SPECIFICATION FOR FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 PURPOSE.................................................................................................................................1
2.0 PRINCIPLES : A FIRE DETECTION AND ALARM SYSTEM SHALL..............................1
3.0 GENERAL................................................................................................................................1
3.1 Control Panel..............................................................................................................................1
3.2 Manual Call Point.......................................................................................................................2
3.3 Hooters.......................................................................................................................................2
3.4 Heat Detectors............................................................................................................................2
3.5 Smoke Detector...........................................................................................................................3
3.5.1Ionization type Smoke detector...................................................................................................3
3.5.2Photo-electric type Smoke Detector............................................................................................3
3.5.3Response Indicator......................................................................................................................3
3.6 Repeater Panel (Remote Annunciators Panel)..............................................................................4
4.0 PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM................................................................................................4
4.1 Audio Amplifier..........................................................................................................................4
4.2 Loud Speakers............................................................................................................................4
4.3 Cables and Accessories...............................................................................................................4
5.0 INSTALLATION OF CABLES AND WIRING.....................................................................4
5.1 Conduits for Concealed Installation............................................................................................4
6.0 WORKMANSHIP....................................................................................................................5
7.0 INSTRUCTION MANUALS...................................................................................................5

CENTRAL FIRE ALARM SYSTEM

1.0

PURPOSE
The purpose of the fire detection and alarm system is to detect any fire in any
part of the premises to be protected at the earliest stage following the out break
of fire and to sound audible alarm so that immediate action could be taken to
save life and property. An alarm system shall be activated by automatic detection
device or by manual operation of manual call points or the combination of both.

2.0

PRINCIPLES : A FIRE DETECTION AND ALARM SYSTEM SHALL

a] detect any outbreak of fire quickly enough to fulfil its intended functions
faithfully.
b] transmit detected signals reliably to the intended control centre or subcentre.
c] Relay the received fire signal into clear audible signal (alarm) indicating the
location of the fire so that the life and property saving action could be taken
immediately and fire fighting ancillary equipment could be brought
to
operation.
d] remain in- sensitive to operation other than those intended to avoid irritating
false alarm
e] signal immediately and clearly any fault on the self supervised circuits which
might otherwise jeopardise the correct performance of the system.

3.0

GENERAL
The design, manufacture and installation of Fire Alarm system shall conform to
Indian Standards Institution Specification IS 2189 (1988).

3.1

Control Panel
The control panel shall be equipped with control and indicating equipments,
relays and associated circuits necessary to provide power, receive signal from
alarm sensing devices, transmit the received signal to the alarm devices and
despatch command signal to operate the automatic fire protection equipments, if
provided. The panel shall also be equipped with self supervision circuits. The
equipment used shall be solid state using large scale integrated circuit (L S I),
Light Emitting diodes (L E D), silver plated plug-in printed cards to ensure reliable
and stable operation. The panel shall be enclosed in sheet steel cabinet of SWG
16 and shall be wall mounted or free standing type. The control panel shall be
preferably located on ground floor, in a room which is normally manned
constantly but without access to the general public. The room shall be equipped
with public telephone with direct access to local call in order to call the fire
departments in case of emergency.

3.1.1

The system shall be equipped with self supervising circuits to supervise the
failure and warn the operator of A. C. supply failure, D. C. supply failure, battery
discharge, battery charge failure, open circuit and earth fault of detector cabling,
etc.

3.1.2

The control panel shall be fully compatible to receive any type of detectors i. e;
Ionisation Smoke Detector, Optical Smoke Detector, Smoke cum Thermal
Detector, Thermal Detector, Rate of rise of temperature Detector, Manually
operated Call Box. More than one type of detectors may be connected to any
zone and the control panel shall be able to pin point the location of fire zone wise
and warn the corresponding zones by issuing two tone audible alarms. The
1

control panel shall also be equipped with facility for voice communication for
issuing necessary commands or instructions. The scope of the system shall be to
issue audio-visual fire alarm to the entire premises should the temperature and
smoke density of any area exceeds the settings of the respective detector.
3.1.3

The system shall be suitable for input supply of A. C. 230 volt 10 % and operate
on 24-35 D. C. supply. The system shall be equipped with fire and fault test
control for each zone and shall be equipped with separate alarm
acknowledgement point in each zone. The alarm for the fault condition shall be
distinct from that of the fire alarm. All audible alarm either for fault or fire shall
have push button cancellation system with reset feature, to ensure that no alarm
is inadvertently switched off. The fire or fault lamp signal, however, shall
continue to glow until the fault condition has been corrected or fire extinguished.

