Fire Alarm

ChrisElectrical88 · Mar 17, 2017

Evening, my company have become BAFE accredited and taken on some Fire Alarm testing and remedial work. I have been sent to install new sounders and detectors here and there. Whilst I'm ok with the wiring and installation and testing of these (all conventional and bi-wire) I don't have a good knowledge of the regs and would like to get a bit more of insight into them. Does anyone know of any online courses or any courses that could help?

Cheers

westward10 · Mar 17, 2017

Does your company not have relevant British Standards.

ChrisElectrical88 · Mar 17, 2017

Yes, they are now BAFE accredited, pretty sure you need them for your NIC inspection as well? where as I am happy to read through them it's not necessarily always easy to interperite something relitivly new.

Leesparkykent · Mar 17, 2017

ChrisElectrical88 said:
Yes, they are now BAFE accredited, pretty sure you need them for your NIC inspection as well? where as I am happy to read through them it's not necessarily always easy to interperite something relitivly new.

NICEIC | Practical training courses to enhance your industry knowledge - https://www.niceic.com/contractor/training-courses/fire-alarm-and-emergency-lighting-courses

Electrician’s Guide to Fire Detection and Alarm Systems (2nd Edition) - IET Electrical - http://electrical.------.org/books/guidance-notes/fire-detection-2nd-ed.cfm

ChrisElectrical88 · Mar 17, 2017

Leesparkykent said:
NICEIC | Practical training courses to enhance your industry knowledge - https://www.niceic.com/contractor/training-courses/fire-alarm-and-emergency-lighting-courses

Electrician’s Guide to Fire Detection and Alarm Systems (2nd Edition) - IET Electrical - http://electrical.------.org/books/guidance-notes/fire-detection-2nd-ed.cfm

Thank you

westward10 · Mar 17, 2017

BS5839-1 is a damn sight easier to follow than 7671.

ChrisElectrical88 · Mar 17, 2017

Ancient Egyptian is easier to follow than 7671 at times,

ChrisElectrical88 · Mar 17, 2017

Ancient Egyptian is easier to follow than 7671 at times,

tazz · Mar 18, 2017

Part of your BAFE assessment is to show at least 2 full designs, installations.....all this would included caded drawings, zone charts, loop/circuit calculations, battery calcs etc. If your not sure on the regs.....how did your company pass a BAFE inspection..?

ChrisElectrical88 · Mar 18, 2017

Not 'my' company the one I work for mate. They employed a very experienced contract manager about 9-12 months ago in order to move forward with the accreditation as well as 2 Fire Alarm testers/engineers. It's just gone mad with work which is why I am installing detectors/sounders.

mydigitalhome · Mar 19, 2017

Hi can you tell me is it a legal requirement to have a lockable key switch isolator c/w fuse for FA Panel. Or is a fused spur outlet acceptable? As heard if FSO installed should be upgraded. Appreciate your advice.

ChrisElectrical88 · Mar 19, 2017

I believe that it does not need a fuse spur but must be isolated with a key/tool and be double pole isolation.

Taxi is probably best to confirm

Simlec · Mar 19, 2017

"Every isolator, switch and protective device that is capable of disconnecting
the mains supply to the fire detection and fire alarm system should be
situated in a position inaccessible to unauthorized persons or be protected
against unauthorized operation by persons without a special tool."

mydigitalhome · Mar 20, 2017

Hi this is what I have found on the subject of using a BS5839 compliant “Fire Isolator Switch

NSI Technical Bulletin No. 0023
BS 7671:2008+A1:2011 defines isolation as:

“A function intended to cut off for reasons of safety the supply from all, or a discrete
section, of the installation by separating the installation or section from every source
of electrical energy.”

whilst functional switching is defined as:

“An operation intended to switch “on” or “off” or vary the supply of electrical energy
to all or part of the installation for normal operating purposes.”

Fire alarm equipment is not intended to be switched “on” or “off” under normal circumstances and therefore the intention of providing an isolating device adjacent to the control equipment and other mains operated equipment related to the fire detection and alarm system is to enable safe electrical isolation for the purposes of
maintenance. Many devices that have traditionally been used as “isolators” are in effect “functional switches” (e.g. “secret key” switches) and do not afford safe means of electrical isolation.

Look forward to your thoughts on this.