Tel: 0845 402 5183 Email: info@capitoline.co.uk
Solutions > Fire Systems
Capitoline is a specialist in the design, supply, installation & maintenance for all types of Fire, Safety & Security systems. Capitoline has experience of working with industry leading suppliers such as Gent and Kentec.
Capitoline can advise on the most appropriate forms of fire detection for
. Public buildings
· Residences
· Education
· Hospitals
· Offices
· Data Centres and computer rooms
A fire design policy operates over a number of areas, all of which are related.
Design the building with materials and designs that minimise fire risk
Operate the building with practices that reduce fire risk
Detect fire and smoke with suitable apparatus
Sound an alarm if fire is detected to evacuate a building, summon the fire brigade
Suppress the fire with automatic fire extinguishants
The principle fire safety legislation in the UK is the Fire Reform Safety Order.
A fire alarm system consists of
1. Detectors
2. Manual call points
3. Alarms
4. Approved fire survival cable to link it all together
5. A central control box to link it all together and to connect to other service
In the UK fire detection is governed by;
BS 5839-1:2002 Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings. Code of practice for system design, installation, commissioning and maintenance
And specifically for computer rooms and other electronic installations;
BS 6266:2002 Code of practice for fire protection for electronic equipment installations
Fire alarm and detection components are generally covered by;
BS EN 54 Fire detection and fire alarm systems
Fire detectors come in a number of guises such as ionising smoke detectors, optical detectors, flame and heat detectors etc, but the smoke detection system recommended for computer rooms is a highly sensitive system that gives very early warning and is known as Aspirating Smoke Detection, ASD.
BS 6266-2002 recommends, “A dedicated smoke detection system interfaced with the main building system, …and an aspirating smoke detection to monitor return air flows,” for critical equipment areas such as “centralised computer facilities.”
ASD is a high sensitivity, aspirating type laser-based optical smoke detection system that continually draws air within the protected area through a network of pipes where it is passed through a calibrated detection chamber. It is capable of providing very early warning of fire conditions thereby providing invaluable time to investigate and respond to a potential threat of fire. ASD is very often referred to by a brand name, VESDA, Very Early Smoke Detection Apparatus. VESDA is a trademark of Vision Products Pty Ltd of Australia.
A ‘VESDA’ type system can detect a fire within 70 seconds and activate a fire suppression response in under two minutes. A sprinkler system would take four to six minutes under the same circumstances.
For fire suppression EC Regulation 2037/2000 now prohibits the sale and use of halons, including material that has been recovered or recycled, from 31st December 2002. Furthermore, with the exception of equipment deemed critical under the Regulation, all fire-fighting equipment in the EU containing halons must be decommissioned before 31st December 2003.
The halon replacement market for clean agent gaseous suppression systems splits into inert gasses and halocarbon gasses.