3.1.4

The test push buttons shall be provided to test the indicating lamps and
electronic circuits in each zone. The control panel shall be of modular design so
that additional modules could be added to extend the scope of fire alarm in view
of the future extension of the premises.

3.1.5

Separate lamps shall be provided for fault and fire indications and each shall be
provided with two lamps connected in parallel to ensure indication against lamp
failure. A common electronic audible alarm shall give distinct tones for fire and
fault conditions.

3.1.6

The panel shall be equipped with AC mains power module, battery charger,
rechargeable sealed type Nickel Cadmium Battery of appropriate capacity,
supervisory circuits for various faults, fault and fire indicating lamps, zone test
push button, alarm cancellation push button for fault and fire for each zone. The
panel shall also be equipped with four pairs of contacts (2 pairs of N. C. contacts
and 2 pairs of N. O. contacts ) for damper actuation etc. The control panel shall
be equipped with illuminated mimic diagram with zones and pin pointed location
of fire and to have facility for public address as detailed in the bill of quantity.

3.1.7

The supervision of fault and fire shall cover but not limited to the following
conditions:
a]
Open circuit in detector wiring
b]
Short circuit in detector wiring
c]
Exciter lamp open circuit in detector for optical smoke detector
d]
Normal conditions
e]
Fire condition
f]
A. C. mains failure
g]
Battery low and disconnect warning

3.2

Manual Call Point

Manual Call Box shall be fabricated out of SWG 16 sheet steel box mounted at a
convenient height of 137 cm above the finished floor surface. The location of the
manual call boxes shall be located at places which are easily accessible by the
general public, i.e.; near the outlet passage etc. The call box shall consist of
glow push button in depressed position by the front glass, a pair of chain and
hammer for breaking the front plate glass in case of fire. Subsequent upon
breaking of glass the depressed push button will be released thus by transmitting
the fire signal to the control panel. A lamp provided in the push button shall
flash, indicating that the fire alarm has been transmitted to the control panel.

3.3

Hooters
The hooters shall be electronic tone of standard make, the audible range of
which shall be around 30 mt with 100 db sound level with flashing LED
indication. The hooter shall be wall mounting type with red painting to be
operated with 24-30 volt DC supply.

3.4

Heat Detectors
The heat detectors shall work on dual principal of rate of rise and fixed
temperature, shall be complete with response indicator facility and shall be 2
wire system working on DC low voltage system. It shall be capable of being
looped with smoke detector and manual call point. The technical data of the heat
detectors shall be as follows:
a]
b]
c]

Voltage rating
Circuit current on supervisory condition
Circuit current on alarm condition

d]
C
e]
f]

Ambient temperature

Response indicator
:
Facility for monitoring detector removal /
pilferage
:
g]
Maintenance
:
h]
Functional test
intervals

3.5

24 volt DC
:
45 a ( average )
:
70 ma ( max.)
:
-20o C to +60 o
Compatible
Buzzer sound
Periodically
:
At

regular

Smoke Detector
The smoke detector shall be 2 wire type operable with 24 volt DC supply
provided with built in test switch. The visible LED shall blink in stand-by condition
and glow continuously in alarm condition. The detector cover shall be easily
removable and replaceable field cleaning of insect screen.

3.5.1

Ionization type Smoke detector

The detector shall detects visible and invisible combustible particles generated
by fire by means of dual chamber detector with Americium 241 radioactive
material. The detector shall have the following technical properties :
a]
b]
c]
d]
e]

Radioactive source
:
Radioactive strength
:
Rated Voltage
:
Stand-by current consumption
Alarm condition current consumption

f]
f]
g]

Ambient temperature
Response Indicator
:
Detector monitoring against removal
or pilferage
:
Maintenance
:
Functional test

h]
i]

Americium 241
1 Curie
24 volt DC
:
100 amp ( max. )
:
70 m amp ( max. )
:
-20o C to 60o C
Compatible
Buzzer alarm
Periodical field maintenance
:
At regular interval

3.5.2

Photo-electric type Smoke Detector

The detector which shall operate on the principle of light scattering shall have
following technical properties :
a]
b]
c]
d]

Rated voltage
:
Light Source
:
Stand-by current consumption
Alarm condition current consumption

e]
f]
g]

Ambient temperature
Response Indicator
:
Detector monitoring against removal
or pilferage
:
Maintenance
:
Functional test

h]
i]

3.5.3

24 volt DC
Infra-red LED
:
100 amp ( max. )
:
70 m amp ( max. )
:
-20o C to 60o C
Compatible
Buzzer alarm
Periodical field maintenance
:
At regular interval

Response Indicator
A response indicator shall be used in parallel with the smoke detector to indicate
the fire condition in place of smoke detector, if the latter is installed in some
concealed place e.g. false ceiling/floor, shafts, tunnel, guest room in a hotel etc.
It shall be compatible with the detectors being used and shall be equipped with
two nos. of LED for visual indication.

