Technical Bulletins published by the FDIA
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- Written by Clive Foord
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21 Years ago, the Fire Detection Installers Association (FDIA) was formed, when like-minded people within the fire detection and gas suppression industry got together with a single goal in mind and that was of uplifting the fire detection and gas suppression industry. The association is not a government or regulatory body but an association whose members are committed to comply with the national standards regarding Fire Detection and Alarm Systems and Gaseous Fire Suppression Systems whilst adhering to a set code of ethics. The FDIA has always operated as a non-profit organisation, with a committee made up of volunteers within the industry who sacrifice their time at no charge to the association and gain no other benefit other than to see the upliftment of the industry.
Before the FDIA was formed, Fire Detection and Alarm Systems and Gaseous Fire Suppression Systems were based on the individual philosophy thought up by the installation companies or system designers, designed around the budget of the end user, rather than the actual system requirement needed to ensure that life and property were protected and there was no national standard on fire detection to refer to. There was a feeling of designing and installing down to a budget and not up to a standard.
With the lack of national standards, conformity was near impossible. Each end user would have to accept their system would work in the event of a fire – simply because the installer said so.
It was in the early days of the FDIA, that the need for installation standards became a priority. At that stage, the FDIA pushed the SABS and SANS to adopt the BS 5839-1 standard, this was the first and biggest step taken towards uplifting the industry.
21 years down the line the FDIA continues to push towards uplifting the industry. The committee is actively involved in and driving the updating of standards to ensure that best practice is always followed.
Below are some of the contributions, among others, that the FDIA has given to the industry in the recent past:
=> Ensuring correct cable is used in Fire Detection and Alarm Systems and Gaseous Fire Suppression Systems installations.
=> Gaseous Fire Suppression System warning device requirements were poorly documented, so the FDIA drove for conformity, ensuring the entire industry followed the same philosophy.
=> Setting the foundation to start the SAQCC-Fire D&GS division and pushing for the training and registration of technicians.
To date, the FDIA has been an integral part of getting the Fire Detection and Alarm Systems and Gaseous Fire Suppression Systems industry to where it is now. The FDIA and its members continue to take pride in our achievements.
All our members are required to be the best that they can within our industry. We encourage all companies working within the Fire Detection and Alarm Systems and Gaseous Fire Suppression Systems industry to become members. The criteria to become a member is very achievable and fits in line with our mission of uplifting the industry, thus protecting the end user and ensuring that life and property are protected.
To find out more about the FDIA, please log onto our website www.fdia.co.za
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- Written by Charles Thiongo
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Persons who design, commission, install or service fire protection equipment or systems, should have the required level of competence for the task they perform. There should be sufficient proof of relevant training and experience for the job they are undertaking. The onus is on you, as the client, to check out your service provider and confirm that their staff have the competencies to render the services, they are offering you.
Below are some of the disciplines in the fire industry and the corresponding of skills required:
=> Construction skills for passive fire protection
=> Mechanical and hydraulic skills for water sprinkler systems
=> Electrical and electronic skills for fire detection
=> Mechanical and gas flow characteristics for gas suppression systems
The Department of Employment and Labour 21 years ago, saw the need to impose requirements for technicians who work in the fire industry by providing a vehicle for the registration of authorised persons servicing fire extinguishers. Persons were being killed by the pressurised containers that they were working on, as they lacked the knowledge and training to services such devices. These registration levels were expanded in 2012 to include gas suppression and fire detection personnel. The registration authority mandated to do this work is the South African Qualifications & Certifications Committee - FIRE.
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- Written by Charles Thiongo
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A graphic user interface for fire detection is a graphics program on a computer that makes it easier for the operator of the system to access all the functionalities of the fire detection system on a PC.
Having a graphic user interface (GUI) is a relatively expensive exercise but the advantage it affords the user far exceeds the cost. It requires a well-trained technician to interface the fire detection system to the GUI and the process usually requires a considerable length of time.
The graphics user interface is generally recommended where you have a system of several fire panels on a network bringing all the system alarms to a central point making them very much easier to read and take fast action.
A network may cover more than one floor of a building or several buildings in proximity, so centralising the alarms in one central point makes the responsible person’s life so much easier.
Steps to creating a GUI for your fire detection system
The fire detection needs to be functioning properly after final commissioning. The system needs to be correctly programmed and configured with fire zoning of the entire system in place.
