I.S. 3218 is the standard for fire alarm systems in Ireland. This covers both commercial and domestic systems. Where you have a responsibility to provide a safe place of work and also have regular public traffic then you should ensure you have a fire alarm system. Advanced Fire Protection is registered and accredited to Irish Standard 3218 which governs fire detection and alarm systems. We can complete all four stages of the Fire Detection & Alarm system process (design, installation, commissioning and handover) or individual stages as required.

Types of Fire Alarm systems

All Fire Alarm Systems essentially operate on the same principle. If a detector detects smoke or heat or someone operates a break glass unit (manual call point), then alarm sounders operate to warn others in the building that there may be a fire and to evacuate. It may also incorporate remote signaling equipment which would alert the fire brigade via a central station. Fire Alarm Systems can be broken down into categories: Conventional, Addressable and Wireless systems.

At Advanced Fire Protection we understand the strengths of the various fire detection solutions we bring to the market. Together with our vast experience, we adopt a creative and balanced approach to ensure the system we deliver matches the specific requirements and risks of the building and its operations.

See our supplementary services section for the following

Ansul / Kitchen Suppression Systems
Disabled Refuge
Dry & Wet Riser Systems
Fire Hydrants
Fire Doors & Mechanisms
Access Control Systems
CCTV / Intruder Alarm / 24 Hr Remote Monitoring
Air Sampling Systems
Smoke Barrier Systems
Automatic Opening Vent (AOV) System
Water / Leak Detection
Smoke Barrier / Fire Damper Systems

Wireless Fire Alarm System

Wireless fire alarm systems are an effective alternative to traditional wired fire alarm systems for all applications. They utilise secure, license-free radio communications to interconnect the sensors and devices (smoke detectors, call points, etc.) with the controllers. It is a simple concept, which provides many unique benefits and is a full analog addressable fire detection system without the need for a cable.

System Design

Contact Advanced Fire Protection before starting, our designers will need to ensure that certain information is available. This may be given in the specification or it may have to be obtained by consultation. As well as the purchaser, there may be a requirement to consult with other interested parties.

An Analog Addressable System is similar to a Conventional System except that the Control Panel can determine exactly which detector or call point has initiated the alarm. The detection circuit is wired as a loop to various devices that may be connected to each loop. Each detector is individually addressed. The address in each detector is set by dil / switches and the Control Panel is programmed to display the information required when that particular detector is operated.

Additional Field Devices are available which may be wired to the loop for detection only i.e. it is possible to detect a normally open contact closing such as sprinkler flow switch, or a normally closed contact opening. Sounders are wired in a minimum of two sounder circuits exactly like a Conventional System. Loop Isolation Modules are available for fitting onto the detection loop/loops such that the loop is sectioned in order to ensure that a short circuit or one fault will only cause the loss of a minimal part of the system is used for monitoring purposes.

Stage 1 – System Design
Stage 2 – System Installation
Stage 3 – System Commissioning
Stage 4 – System Handover

• The type of system required and where appropriate, parts of the premises to be covered.
• The action to be taken in the event of a fire
• Whether other occupants of a multi-occupancy building will be affected
• Whether other work is to be done at the same time. If so then consultation with other contractors may be required.
• A Method of calling the Fire Brigade
• Whether the type of occupants or activity in the building will require a greater provision of Manual Call Points than normal
• A likely attendance time of the Fire Brigade

Control and indicating equipment perform three principal functions, namely:
•  Automatic monitoring and control of circuits external to the equipment, such as fire detection and fire alarm device circuits and supply of power to these circuits
•  Indication of fire signals, fault signals, and their location
•  Manual control to facilitate actions such as testing, disablement of devices, triggering of fire signals, silencing of audible fire warnings, and resetting the system after a fire signal

Advanced Fire Protection panels are fully specified in Irish Standards. This requires that circuits are monitored continuously and that both audible and visual indication is provided for fault and fire alarm conditions. Further requirements include that alarm sounders may only be silenced manually, after which the control panel must provide audible and visual signals until the system is reset. Silencing of alarm sounders must not prevent the alarm from being raised in other zones. It should be noted that the standards require all fault/alarm indicator lamps to be in duplicate or a single lamp with the audible signal of lamp failure. Control and indicating panels may include facilities for the operation of ancillary services such as fixed fire extinguishers / suppression, door closing etc.

The equipment should normally be sited in an area of low fire risk and on the ground floor by the entrance used by the Fire and Rescue Service and preferably viewable from outside of the building. It should be located in an area common to all building users and where automatic detection is in use, the Control Panel should be in a protected area. An alarm sounder should be sited next to the
Control Unit, but not too near the telephone position. A suitable zone chart of the building should normally be installed adjacent to the Control Panel.

Points to consider

•  Number of zones required
•  Surface or flush mounting
•  Maximum alarm load per alarm zone
•  Automatic system, compliance with Irish Standard
•  Manual system compliance with Irish Standard
•  Maximum current per detector zone
•  Maximum detectors per zone
•  Open, closed or fault monitored system
•  Single or two-stage alarms / Double Knock
•  Provision for connection to the remote manned centre e.g. Monitoring Station, Fire Brigade, Security & Responsible person
•  Provision for conduit and wiring compatible with building conduit and wiring system
•  Provision for the operation of ancillary service

Fire Alarm Detection Systems

Fire Alarm Detection Systems