Conventional fire alarms

A fire alarm system is a crucial part of fire safety. Domestic and commercial properties will need different types of fire detection systems, and when it comes to commercial properties, there are a few types to choose from.

There are three main types of commercial fire alarm systems: conventional, addressable, and wireless.

Choosing the best one for your property will depend on several factors such as the type and size of the building, the nature of the business, the level of risk, and of course, your budget.

Legal requirements and business insurance may play a huge part in this decision, but in the end, it all comes down to the property’s specific fire safety requirements.

Since fires can pose a serious threat to life, cause property damage, and potentially financially cripple a business, it is very important to select the right fire alarm system for the safety of your organisation and everyone in it.

Read on to find out all about conventional fire alarm systems, what they are, where they are used, how much they cost, what their installation entails, and much more:

WHAT ARE CONVENTIONAL FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS?

Conventional fire alarm systems, also called non-addressable fire alarms, are the simplest and most common type of fire alarm systems suitable for use in commercial settings. Despite being an analogue system, they remain an ideal option for fire safety.

A series of initiating devices and notification devices work together to create different zones throughout the property, all of which connect to the alarm system’s control panel.

A conventional fire alarm system uses one or more circuits, which are connected to the sensors in parallel. What this means is that each device on the system is connected to the control panel on its own wire.

If a sensor detects signs of a fire, it sends a signal to the control panel to set off the alarm. It uses increased electrical currents to notify the control panel of the changes that it picked.

The sensors installed in a particular zone are set at a certain level, and when that limit is surpassed by factors such as smoke or heat, the signal is sent to the control panel.

An example of this would be smoke detectors detecting a change in the amount of smoke particles in the air, or the level of carbon monoxide in the zone, and alerting the control panel to sound an alarm.

DETECTORS USED IN CONVENTIONAL FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS

Several types of detectors can be used with a conventional fire alarm system. They include:

• Optimal smoke detectors
• Ionisation smoke detectors
• Rate of rise heat detectors
• Fixed temperature heat detectors
• Multi-sensor detectors
• Carbon monoxide detectors
• Flame detectors

The type of detector you need depends on the area where it is to be installed, while also looking to minimise false alarms. For example, an optical smoke detector would work fine in a regular office as it offers the best fire detection and barely any false alarms.

A commercial kitchen, on the other hand, may not be best suited for an optical smoke detector as the cooking fumes would mostly result in false alarms and create unnecessary panic and be a waste of time.

WHERE ARE CONVENTIONAL FIRE ALARMS USED?

Conventional fire alarm systems can be used anywhere, but they are ideal for small buildings, single-storey buildings, and buildings with an open layout where a few zones can cover the entirety of the building.

Some of the best uses for conventional fire alarms include:

• Small offices
• Small schools
• Stores
• Restaurants
• Individual flats

BENEFITS OF CONVENTIONAL FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS

There are several benefits of using conventional fire alarms over other types of alarm systems. The biggest advantage is that they are cost-effective.

Despite being easy on the pocket, these systems remain to be a reliable option when it comes to protecting your property from fires.

The pros of using conventional fire alarms include:

• Cost-effectiveness
• Reliability
• Ease of use
• Ideal for small buildings

DRAWBACKS OF CONVENTIONAL FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS

Conventional fire alarm systems are cheaper to buy but can be costly to install. They may also use more cabling than other options and are not suitable for larger properties.

One very notable disadvantage of these systems is that they are unable to pinpoint the exact location of the fire. Although the systems divide the property into zones, they are only able to give a general location of the fire.

The cons of using conventional fire alarms include:

• Expensive installation
• More cabling than other systems
• Inability to pinpoint the exact location of the fire
• Not suitable for large properties

CONVENTIONAL FIRE ALARM INSTALLATION

According to the UK fire alarm regulations, all fire alarm systems must be installed in line with BS 5839 (British Standards).

BS 5839 are the standards pertaining to fire alarms that help make products safer and more reliable. They reduce risk, increase sustainability, promote innovation, and ensure better quality.

While there are no specific laws on who can and who cannot install a fire alarm system, the UK fire alarm regulations do state that it must be someone competent.

Therefore, when choosing the right installer for your conventional fire alarm system, make sure that they:

• Are familiar with the main makes and models of different fire alarm systems,
• Can assess your requirements and suggest the right grade and category of the fire alarm system for your needs,
• Can design a fire alarm system to meet the grade and category requirements,
• Have a proper understanding of the British Standard BS 5839,
• Can design a system that meets the BS 5839 requirements, and
• Are well-informed, experienced, and have sound technical knowledge.

CONVENTIONAL FIRE ALARM MAINTENANCE

When it comes to fire safety, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO) is the main legislation that covers all aspects including proper installation, maintenance, and testing.

The main objective of a fire alarm system is to detect the earliest signs of a fire and alert the occupants of the building so that they can take the necessary action without wasting any time.

To ensure the systems remain efficient and reliable throughout, it is extremely important to have them regularly tested, inspected, and maintained.

Two types of inspections must be carried out: inspections carried out by the users of the system which fall under the duty of the responsible person(s), and inspections and maintenance checks carried out by a competent person, who is usually a trained engineer.

