Fact File 69 Fire Detection & Alarms

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Curtis Dixon
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1 Fact File 69 Fire Detection & Alarms Revision of BS Detection and alarm devices for dwellings Part 3: Specification for fire alarm and carbon monoxide alarm systems for deaf and hard of hearing people

2 Revision of BS Detection and alarm devices for dwellings Part 3: Specification for fire alarm and carbon monoxide alarm systems for deaf and hard of hearing people BACKGROUND... 3 INTRODUCTION... 4 CHANGE OF TITLE... 4 OVERVIEW OF THE STANDARD... 4 RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER PUBLICATIONS... 4 CHANGES INTRODUCED IN THE 2015 EDITION of 6

3 BACKGROUND This Fact File provides a summary of the principal changes to the Standard. It also provides a guidance sheet for the selection of an alarm system for different levels of hearing loss. It provides information to manufacturers of alarm systems for the deaf and hard of hearing. It may also be of interest to specifiers of alarm systems for the deaf and hard of hearing to assist them in preparing a specification suitable for specific requirements. 3 of 6

4 INTRODUCTION This Fact File is intended to provide a summary of the changes introduced in the 2015 edition of BS , which supersedes the previous publication BS :2005, which was withdrawn on 28/02/2015. The standard is primarily aimed at manufacturers of fire and carbon monoxide alarm systems for people with impaired hearing in order that they can produce equipment to conform to its requirements. However, it may also be of interest to specifiers of such equipment to assist them in the production of a specification suitable for an individual s particular requirements. Annex A of the document may prove useful to achieve this end. The 2015 edition of BS is a full and detailed revision of the 2005 publication. This Fact File only details the principal changes. Full information on all the changes can only be obtained by reference to the published document. CHANGE OF TITLE The previous edition of the standard was entitled BS :2005 Fire detection and fire alarm devices for dwellings - Part 3: Specification for smoke alarm kits for the deaf and hard of hearing. Because the 2015 edition now references carbon monoxide alarms, in addition to smoke alarms, it became necessary to change the title to recognise this change in order that the risk of confusion to potential users of the document is reduced. Consequently, the title of the 2015 document has been changed to BS :2015 Detection and alarm devices for dwellings - Part 3: Specification for fire alarm and carbon monoxide alarm systems for deaf and hard of hearing people. OVERVIEW OF THE STANDARD BS :2015 specifies requirements and test methods for components and their means of interconnection, eg by electrical wiring or by radio links, intended to be assembled to create fire and/ or carbon monoxide alarm systems for deaf and hard of hearing people, for the purpose of life safety in dwellings. RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER PUBLICATIONS BS 5446 is published in the following parts: Part 2: Specification for heat alarms Part 3: Specification for fire and carbon monoxide alarm systems for deaf and hard of hearing people Smoke alarms for use in dwellings are specified in BS EN Carbon monoxide alarms (life safety) are specified in BS EN Guidance on the siting, installation and maintenance of smoke alarms for deaf and hard of hearing people in dwellings, and on user actions, is given in BS Guidance on siting and maintenance of carbon monoxide alarms is given in BS EN for general use. 4 of 6

5 CHANGES INTRODUCED IN THE 2015 EDITION INCLUSION OF CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS The standard now includes the provision of carbon monoxide alarms (life safety) and requires that if they are included they should conform to BS EN It should be noted that the carbon monoxide alarm provision is an option, not a requirement. SMOKE AND HEAT ALARMS The requirement for smoke alarms now references the latest version of the product standard, BS EN instead of BS :2000. Heat alarms were not referenced in the 2005 standard but are now recognised in the 2015 edition. The relevant standard referenced being BS CHANGE FROM KITS TO INDIVIDUAL COMPONENTS THAT MAY BE USED TO FORM A SYSTEM APPROPRIATE TO INDIVIDUAL REQUIREMENTS OR NEEDS It was recognised that the term kits could create problems for manufacturers and specifiers alike, because it could result in limited choice for the specifier or end-user and consequently may prove difficult to provide a kit suitable for a sufficiently wide number of requirements. To take account of the potential for this, the standard concentrates on the individual components that could be used together in whatever combination may be required to suit the particular application. The intention is that this should make it easier for the specifier or end-user to custom-build a system to suit their own particular requirements. See also the section on grade of system below. To avoid confusion, the standard now refers exclusively to systems that would be assembled from the component parts included in the standard. However, this does not mean that individual manufacturers are precluded from producing an off-the-shelf system. Should they choose to do this, it would be necessary for all the component parts used to be tested to the requirements detailed in the standard in order to claim conformance with it. INCLUSION OF REFERENCES TO EUROPEAN STANDARDS FOR VISUAL ALARM DEVICES AND LOW FREQUENCY SOUNDERS To enable the provision of a system to meet a wide range of possible requirements, it was felt necessary to include requirements for both visual alarm devices and low frequency sounders in the standard. Visual alarm devices were included in the original 2005 standard but the requirements differed in some respects to the current European standard. To address this BS EN 54-23:2010 is referenced to bring it into line with an existing standard. Low frequency sounders were not referenced in the 2005 edition of the standard and this has been addressed in this edition by reference to BS EN 54-3:2001. VIBRATING PADS AND VIBRATING ALERTERS A new more reproducible test method has been developed and specified for measuring the vibration level of these devices. REMOVAL OF REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC TO LAVs It was felt that with the robustness of the requirements for the individual system components, there was no need to complicate system requirements by adding additional tests. Consequently, reference to Leisure Accommodation Vehicles (LAVs) has been removed. 5 of 6

6 INCLUSION OF GUIDANCE ON ALARM SYSTEMS SUITABLE FOR VARYING LEVELS OF HEARING LOSS To assist manufacturers, specifiers and end-users in the selection of a grade of system to suit an individual s needs, a grading system has been added to the standard for information purposes. The grades run from 1 to 4 and give guidance on component requirements for particular levels of hearing difficulty and for individual needs. The grade system is shown below: Classification Intended use Components Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 To alert a deaf or hard of hearing person, while awake or asleep, for all levels of hearing loss To alert a deaf or hard of hearing person, while asleep, for all levels of hearing loss To alert a deaf or hard of hearing person, while awake, for all levels of hearing loss To alert a person with mild hearing loss B ), while asleep or awake NOTE A low-frequency sounder is an option for Grades 1, 2 and 3. Vibrating pad Visual alarm device Vibrating pad Visual alarm device and/or vibrating alerter Low-frequency sounder A) A heat alarm should not be used as the only means of fire detection. B) A person with mild hearing loss is one who might have difficulty following speech, particularly in noisy situations. British Standards Institution (BSI Extract reproduced with permission. Source: BS :2015 Detection and alarm devices for dwellings. Specification for fire alarm and carbon monoxide alarm systems for deaf and hard of hearing people. Table A.1 DISCLAIMER The information set out in this document is believed to be correct in the light of information currently available but it is not guaranteed and neither the Fire Industry Association nor its officers can accept any responsibility in respect of the contents or any events arising from use of the information contained within this document. Tudor House, Kingsway Business Park, Oldfield Road, Hampton, Middlesex TW12 2HD Tel: +44 (0) of 6

Fact File 78. Portable Fire Extinguishers under the ADR. Note: This Fact File supersedes Fact File 060 which is withdrawn

Fact File 78. Portable Fire Extinguishers under the ADR. Note: This Fact File supersedes Fact File 060 which is withdrawn Fact File 78 Portable Fire Extinguishers under the ADR Note: This Fact File supersedes Fact File 060 which is withdrawn The European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by