenance activities can be divided into several categories:
- Specialists who installed the automatic fire alarm should be trained by those responsible for fire safety and, by agreement, the staff. Such training will help to properly operate the APS and will not disable it due to someone's negligence.
- All malfunctions and errors in work should be eliminated in a timely manner, current, emergency and preventive repairs should be carried out. These works can take place both on the basis of a warranty service agreement by the company that installed the system, and in its absence, by third parties.
- Scheduled maintenance must be performed.
Please note that all these works can only be performed by organizations that have a license from the Ministry of Emergency Situations to carry out such actions.
All institutions where there is a mass congestion of people are required to enter into such an agreement.
Maintenance procedure
All automatic fire and security alarms must be checked in a timely manner, and maintenance is carried out at strictly specified in the contractterms that cannot be less than those established by law.
Required to check during maintenance:
- strength of fasteners and general external condition of the system;
- sensitivity of sensors and guarantee of their operation, as well as ensuring uninterrupted signal reception at the central console;
- Insulation he alth and general condition of flexible connections.
Such maintenance is necessary in order to:
- to ensure the continued smooth functioning of the APS system;
- check the general technical condition;
- timely identify any problems with the system;
- eliminate the adverse effects of exposure to harmful factors.
Depending on the reason for the maintenance, it can be regular or extraordinary.
Extraordinary inspection of automatic fire alarms in progress:
- after false positives;
- in case of system failures upon occurrence of conditions for operation;
- after the restoration work that was carried out in the APS system;
- according to the statement of the head of the enterprise where this automatic fire alarm is installed.
Fire alarm prevention
The necessary preventive work is also being carried out during the maintenance process.
During the prevention of APS systems, they clean external elements and surfaces of all devices from contamination, lubricate if necessary, strengthen connections, replace parts of the system that have expired.
Carrying out work to troubleshoot the APS
In cases where any malfunctions are detected during preventive maintenance, maintenance or inspections, it is necessary to immediately repair the automatic fire alarm or replace the failed part. If a defect is discovered by the owners of the APS, they are obliged to inform the company servicing this system as soon as possible. Do-it-yourself troubleshooting is not acceptable.
Filing out maintenance work
On the basis of an internal order, a person responsible for meeting the deadlines for maintenance and preventive work, as well as for maintaining operational logs, should be appointed. All actions carried out when checking the operability of the APS, as well as troubleshooting work, are subject to mandatory registration in special logs, which, at the first request of fire inspectors, must be presented to them for review.
Responsibility for violation of the terms of maintenance of automatic fire alarms
TO must be carried out on public warning systems in case of need for evacuation.
If malfunctions in the notification lead to casu alties or significant damage and it turns out that the maintenance was carried out late or not carried out at all, then this will be sufficient grounds for initiating a criminal case against the head of the enterprise. These requirements apply only to fire systems - the maintenance of all other warning systems is determined by the head, and the maintenance of security alarms is determined by the norms of private security.
Automatic fire alarm design code
The financial costs of its installation and the efficiency of its operation depend on the correct design of the APS system.
The project is drawn up for each object individually and is based on the requirements of the PB, PUE and GOST standards, therefore it takes quite a long time and is carried out in several stages.
First, the object is studied: its area, layout, design features, etc., then the amount of necessary work and the required equipment are determined. Before drawing up a project, areas of increased danger for fire are marked in order to pay special attention to them.
Only after that they proceed directly to the design and preparation of documentation, which will be needed in the future to confirm that all fire regulations are observed at the facility.
Only companies that have special permission to develop project documentation and are members of a Self-Regulatory Organization have the right to draft an APS system.
All design standards are regulated by the current legislation, and the project itself is a diagram of the entire detection, warning and automatic fire extinguishing system.
Requirements for the operation of the APS system
It is mandatory to appoint a person responsible for maintenance, as well as for regular inspections of the visible parts of the APS system.
In addition, the operation of an automatic fire alarm includes compliance with certain requirements:
- it is forbidden to whitewash or paint over any part of the system;
- notify the fire brigade when starting repair work in the building;
- it is forbidden to block fire detectors and passages to the central office;
- check daily the alarm is on, and if there is no day-night switch, then at the end of the working day;
- in cases where the alarm is turned on from the remote control, it is necessary to control the arming of the object by phone.