3.6

Repeater Panel (Remote Annunciators Panel)

This is an auxiliary unit of fire alarm control and indicating panel to be located in
secondary place as indicated in the drawing to help in careful fire management
by surveillance at multiple points. Fire in any zone is to be indicated by
respective flashing window with a common audible alarm. The auxiliary panel
shall be wall mounting type with audio alarm of 95 dB minimum by 6 watt
speaker. The visual warning shall be indicated by filament lamps. This unit shall
be compatible with the main fire alarm and indicating panel. The auxiliary panel
unit shall have provision of DC supply battery back-up and battery charging unit.

4.0

PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM

The public address system shall consist of one amplifier and light speakers,
cables and accessories as detailed in the bill of quantities.

4.1

Audio Amplifier
The power output of the amplifier shall be minimum 100 watts to be operated
from 24 volt DC supply. The main supply to the amplifier shall be rated at 230
volt 50 Hz AC to supply the battery charging unit. It shall be equipped with two
audio signal inlets for connecting announcing microphone and audio signal from
the music player. The out put of the amplifier shall be provided with bass and
treble tone controls in addition to the volume control. The amplifier shall be
provided with one additional out put socket for connecting booster amplifier. The
amplifier shall be equipped with VU meter for monitoring output level. The
amplifier shall be protected against wrong polarity battery connection.

4.2

Loud Speakers
The individual speakers shall be rated at 10 watts each. The location and number
of speakers to be provided shall be as detailed in the drawing and bill of quantity.
The installation of the speaker shall be in such a way as to be least conspicuous
yet audible for large floor area evenly.

4.3

Cables and Accessories

In addition to the required lengths of cables of various sizes a minimum of 5 %
extra length of each size shall be provided. All other accessories required to
complete the installation of PA system shall be covered by the rate quoted for the
PA system.

5.0

INSTALLATION OF CABLES AND WIRING

The cables used for fire alarm system and PA system shall be copper conductor
PVC insulated and shall be protected with proper protection in the form of
metallic conduit, rigid PVC conduit or semi-flexible PVC conduit. The conduit used
for the fire alarm system shall not share with the cables used for other purpose.
The size of the conductor used shall not be less than 1.0 sq. mm cross sectional
area. If armoured cables are used they shall conform to IS : 1554-1976 (Part 1)
and their use shall be exclusively for the fire alarm system only. All the cables
and wires shall be properly tagged for future identification.

5.1

Conduits for Concealed Installation

All the dimensions mentioned in the drawing are the external dimensions of the
conduit of medium density. The layout of the conduits shall be as per the
approved drawing. The conduits shall be laid before casting in the upper portion
of the slab or otherwise as may be instructed in accordance with the approved
drawings so as to conceal the entire run of conduit and ceiling boxes. Vertical
drop shall be buried in the walls and column shall be avoided as far as possible.
Wherever necessary chase shall be cut to sufficient depth to allow full thickness
of plaster over the chased groove . After the installation of the required no of
conduits for accommodating cables the chased groove shall be filled with the
cement plaster so as to conform with the finished surface.
The dimension of the conduit shall be sufficient for drawing of the cables and
wires effortlessly. The internal cross section of the conduit shall be such that the
sum total cross sectional area of the cables shall not exceed 60 % the cross
sectional area of the conduit.

6.0

WORKMANSHIP
All the installation workmanship shall conform to IS : 2189 - 1988 and as per
consultant's instructions. The general look of the installation shall match with
decor of the building. The special attention to be paid during erection that the
other works and installation should not effect the performance of the fire alarm
system.

7.0

INSTRUCTION MANUALS
5

On completion of the installation the contractor shall submit to the client the
complete set of drawings, allied literature, and instruction manuals. The
submitted drawing shall contain the detailed position of the various equipments
including the routes, zones, etc. Prior to the handing-over of the completed
system individual items shall be tested in the presence of the client or his
representative.