A computer that meets the manufacturers specification for the GUI needs to be made available, preferably at the control room, reception or a convenient place to be agreed upon by all parties involved. The size of the screen or monitor can either be the normal size that comes with the PC or a much larger size like a 40 Inch TV screen which will make the experience of using a GUI much easier and more efficient.
The distance between the fire alarm panel (generally the master panel) and the computer needs to be taken into consideration, bearing in mind there will be cabling required to link the two systems.
Floor plans will need to be prepared and loaded into the PC with the correct format depending on the fire detection system’s software requirements. The floor plans and fire zones will also need to be correctly and adequately marked, making it easily identifiable for the user of the system.
Icons depicting the devices installed and the corresponding addresses will then be plotted on the drawings.
The person commissioning the system will need to check and test the GUI thoroughly to ensure that the correct information has been loaded to the PC and the events displayed on the screen correspond with those on the fire alarm panel.
Advantages and Features of a Graphic User Interface
The features below are available on most GUI’s available in the market today: -
- The user can easily determine the location of the incident as it is displayed on floor plan.
- The status of the fire alarm with all conditions and incidences are conveniently displayed on the screen.
- The GUI is not as intimidating as the fire panel and it is much easier to navigate.
- Most operations on the fire panel can be done on the computer screen via a mouse.
- All alarms are recorded and stored in memory.
- Status and Maintenance reports can easily be retrieved.
- Individual status of devices can be determined.
- Information from the fire panel can be easily imported.
- Multiple events can be displayed on the screen as they happen.
- There is more flexibility and space to have a more elaborate device message as the GUI is not as limiting as the control panel.
- Different colours can be used for different zones or floors in a building making the system more aesthetically appealing.
It must be remembered that whatever alarms are brought to the operator’s attention on the GUI it is always necessary for the appointed person, to attend the location of the alarm as quickly as possible to determine the source of the problem and deal with it quickly. The quicker one finds the source of the problem the easier it is to deal with. A delay of even 5 minutes can have dire consequences.
Precautions when using a GUI
* Should the GUI PC fail, the operator or user of the system may be stranded as they could have lost touch with the fire panel and have no clue of how to operate it. Operators and users of a GUI should be encouraged to still operate the fire panel as the GUI is just an optional extra to the fire detection system.
* The logbook should not be neglected because the GUI is in place. Proper filling-in of the logbook should be done and all activities on the system to be manually recorded and correctly entered on the logbook.
* The GUI does not replace the fire panel; therefore, the location of the main panel(s) should be according to standard and should not be compromised because there is a GUI.
* Back -up requirement for the GUI PC should be considered and put in place. An incidence may happen during a power failure which may cause damage due to the operator not knowing where the incidence is. The GUI may also need to be reactivated after a power failure and this will require a technician to do, due to the passwords and process involved and that is why it is important to have a back -up system for the GUI PC. Same specifications for power back-up as of a fire panel will suffice.
* Users and operators should be cautioned about using the GUI PC for other activities like putting USB to watch movies or listen to music and connecting to the internet as these may infect the PC with viruses and compromise the proper functionality of the GUI thus endangering the occupants of the building and the property at large.
We continue to encourage all end users and consultants to only use FDIA registered contractors as they have the commitment, capability and mandate to ensure that not only is your fire detection system installed correctly but it is serviced and maintained as per the required standards and regulations.
Kindly note that the FDIA is no longer issuing membership certificates to its members due to several non FDIA registered companies faking FDIA membership certificates. Please visit our website www.fdia.co.za to see the current and active members of the FDIA.
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- Written by Charles Thiongo
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Battery charging rooms pose fire explosion risk due to the presence of hydrogen gas produced when lead -acid batteries are being charged. The hydrogen gas should be monitored so that it does not reach and exceed levels that are likely to cause an explosion. It is therefore necessary to monitor the presence of both fire and hydrogen in battery rooms.
Design
Fire detection equipment that is used in battery rooms should be intrinsically safe. The designer of the system should specify certified intrinsically safe equipment, knowing where to place the Zener / Galvanic barriers and what factors to take into consideration depending on the size, location and quantity of batteries in the room. The designer needs to liaise with the end user about what actions needs to be initiated when hydrogen levels reach a certain threshold. Best practice would be to have a ventilation system that will automatically open when the predetermined high levels are reached. There can also be continuous extraction and other methods of ventilation. Another option could be to stop the charging process, but this may have negative consequence and the designer will need to clarify all these points with the user as to what would be the best option.
