Have you been asked for a BS5839 Part 6 Grade A Fire Alarm System?

If so, The Safety Centre has the answers for you.

A Grade A System should including a central fire alarm control panel conforming to BS EN54-4.  The components of the fire alarm system within the building, such as the detectors, break glass units, electronic sounders and flashing beacons should be connected to the fire alarm control panel.  The fire alarm panel monitors the system devices for fire and fault conditions.

The next question is where do you require detectors for your fire alarm system?  BS5839 Part 6 has defined 3 design categories.  These being LD1, LD2 & LD3.  These design categories are defined as below?

BS5839 Grade A Category LD1

This is a system which is installed throughout the premises, incorporating detectors in all circulation spaces that form part of the escape routes from the building, and in all rooms in which a fire might start, other than low risk areas, such as toilets, bathrooms and shower rooms.

BS5839 Grade A Category LD2

The category defines than the system should have automatic detection in all circulation spaces that form parts of escape routes, and in all specified rooms that present a high fire risk to occupants.

BS5839 Grade A Category LD3

A BS5839 Grade A Ld3 system would consist of automatic detection on circulation areas that form part of the escape route.

 

What Type Of Fire Alarm System Equipment Do You Need For A BS5839 Part 6 Grade A System?

 

At The Safety Centre we have 4 types of system equipment that are suitable for us on BS5839 Part 6 Grade A fire alarm systems.  These are as conventional / non-addressable, two wire, analogue addressable and wireless fire alarm system equipment.

Conventional Fire Alarm System Equipment

This type of equipment is the simplest most cost effective type equipment.  The panels come in zone sizes, typically 2, 4 and 8.  The detectors and call points / break glass units are wired to the panel on radial circuits per zone used.  Whereas the sounders require wiring seperately to the dedicated sounder circuits.  The panel on a conventional fire alarm system only gives simple indication of fire and fault conditions, and will only inidicate which particular zone the fire or fault is located within.

Two Wire Fire Alarm System Equipment

This type of equipment is similar to conventional type fire system equipment in that the panels are sized by zone.  Typically again 2, 4 and 8 zone sizes.  However the benefit of two wire fire alarm system over standard conventional is that the sounder circuits for the system do not need to be wired seperately to the detection circuits.  This is because the zone circuits are capable of powering sounders and beacons.  Two wire fire alarm system equipment is generally more expensive that standard conventional fire alarm system equipment, however the additional cost of the equipment can often be saved in the reduced installation costs, of not needed to wire the stand alone sounder circuits.  Again as with a conventional fire alarm system panel, a two wire panel will only give simple indication of fire and fault conditions, and will only inidicate which particular zone the fire or fault is located within.

Analogue Addressable Fire Alarm System Equipment

Analogue addressable fire alarm system equipment is normally used in larger buildings than conventional and two wire fire alarm systems.  An analogue addressable fire alarm system will provide greater levels of system information than the two wire and conventional alternatives. These types of systems are wired in loop type circuits, where the circuit incorporates detectors, break glass units, sounders, beacons and interfaces, and then returns back to the control panel position.  Each device on this type of system has a unique 'address', which is assigned a text location on the control panel.  Subsequently when a unit has a fire or fault event, the text location is displayed on the panel, enabling quicker, easier identification of the event.

Wireless Fire Alarm System Equipment

If cabling the system is problematic, then wireless fire alarm system equipment may be the answer.  These systems also feature a main control panel, which monitors the system devices for fire and fault conditions.  However the detectors, call points, sounder, beacons and interfaces for this type of system are battery powered, and communicate wirelessly either directly with the control panel or wireless translator units.

Wireless fire alarm system equipment for BS5839 Part 6 Grade A systems are more expensive than the hard-wired alternatives.  However, savings can be made on the installation, as the installation will be much quicker than a hard-wired alternative, along with little or no damage to the fabric of the building.

For any queries on BS5839 Part 6 Grade A Fire Alarm Systems don't hesitate to call us now on 01200 428 410, email sales@thesafetycentre.co.uk or use our Livechat facility.