The user tests are carried out on a weekly and monthly basis, whereas the more detailed inspections carried out by the trained engineers are done a minimum of two times each year.

The best way to ensure that all aspects of fire alarm maintenance are covered is to create a fire alarm maintenance checklist. It helps outline all the components of the fire safety system and how they must be inspected on a weekly or monthly basis.

A regular and thorough routine enables you to quickly identify any faults and issues that may need attention and fix them before they turn into serious problems.

During an inspection, an experienced professional is hired to check the system from the inside out for any faults or potential issues. The steps include:

• Checking whether the system complies with the fire safety standards,
• Identifying environmental conditions that might affect and compromise the system,
• Inspecting the general conditions of the fire alarm panels and testing their operation,
• Inspecting and testing all the smoke and heat detectors, sounders, and power sources including primary and backup batteries,
• Cleaning all the detectors and sensors of dust, dirt, and any form of obstruction,
• Verifying that all signals are received by an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) in case of professional monitoring,
• Compiling a report and maintaining a log of all the previous and current inspections.

CONVENTIONAL FIRE ALARM COST

The cost of your fire alarm system will depend on several factors such as the type of fire alarm, the size of your premises, the number of detectors required, and whether you choose to have the system monitored or not.

On average, you can expect to pay anywhere from £50 for a battery alarm to over £5,000 for a fully integrated commercial fire alarm system.

Conventional fire alarm systems generally cost less than their counterparts and are a great option if you are tight on budget but still need reliable fire protection.

OTHER TYPES OF FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS

There are other types of fire alarm systems to choose from for protecting your commercial property from fires. They include:

Addressable fire alarm systems

An addressable fire alarm system, like a conventional system, uses a network of sensors and detectors connected to the control panel.

The difference is that each device on the network has its own unique address, which the control panel uses to identify the exact location of the fire.

Although these systems are more expensive and complex than conventional systems, they offer more precision when it comes to locating the fire.

Ideal for large buildings and campuses, addressable fire alarms make it incredibly easy to figure out where the fire is or, in the event of a false alarm, which specific device is the cause.

Also, since these systems require less cabling than conventional systems, it is much easier to add new devices to the existing system.

Wireless fire alarm systems

Wireless fire alarm systems are similar to addressable systems, except for the need for cabling. Instead of using wires to connect the detectors to the control panel, they use radio frequencies and provide the exact location of the fire.

They offer a quick and effortless installation process due to the absence of wires and are portable. Their uniqueness lies in the absence of visible wires, making them particularly suitable for properties that give importance to aesthetics and may not want visible wires on their premises.

Wireless fire alarms are more flexible as compared to their counterparts, can easily be configured to different devices, and can also be easily expanded. They are, however, a bit more expensive and are not the best option for businesses on a budget.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST FIRE ALARM SYSTEM FOR YOUR PROPERTY?

There is no one answer when it comes to choosing the best fire alarm system for your property. A fire alarm system that may be perfect for one property may be completely wrong for the other.

The reason for this is that not all commercial properties are built equally. Some are small, some are big. Some are single-storey, and others have several storeys. Some may have a very low fire risk while others may be high-risk properties.

Keeping this in mind, you need to assess your requirements and make an informed decision based on the findings. The best way to do so is to conduct a fire risk assessment.

A fire risk assessment is a requirement under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 for all non-domestic properties. It needs to be carried out once a year by a competent person and includes measures to reduce or possibly eliminate the risk of fire.

You do not have to hire a professional fire risk assessor if you do not wish to, but you need to make sure that whoever carries it out is knowledgeable in fire safety and can easily identify and eliminate the risks.

It includes 5 key steps that include:

• Identifying the fire hazards
• Identifying the people at risk
• Evaluating, removing, or reducing the risks.
• Recording your findings, preparing an emergency plan, and providing training
• Reviewing and updating the fire risk assessment regularly.

If you are unsure about which type of fire alarm system is right for you, it is best to consult with a professional for expert advice.

CONTACT CALDER SECURITY

At Calder Security, we offer you a comprehensive solution for all your fire safety needs that include professional installation, maintenance, monitoring, and repair.

We understand that every property is different and the specification of the system depends on several factors including the type and size of the building, the number of occupants, and how high risk it is.

We can help you cut through all that and advise you on the best fire detection system for your building that complies with British Standards, HSE, Building Regulations, and Fire Officer Guidelines, in addition to meeting the requirements of business insurance.

We also understand fire regulations and provide professional maintenance checks and reminders for when the checks are due to help you stay compliant with the law. We work fast to restore your fire alarm system to excellent condition and always strive to meet your expectations.

We offer various levels of monitoring via a 24-hour monitoring centre using Dualcom and BT Redcare signalling, which is the most secure alarm monitoring system and the largest supplier of intelligent alarm signalling services in the UK.

If your system starts to malfunction, you can rely on our highly skilled engineers to restore your system to full working order in one visit. We offer a 24-hour call-out service for customers and can also repair fire alarms not installed by us thanks to our extensive knowledge and experience.

Contact us here or call us today free on 0800 612 9799 for more information on conventional fire alarm systems and whether or not they are the right fit for your property.

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