Installation
The installer of the system must be aware of the risks and ensure that the correct working procedures are adhered to, for example, hydrogen levels are safe in the battery room before entering the area to start work. Portable hydrogen monitors should be made available to the installer when working in the room to ensure that they are continuously monitoring the level of hydrogen in the room. Pneumatic tools are recommended because they have less risk of producing sparks which may cause an explosion. The personal protective equipment needs to be the type suitable and appropriate for intrinsically safe areas. The installer should also be aware of the high voltage and amperage that exists in the batteries, capable of causing electrocution which maybe fatal and there is therefore a great need to exercise maximum caution when working in the battery room.
Intrinsically safe areas must be fitted with approved and tested intrinsically safe fire detection components. Depending on the category and risk associated with a specific room, it may be necessary to run cables in steel conduits and in some areas, steel wire armored cables maybe specified.
The intrinsically safe barrier must be properly earthed. For addressable systems, a protocol translator is used to reduce the voltages inside the intrinsic area.
Commissioning
The commissioner of the system needs to ensure that the system is installed as per design and will work when required. Proper testing of all the devices installed must happen to ensure that each device is working as intended. Interfaces to the ventilation equipment and other services must tested. The commissioner will ensure that the client/ user is aware of what is installed, how it works, and what interfaces are connected to the fire system. Required documentation and drawings including test reports need to be handed to the client during training and handover. Reference should be made to SANS10139 for certificates and documentation requirements. Ongoing servicing and maintenance by approved personnel will need to be scheduled as this will help ensure that the system will continue to work properly.
We continue to encourage all end users and consultants to only use FDIA registered contractors as they have the commitment, capability and mandate to ensure that not only is your fire detection system installed correctly but it is serviced and maintained as per the required standards and regulations.
Kindly note that the FDIA is no longer issuing membership certificates to its members due to several companies fraudulently using FDIA membership certificates. Please visit our website www.fdia.co.za to see the current and active members of the FDIA.
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- Written by Charles Thiongo
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There has been an entrance of new fire detection suppliers into the market recently and existing suppliers have also been introducing new products into the market. It is therefore important to make an informed decision before committing to a product.
Below are several important factors to consider when choosing a fire detection system to install.
For the installation company, client and consultant
Availability of equipment is key to ensure that there are no undue delays when an installation has started, and even more importantly, ongoing support and maintenance after the project is completed. Ask what the lead time is, to get products that are not off the shelf. This is also important should it become necessary to replace equipment in the future.
Technical support and training on the product are crucial to ensure that the installers are not stuck with a product that they cannot install, program or service effectively due to lack of support from suppliers. Installers, commissioners and designers need to attend product training and evaluate, among other things, the competence of the technical support and the general capability of the system or product.
Consultants and end users need to confirm how many installation companies have been trained on that product or system so that they will not be left stranded with a brand that is well advertised but cannot be serviced by local companies.
Confirm which international approvals the product has and where else the product has been used.
Be sure that the quoted price of the product is for delivery to your office and you do not become responsible for import costs, import duties or courier costs.
Take time to carefully look at the product to see whether the product is as advertised. Among the things to check, is how easy it is to install the product. Confirm if there are any special tools required to program the system and how does this affect the system in terms of maintenance and installation.
Peer review is important. Check with other installers what experience they have with the product or the supplier. FDIA has a platform where questions and comments are posted without bias or malice and many have gained from insights and experience of other installers.
Cabling is an important part of an installation and installers need to be extra careful of where they get their cables from, as many cheap imports have been found on sites. If you’re offered cable at half the price of other suppliers it may be because it is a cheap import that may not comply with SANS 50200, BS 8434-2 as referenced in SANS 10139.
Beware of companies that claim their cable is FDIA approved as the FDIA does not approve cables.
For the product supplier
The installation company needs to have their key personnel duly registered by SAQCC FIRE D&GS, in their levels of competence. Confirm on the SAQCC FIRE website if the personnel are registered and which companies they work for. Any good product may end up being installed incorrectly and creating a bad image for the product. Suppliers who truly care about the reputation of their product will be reluctant to sell to individuals or companies that are not trained on their products.
We continue to encourage all end users and consultants to only use FDIA registered contractors as they have the commitment, capability and mandate to ensure that not only is your fire detection system installed correctly but it is serviced and maintained as per the required standards and regulations. Kindly note that the FDIA is no longer issuing membership certificates to its members due to several non FDIA registered companies faking FDIA membership certificates. Please visit our website www.fdia.co.za to see the current and active members of the FDIA.
