FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSE-BUILT FLATS & APARTMENTS: A NEW APPROACH

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1 FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSE-BUILT FLATS & APARTMENTS: A NEW APPROACH

2 C-TEC HQ

3 Typical tower block

4 Andy Green Marketing Manager at C-TEC, a leading independent UK manufacturer of life safety electronic equipment 25 years experience in the fire alarm industry Used to live in a purpose built block of flats

5 What we will cover The origins of the Stay Put policy Overview of BS domestic fire detection & alarm systems Overview of BS commercial fire detection & alarm systems Does Stay Put still work Current NFCC (National Fire Chiefs Council) Guidance Can modern technology be used to complement or offer an alternative to Stay Put?

6 The Stay Put Policy A strategy in which a fire in a purpose-built block of flats is assumed to be confined to an individual compartmentalised dwelling unit Each dwelling unit is expected to have its own independent domestic fire alarm that notifies the occupant when there is a fire Occupants are expected to either put the fire out or leave the dwelling and notify the fire service so they can extinguish the fire before it spreads All escape routes and corridors are expected to be similarly protected and kept fire sterile

7 The Stay Put Policy

8 The Stay Put Policy

9 Why are there few communal fire systems in tower blocks? Dates back to 1948 and Chapter IV of CP3 guidance when only heat detectors, break glass points and bells existed. Communal systems at this time were considered undesirable due to:- Misuse and vandalism Unnecessary evacuations and the possible obstruction of fire fighting operations Cost of installation and ownership Fears over liability if a system was damaged

10 Design & Installation Standards

11 Overview of BS (Domestic Systems) Covers individual single dwelling units Does not give advice on signalling fires or faults to anywhere other than the dwelling Specifies different minimum Grades of system (A-F) for different types of dwellings. Defines Grades in such a way that a higher Grade is more acceptable than the minimum specified Grade for an application.

12 Categories of coverage of BS systems LD1 covers complete dwellings LD2 covers escape routes & designated areas LD3 covers escape routes only

13 Domestic Systems typically comprise: Grades F-D (Unmonitored Mains or Mains/Battery devices) Grades C-A (Monitored systems with separate controllers & batteries)

14 Overview of BS (Commercial Systems) Covers all non-domestic buildings including the communal parts of blocks of flats Includes 5 basic levels of protection (L1-5) with L1 being the entire building to L5 being an engineered approach L5 is the category normally assigned to the communal areas of apartments All devices to EN54

15 BS {2019 Draft} says: In the case of purpose-built flats, the degree of compartmentation between occupancies is normally sufficient to ensure that fire is contained in the dwelling of origin for a prolonged period. During this time, other occupants can remain in reasonable safety within their own dwellings. Accordingly, this part of BS 5839 does not provide recommendations for fire detection systems that incorporate detectors in the communal areas or ancillary accommodation (e.g. plant rooms) within purpose-built flats. BS (2017) says: virtually all premises need a fire alarm system BS covers the communal areas of blocks of flats. HOWEVER in Appendix A (which describes typical coverage for multiple scenarios) these areas are absent!

16 As a result Risk assessments follow the Stay Put strategy which often recommends communal areas are covered by a Cat L5 (Engineered) system The engineered solution tends to be: Do not put a communal fire detection & alarm system in the corridors & escape routes of the building Standards have been written to support a Stay Put strategy with no Plan B for when Stay Put fails No account has been taken of modern technology and what could be achieved using sophisticated cause & effects and system monitoring

17 IS STAY PUT SAFE?

18 What does stay put depend on? The integrity of the structure(s) cladding etc

19 What does stay put depend on? The integrity of the structure(s) cladding etc No deterioration in compartmentalisation

20 What does stay put depend on? The integrity of the structure(s) cladding etc No deterioration in compartmentalisation The fire services being informed promptly

21 What does stay put depend on? The integrity of the structure(s) cladding etc No deterioration in compartmentalisation The fire services being informed promptly Stairwells and corridors being kept clear

