Andrew C Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 I think it's a good bet the right detectors are in the right places.I'll take that bet. They may be the right detector from a pure detection point of view, but... The problem is that the collaboration is so often between people that have little, or no clue how a room is to be used. The OP is 15 so I'll guess we're talking a school and that no one actually involved in the use of the hall even knew the system was being installed until they got back from a holiday. Here speaks bitter experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niclights Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 Well, similarly I was also speaking from experience having had many smoke detectors changed to rate of rise of heat. The install was designed for live music but clearly theatrical smoke had apparently not been considered. The change was approved without difficulty. But I totally agree with mac.calder that this is far off topic and the answer was in the first reply! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Cain Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 Ask whoever looks after the building to isolate the smoke alarms for that room. is it legal to have the fire alrams in one room isolated for the night? Yes, in short - if the building is set up for it. We isolate our smoke alarms nightly and it's perfectly legit. It probably depends on the building's license conditions etc etc - talk to venue management. You might find that you have to have a deisgnated fire officer for the event if you do disable anything.... Again, speak to venue management. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toytown Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 They are called Heat Detectors NEVER, EVER, be tempted to exchange smoke detectors for heat detectors to get around the problem of effects triggering false alarms, the correct detectors will have been specified and fitted to suit the situation, exchanging detectors will seriously compromise the detection capability of the fire alarm system. Was actually meaning the design of the system. Most of the systems I work with have a switch over capability so you can change the configuration of the system from pure smoke detection to heat detection in areas where smoke is being used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ynot Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 NEVER, EVER, be tempted to exchange smoke detectors for heat detectors to get around the problem of effects triggering false alarms, the correct detectors will have been specified and fitted to suit the situation, exchanging detectors will seriously compromise the detection capability of the fire alarm system. Been steering clear of this one so far, but thought I'd drop a penn'orth in after all. :) It's not a good idea to simply swap out one type of detector for a different one, BUT if the system is properly assessed, and the situation suggests that one area may be served better if the change was made, then that is quite feasible as an option. I have to admit I'm not too hot on the actual regs with regard to installations, but what I do know is that our small venue has yet to be instructed to actually fit ANY fire detection system, which leads me to believe that it is not (as yet, anyway) a compulsory to have automatic detection and callout for the Brigade. That said, we are actively looking at how best we can sort this off our own backs, more to satisfy our own need to protect our members and punters (but also as a potential insurance premium reducer!!). The Fire Service these days have changed their method of inspection. It's no longer a case of the annual visit from the FPO, checking everything's to the way HE sees it as being necessary. Instead, the onus is on the management of the venue to write up a fire safety policy, including supply and position of things like extinguishers/blankets etc, and present that to the FPO for sign-off. If they don't feel you've done enough, they'll make recommendations for inclusion/change. Every space in a public venue can have a variety of uses, and the stage, of course, is one that invariably can, and will, regularly see the use of smoke. There can also be occasions where a large amount of dust may be created in the stage space (fitups without a circular saw or power sander chucking up loads of sawdust anyone??).Therefore, it is only logical that the protection of this space be achieved using something that is NOT going to be triggered by what essentially is BAU (business as usual). And that means, simply put, some type of Rate of Rise (RoR) detectors. Unfortunately, there are a LOT of venues which have been poorly planned and specced for fire detection, and as such, false calls can result quite easily. And that can sometimes lead to callout charges being levied against the venue... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew C Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 I've posted this info before, when it was fresher in my mind. We had three fire alarm companies in for advice and prices; two local and one national. We expected the fishy national company to be by far and away the most expensive, and pushiest. What we actually got was a very interesting presentation of the latest 4 sensor, voice annunciating head by the first local guy. The head detects smoke, RoR, temperature and CO levels. Thus it can discriminate between glycol and a fire without any trouble. But it costs. The rep gave us a price of £25k+ for all rooms protected. The second local gave a price of £20k, but for a standard addressable panel with a "show state" switch to isolate a range of zones. The national rep started by saying we legaly had to have an automatic system (neither of the other two, OR THE FIRE OFFICER had said this). "Oh here we go" we thought. He then went on to explain the 4 levels of protection, and that we could go for the lowest and just protect the final escape routes. No one else mentioned this. His advice was to go one level up, and do the escape routes, and the rooms that open directly on to them. Sorry, but the £ eludes me, £14k I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ynot Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 When we go with whatever decision we make, we'll most likely be getting the national in to do the majority of the install - we already have their monitored security system (ADT) so linking a fire system as well would be a simple additional feed to the collector box. I'd say that in some circumstances, smaller locals can often be costlier because their general overheads are higher and profit margins far slimmer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.