Fire alarm supply

[sparks1234]

This is concerning commercial not a domestic system.

Who puts what adjacent to the fire alarm panel for isolation purposes?

 

[pevvers]

This is concerning commercial not a domestic system.

Who puts what adjacent to the fire alarm panel for isolation purposes?

An unswitched fused spur is normally the done thing.

 

[bugsy]

Keyswitched fused spur labled fire alam supply normally by elec contractor but subject to initial contract agreement

 

[sparks1234]

An unswitched fused spur is normally the done thing.

Thats what I thought and have been doing for years.

Now has to be a double pole isolator maybe even with a fuse in it, something like a secret key switch

 

[johnnyb]

un-switched spur for me boys and girls.

 

[bugsy]

Thats what I thought and have been doing for years.

Now has to be a double pole isolator maybe even with a fuse in it, something like a secret key switch

Thats what i've said

 

[johnnyb]

whats a secret key switch

 

[Tin]

keyswitched fused spur, this will allow you to cut the supply to the panel if you need to work on it. The spur must be labelled up 'fire alarm' and the norm would be to have them right beside the panel.

Just come off a job where 13 fire alarm panels went in, all had key switched spurs by them.

 

[bugsy]

whats a secret key switch

mk k4917 with k4890 these are black but are available in white

 

[johnnyb]

keyswitched fused spur, this will allow you to cut the supply to the panel if you need to work on it. The spur must be labelled up 'fire alarm' and the norm would be to have them right beside the panel.

Just come off a job where 13 fire alarm panels went in, all had key switched spurs by them.

secret ones

 

[bugsy]

secret ones

Can't be that secret Jonnyb knows about them!

 

[johnnyb]

Can't be that secret Jonnyb knows about them!

No, i,ve never bought a secret unswitched fuse, just wondring what secret wholesaler stocks em, if any one can tell me, much appreciated, is it at hogwarts wholesalers or summet.

 

[sparks1234]

Thats what i've said

Sorry Bugsy, we were typing simultaneously, but the outcome was the same.

Seems as though a lot of people still put an unswitched spur in

 

[eddielarge]

Ive just fitted an unswitched spur for a fire alarm and it was stated that it must be red, have to say this makes sense to me

 

[Toonlad]

Thats what I thought and have been doing for years.

Now has to be a double pole isolator maybe even with a fuse in it, something like a secret key switch

double pole is what they ask for now, as Sparks 1234 has rightly said

 

[ghost]

The MK bits you refer to are from the grid range, basically build your own switch fuse spur (secretly!!)
I have never done it this way, been a few years since I did a new install on a fire alarm, is this the prefered method on sites now chaps?

 

[sparks1234]

double pole is what they ask for now, as Sparks 1234 has rightly said

How long has it been that way??

 

[Mr Mark Sparks]

whats a secret key switch

shhhh cant tell you

its secret

like a emerg light test switch

 

[johnnyb]

shhhh cant tell you

its secret

like a emerg light test switch

hogwarts

 

[Toonlad]

How long has it been that way??

since 2008 that i know of, could be earlier

 

[SirKit Breaker]

un-switched spur for me boys and girls.

And me............

 

[sparks1234]

And me............

Regs do say it should be double pole, I have been getting it wrong for a while as well

 

[pennywise]

Mk do a ready made fused key switch connection unit the only problem being it isn't red

K963 KO ALM

http://www.voltimum.co.uk/files/gb/attachments/mku/p/pdf/metalclad_connection_units.pdf

 

[Guest123]

Double pole keyswitched fused spur.

 

[pennywise]

Damn I mislead everyone

 

[just add water sparks]

Sparks 1234 would be interested if you could quote regs no. on this to settlle argument at work????????? where it should be double poled and key switched

 

[pevvers]

Sparks 1234 would be interested if you could quote regs no. on this to settlle argument at work????????? where it should be double poled and key switched

I'm thinking it may possibly be in BS 5839, but I have no access to it at the mo. Will have to check when I get home...

 

[sparks1234]

Yes it is under "power supply" in BS5839

 

[Sintra]

Isolation devices should preferably be double pole. 537.2.2.5

 

[just add water sparks]

thanks sintra for taking an interest and answering but without being pedantic over the page 537.3.2.1 it says devices for switching off for mechanical maitenance can be a number of things plug & socket, circuit breaker.I'm not advocating using a plug and socket.Also says the switch need not interupt neutral conductor.Not picking and grateful for help"its these ambiguous regs again"

 

[Sintra]

thanks sintra for taking an interest and answering but without being pedantic over the page 537.3.2.1 it says devices for switching off for mechanical maitenance can be a number of things plug & socket, circuit breaker.I'm not advocating using a plug and socket.Also says the switch need not interupt neutral conductor.Not picking and grateful for help"its these ambiguous regs again"

You have got to love the regs.

The original post did state isolation not mechanical maintenance.