Viscount Alarms can provide a Fire Detection & Alarm system designed and maintained to protect you and your property. It is essential that a Fire Alarm is correctly designed, with details of the fire alarm should be agreed with all relevant parties, i.e. the local fire officer, the local council and insurers as they may impose specific requirements relevant to their field.

A Fire Alarm is now required in most commercial and industrial premises, the system should first be able to detect a fire or a fire condition, and secondly to sound an audible alarm in all parts of the building.

Fire can kill or maim in many ways i.e. asphyxiation, radiant heat, poisoning or burning. However, most accidental fires begin with smouldering and the evolution of smoke and other combustion products, and it is known that in most fires the phenomenon that first threatens human life is the reduction of visibility in escape routes.

As classified by BS5839 the type of Fire Alarm system employed will depend on the type of premises which will determine wether the system is required to protect life of property.

The various systems are listed below; please feel free to click the icons for a brief overview of some common arrangements.

Systems for protecting life

Type M - Manual System:
A system that relies upon manual break glass unit (BGU) being operated by occupants of the building in order to sound the alarms, this system depends upon the presence of people and is generally installed in premises like a small office building with clear escape routes where occupants know the building.

Type L1 - Life 1:
A system with automatic detection installed throughout the building including escape routes, stairs and every room and void, also break glass units are installed on all exits and between zones. This system will operate even when people are not present, and is generally installed in premises like a residential care home or hotel, or a building with specific access / structural risks.

Type L2 - Life 2:
A system with automatic detection installed along escape routes as well in high risk areas, such as storage facilities and plant rooms or where a fire would cause high risk to life. Also break glass units are installed on all exits and between zones. This system will operate even when people are not present, and is generally installed in premises like a large complex office building where many people work or buildings with many corridors and small rooms.

Type L3 - Life 3:
A system with automatic detection installed only along escape routes, and in area where free passage is essential to protect life. Also break glass units are installed at exits and between zones. This type of system is generally installed where large numbers of people are present, but escape is relatively easy in premises of a medium sized office building, retail premises of factory.

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Systems for protecting property

Type P1 - Property 1:
A system with automatic detection installed throughout the building including escape routes, stairs and every room and void, also break glass units are installed on all exits and between zones. This system will operate even when people are not present and in most cases a P1 system can be taken as having the same cover as an L1 system. A type P1 system is generally installed in a large complex office where a high risk exists throughout or where a small fire could easily spread and cause extensive damage.

Type P2 - Property 2:
A system with automatic detection installed only in high risk areas, such as storage facilities and plant rooms or where a fire would cause high risk to life. In addition break glass units are installed on all exits and between zones. Please note that a P2 system does not necessarily cover all escape routes and may not provide adequate life protection. This system is generally installed in premises where fire damage could be expensive in buildings that are listed or of older style.

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Fire detection & alarm systems

There are many different forms of technology, which exist in fire alarm systems, and all manufacturers have their own methods of monitoring and alarm, but generally systems fall in to two categories. The systems are listed below; please feel free to hover over the icons for a brief overview.

Conventional Systems:
This type of system is the more traditional approach using tried and tested technology. The system is configured into zones; this can be from 1 - 24 depending on how small or large the protected area is. Wiring in a radial type circuit from the Fire Alarm Panel to the devices on each zone. If the device is operated then the sounders / bells will be activated and the panel will indicate which zone. This type of system can only indicate the appropriate zones and not indivual devices. This type of Fire Detection and Alarm System is commonly used for small buildings.

Addressable Systems:
This type of system is the more modern approach using multiplexing technology, defining which device has been operated by identification using indivual address. The system is configured into one or more loops connected to the Fire Alarm Panel depending on how small or large the protected area is. If a device is operated then the sounders / bells will be activated and the panel will identify exactly which device has been operated, this system cab be as definitive to number or room location. This type of system identifies the exact location of fire or fire condition, which helps fire crews to get to the fire origin very quickly. Addressable systems can sometimes offer cost savings compared to the conventional system, as the cable runs are not as intense.

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