INSTALLATION & MAINTENANCE of FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS
COURSE 470: 3 DAYS
Modern fire alarm systems require careful, validated installation and maintenance to ensure that false alarms are infrequent and that a real fire would be detected quickly without damage to property or loss of life. This course provides delegates with the knowledge and skills necessary to work on these systems competently.
PARTICIPANTS
The course is designed for those who have an electrical background (for example maintenance electricians) or for those who have successfully completed course 110: Electrical Maintenance Skills.
COURSE PRESENTATION
The course is presented using a range of industrial fire alarm panels and associated components so that candidates learn how the devices fit into the system, how they function and the way in which they should be configured, connected and tested. On-going assessments are used to ensure that the candidates are able to meet the objectives of the course. Comprehensive course notes are provided.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
On completion of the course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the way in which a large fire alarm system would be connected and zoned
- Specify the import of the British Standards and Regulations relating to fire alarm systems
- Identify the main connections, component parts and indications on typical fire panels
- Identify the required end of line (EOL) terminations and the cabling requirements for mains supplies and detectors etc
- Recognise the various types of detectors used in fire alarm systems
- Read and understand a typical schedule for a large fire alarm system
- Identify the dangers involved in incorrectly connecting detectors and Break Glass Units (BGUs)
- Connect a fire alarm panel (using EOLs) to a variety of detectors, sounders, BGUs etc
- Find faulty detectors, cabling, configuration errors, etc on a simulated system
- Commission a fire alarm system using walk tests, making measurements, testing for functionality of detectors etc
- Complete the relevant certificates to validate a functional commercial system.
Successful completion of the course leads to the award of Amicus / Technical Training
Solutions competence Certificate 470: Installation and Maintenance of Fire Alarm Systems.
What do candidates on the Fire Alarms course actually do?
The Fire Alarms course begins by looking at the Legislation, British Standards and Codes of Practice applicable to Fire Alarm Systems. The various requirements are explained, in particular the requirements of BS 5839-1 and BS5839-6. Candidates then learn about the methods of zoning detectors and alarms and the principle of fire compartments. The needs for the various different system categories are then analysed. The following are pages taken from the course notes in this section of the course, dealing with BS5839, alarm zoning and alarm system categorisation:
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We then look at the component parts of fire alarm systems, starting with the detectors used. (We employ a range of manufacturers' components on the course, so that the candidates can carefully consolidate their knowledge and experience of the range of devices that they might encounter when looking at real systems subsequent to the training.) For example, the following are the various fire detectors that we use on the course:
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We then disassemble the commonly used component parts of fire alarm systems, looking carefully at the terminal identifications etc. We use a range of Break Glass Units, Detectors and Sounders.
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Candidates on the Fire Alarms course then build a simple 2 zone system. In order to do this they need to understand the connections required in the detectors, sounders and BGUs, but they also learn about the typical connections required in simple fire panels.
Candidates need to refer to the manufacturer's manuals when doing this and this therefore also helps them to gain experience of how the important information is conveyed in manufacturer's data.
This exercise provides valuable experience and our instructors help the candidates where necessary.
We then analyse the various types of fire alarm panels in common use, differentiating between conventional and addressable, 2-Wire and 4-Wire types. The following are pages taken from the course notes in this section of the course, dealing with 4-Wire Panels, 2-wire Panels and analogue addressable panels:
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We then look at how the various components used in fire alarm systems achieve automatic detection, how they should be positioned and the typical arrangements of the electronic components used in the sensing wires. The following are pages taken from the course notes in this section of the course, dealing with CO detectors, detector positioning and the electronics found on the signal wiring:
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Candidates are given the opportunity to study a range of commercial and industrial panels during the training course, analysing their particular features, functionality and advantages and disadvantages. The following are some of the fire panels used on the course:
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Candidates on the Fire Alarms course then look at how to perform the important battery capacity calculations, and practice doing these calculations on real systems. We also look at the certification requirements and we practice completing the required paperwork, taken from appropriate parts of BS5839. Candidates are then given a final assessment which is to design a complex installation (in compliance with BS5839) employing all their knowledge and skills gained from the course.
We also measure the sound intensity from a real sounder, looking at the ways in which this should be done (adjusting when necessary) and ensuring that the levels meet the requirements of the British Standard. We also identify the maintenance requirements of fire alarm systems, as well as the use of modern multi-technology detectors.
The following are pages taken from the course notes in this section of the course, dealing with battery calculations, the BS5839 Certificates and the final practical exercise:
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The culmination of the Fire Alarms course is that candidates build a complex conventional system employing all their knowledge and skills gained from the course. The following is an un-assembled board:
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