Looking for a reliable way to detect fire in your business premises? A conventional fire alarm kit could be the perfect solution—providing early detection, full-building alerts, and peace of mind.
They’re a great method of alerting a whole building of people to a potential threat in one instance. When a detector has recognised a potential threat in one area, the alarms get sounded all around the building.
That way, you can ensure everyone receives due warning and has plenty of time to make their escape. Plus, there’ll never be an excuse for not hearing the alarms either.
Just like a traditional battery smoke alarm, once smoke enters the chamber, it triggers the alarm. But call points on the system allow anyone to also raise the alarm if they discover a threat before the detector.
The detector, in turn, sends a signal to the control panel, which will cause all the sounders to do their job.
How a Conventional Fire Alarm System Works in Your Business
Your system will split into zones. The number of zones you require will depend on the size and needs of your premises.
A small office is likely to need only a small two-zone system, whereas a larger complex with warehouses may require four or eight zones.
Having zones allows you to accurately know the location of the threat. That knowledge is then essential to the fire service who can respond quickly by going directly to that area.
With a conventional system, all detectors and call points are on one loop around each zone. Another loop then connects your warning devices. This could include all the sounders, beacons and fire bells in the entire building.
Key Components of a Business Fire Alarm System
It can be hard to know exactly what to have with your fire alarm system.
But fire alarm kits are available which will either include everything you need, or at least act as a good starting point.
What and how many devices you need does, again, depend on where you’re installing it and the size of the system. Every business is unique after all, so every system is, therefore, different.
A control panel is essential. This is where all the elements of the fire alarm system communicate with each other. But it is also your hub for monitoring and controlling the system.
Ideally, you should place the control panel by the main entrance of the premises so that firefighters can refer to it as they enter.
In order to make it as reliable as possible, you will want to have batteries installed. They will provide a backup electrical supply should the power fail. That means the system will still detect threats and alert you to them during a power cut.
Just like your standard smoke alarm, detectors on these systems come in different types: ionisation, optical and heat. And like them, they also need replacing every ten years.
You will need a detector located in, ideally, the middle of every room. Fire alarm kits come with four optical smoke detectors and a heat detector.
Having a range of different detector types means you are creating a system which is as accurate as possible. Together, you have a better chance of detecting all types of fire in every environment.
Each detector also needs a base. These can add functionality, but they also simplify replacement and maintenance. This is because the detector just simply fits the base, and a diode alerts the control panel when removed or not fitted correctly.
Two call points give an opportunity for anyone to manually raise the alarm, and two sounders will ensure the alarm gets heard.
What’s Included in Our Ideal Fire Alarm Kit
The kit includes everything mentioned above.
For a smaller system, this may be everything you require. In larger systems, the fire alarm kits give you the essentials. You may want to add additional devices to the system, and the kit will provide the foundations upon which you can build.
With these kits you can also add alert inputs. As an example, in a school this would allow you to use the fire alarm system to alert everyone of a class change.
You can also add the ability to shut fire doors, open vents and disable lifts automatically when the alarm goes off.
Just remember that these kits don’t come with cables or fixings. This is because many installers will have their own supply. However, you can also purchase these yourself separately if needed.