22 What does stay put depend on? The integrity of the structure(s) cladding etc No deterioration in compartmentalisation The fire services being informed promptly Stairwells and corridors being kept clear Fire service access being uncompromised

23 What does stay put depend on? The integrity of the structure(s) cladding etc No deterioration in compartmentalisation The fire services being informed promptly Stairwells and corridors being kept clear Fire service access being uncompromised Residents respecting and co-operating to maintain the integrity of the building/flats

24 Current National Fire Chiefs Council Guidance Guidance to support a temporary change to a simultaneous evacuation strategy in purpose built blocks of flats For buildings where Stay Put has been compromised Applies when a competent engineer assesses that the strategy is no longer effective due primarily (but not limited) to cladding issues Says a monitored automatic communal fire system to BS Cat L5 (i.e. an engineered solution) and/or waking watch should be provided until the issues are resolved

25 SO The objection to communal fire alarm systems that has run through most regulatory bodies has changed BUT Can you really be confident that the factors that led to the NFCC s guidance will not re-emerge? CONSIDER THIS How many apartment blocks do you know where stay put is compromised?

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27 STAY PUT MADE SAFER

28 Interconnecting domestic & communal systems Rarely happens in purpose-built tower blocks due to the Stay Put policy and no associated commercial system being fitted The different physical modes of operation of domestic and commercial systems make it technically difficult (240VAC and 24VDC don t mix) No single organisation has needed to develop an interface between the two types of system There has been a digression of working practices and standards Consequently

29 240V I/O 24V Never the twain shall meet!

30 Using modern technology & NFCC Guidance as a building block for a Plan B solution

31 How could this be achieved?

32 How would a truly integrated system work?

33 Any faults in the dwelling are indicated in the dwelling and reported to the off-site monitoring centre.

34 Fire Level 1 Optical detector in kitchen triggered Alarm sounds in the dwelling and is reported to the off-site monitoring centre Occupant silences the alarm if safe to do so. When alarm clears system resets and is reported to the off site monitoring centre.

35 Fire Level 2 Heat detector in entrance triggered Alarm sounds in the dwelling and (if programmed) activates the alarms in nearby dwellings or floors. Occupant cannot silence the alarm. Alarm shows at the panel and is reported to the off-site monitoring centre.

36 Or the system can be setup to evacuate the entire building as per the NFCC s simultaneous evacuation strategy

37 Manual controls are also provided at the control panel to enable the Fire service to manually evacuate the building or floors

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41 STAY PUT MADE SAFER

42 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION Tel: +44 (0) STAND FS20

43 Advantages of C-TEC s Hush2 solution Can be completely stand alone or networked (i.e. connected to & monitored by a communal system) Same simple wiring as a Grade D system Controller fits on a double gang plate with integral rechargeable and replaceable battery (10 year life) Includes reachable onboard Hush and Test facilities Optional communal detectors/alarm devices

44 Advantages of C-TEC s Hush2 solution Sprinkler monitoring and cooker switch off available on the same monitored wiring scheme Multi-sensors can trigger a separate Fire Level 2 event to the communal panel for relevant action Comprehensive fault monitoring and logging of all domestic systems to a Cloud based system in real time Designed and manufactured in the UK

45 Advantages of C-TEC s Hush2 solution Reduced lifetime ownership costs: Lower upfront equipment cost than Grade D equivalent Equipment has a greater than 10 year lifespan Off-site monitoring means dwelling visits can be scheduled to suit the risk Using Fire Level 2 means reduced false alarms Monitoring of the domestic systems allows for reduced levels of surveillance and increased levels of reliability

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47 What we have covered The origins of the Stay Put policy Overview of BS domestic fire detection & alarm systems Overview of BS commercial fire detection & alarm systems Does Stay Put still work? Current NFCC (National Fire Chiefs Council) Guidance Can modern technology be used to complement or offer an alternative to Stay Put?

48 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION Tel: +44 (0)

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50 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS