Types of Fire Detection and Alarm Systems

There are generally four main types of Fire Detection and Alarm Systems commonly found in commercial properties

• Conventional
• Addressable
• Wireless
• Aspirating

Fire detection and alarm systems are a legal requirement under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order for non-domestic premises such as Offices, Shops, Hotels, Public Venues.

Conventional Fire Alarm Systems

Conventional fire detection and alarm systems can be found in smaller premises such as shops and restaurants and are comprised of dividing a building into a number of detection zones in a circuit that are linked to a control panel. If a detector is activated, the control panel will identify the circuit where the detector is located and therefore the zone from which the fire alarm has come. These systems tend to be less expensive to install than other types of fire detection and alarm systems.

Analogue Addressable Fire Detection and Alarm Systems

Addressable fire detection and alarm systems can be found in larger, more complex premises such as offices, schools, hospitals, hotels, manufacturing facilities. These systems are able to locate a specific detector in the event of an alarm which enables the emergency services to tackle the exact position of the potential fire. An addressable system reduces the risk of false alarms and can also be extended more easily.

Wireless Fire Detection and Alarm Systems

Wireless fire detection and alarm systems are suited to premises where it is impractical to run cables throughout a property such as listed buildings. Detectors and call points are connected using radio connectivity. These systems are typically more expensive to buy but are less expensive to install and upgrade than conventional and addressable systems.

Aspirating Smoke Detection and Alarm Systems

Aspirating Smoke Detection and Alarm Systems can typically be found in warehouses and unmanned data rooms. These systems use a fan to draw air from around a building using a network of sampling zones. Precision detectors constantly analyse the air and give warning when it detects smoke particles. These systems are typically more expensive to install due to the network of pipes and air filtration detection required.

RES provides a complete fire detection and fire alarm system design, installation and commissioning service, ensuring your premises are compliant to British Standards.

Quelfire Product Training at RES Systems Ltd.

RES were recently given expert product training in the Quelfire range of fire stopping products by Fire Containment Specialist Malcolm Williams from Quelfire. The aim of the training is to give installation experts the guidance and know-how on typical applications for fire stopping products.

Malcolm Williams, Fire Containment Specialist, Quelfire

Quelfire

Quelfire is one of the leading manufacturers and suppliers of Specialist Firestopping Products for buildings and is a well-trusted brand that’s renowned for its long-standing commitment to high-quality, certified products, including fire containment systems for pipe, duct and electrical service penetrations.

The Training

The RES passive team were provided with an in-depth presentation and demonstration covering the rigorous testing that takes place on the Quelfire products, industry legislation, why passive fire protection is so critical, how the products work and detailed installation guidance.

Fire stopping prevents the spread of fire (heat, flames, fumes) and increases the opportunity for safe egress from a building.
It is therefore essential that any Fire Stopping product is correctly installed as per the manufacturers guidance.

The Quelfire Fire Stopping System

Quelfire provide a Fire Stopping System comprising a range of high quality individual products that are tested as a complete system. Their products are tested to current BS and BS EN Standards and are CE Marked as per the Under The Construction Products Regulation (CPR).

Following on from the training, RES will continue to work closely with Quelfire on all our Fire Stopping projects.

RES Passive Fire Protection

RES provide a range of Passive Fire Protection such as Fire Stopping and Fire Doors and have FIRAS Accreditation.

We cover the South of England including the counties of Middlesex, Essex, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire including London, Brighton, Portsmouth, Southampton, Winchester, Bristol, and the surrounding towns of Aldershot, Basingstoke, Beaconsfield, Bracknell, Cirencester, Egham, Farnham, Guildford, Henley on Thames, High Wycombe, Maidenhead, Marlow, Newbury, Oxford, Poole, Reading, Slough, Staines, St Albans, Staines, Swindon, Watford, Windsor, Woking, Wokingham and Worthing.

New Evacuation Alert Systems.

New evacuation alert systems are coming onto the market that facilitate the safe and orderly evacuation of buildings containing flats.

In the aftermath of the Grenfell tragedy the fire industry responded with the introduction of a new standard BS 8629:2019. The code of practice for the design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of evacuation alert systems for use by fire and rescue services in buildings containing flats.

Below are details of two new products that have come to our attention.

Advanced.

Advanced have brought out the EvacGo – Evacuation Alert System. Advanced have worked closely alongside fire industry experts who wrote the standard to create our BS 8629 solution and are custom manufacturing our EACIE (Evacuation Alert Control & Indicating Equipment) to reflect each individual building’s evacuation zones.

C-TEC.

Another solution comes from C-TEC, called the EVAC Alert. This 8629: 2019 compliant evacuation alert system specifically designed to assist the fire and rescue services in evacuating high-rise residential buildings in fire emergencies.

British-built and comprising a range of evacuation alert panels, single and multi-way flat interface units, self-testing evacuation alert sounders and Equality Act-compliant visual indicators and vibrating pillow pads, EVAC-ALERT facilitates the safe and orderly evacuation of buildings containing flats.

Check out the product video here …

FIA GUIDANCE.

Read the full FIA Guidance on BS 8629:2019

https://www.fia.uk.com/news/guidance-notefia-guidance-document-bs-8629-2019.html

The installation of Evacuation Alert Systems is covered by the BAFE SP207 Design, Installation, Commissioning and Maintenance of Evacuation Alert Systems Scheme.

RES will bring you further updates on this later in the year.

Types of Asbestos Surveys and When They Are Needed – Guest Article by Artisan Environmental

When considering both efficient and compliant management of Asbestos within properties and sites that you occupy, manage, develop, or are looking to acquire, it is important that you carry out the correct type of survey, at the right time and in the right order.

There are different types of asbestos survey, each designed for different scenarios and timelines. Let’s consider a brief overview of each;

Asbestos Management Survey. This is a full inspection and sampling survey of a building, with detailed investigation of every floor, room, basements, roof voids, external fabric and outbuildings. All accessible areas and building components are accessed, however no damage is caused to building fabric or décor. Only accessible Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) will be sampled and recorded. Any suspect materials that can be accessed should be sampled for analysis and should not be just presumed to contain asbestos.

Management Surveys are appropriate for acquisition Due Diligence prior to purchase, and for creating an Asbestos Register for ongoing management of an occupied building or site. While legally required for management of commercial buildings and the communal areas of residential flats, it may also be prudent to consider for a residential purchase to reduce potential risk, both to health and financially.

The building areas should be vacant for the survey, and damage will likely be caused to building fabric to gain the level of access required. For smaller refurbishment projects it is often  possible to make good and re-occupy, or even conduct a specifically tailored survey on an occupied building. A good consultant should be able to assess your SoW and advise accordingly on this matter to help you minimise disruption, cost and risk.

Asbestos Demolition Survey. This is a fully intrusive survey carried out in the same way as a Refurbishment Survey. The 2 survey types are collectively known as Asbestos Refurbishment & Demolition Surveys.

All areas of the building fabric must be fully accessed to identify all ACMs prior to demolition. The building should be vacant, and due to the level of access and damage required it is usually not economical to make good and re-occupy prior to demolition.

Asbestos Sampling Survey. In certain circumstances, for example where an asbestos register is in place but a room or part of the building fabric was excluded, then a sampling survey can be carried out to specifically take samples of suspect materials without conducting a full survey. This approach should be used with care and should not replace a Management or R&D Survey.

Asbestos Re-Inspection Survey. Once ACMs have been identified within a building, the survey report will include an Asbestos Register. This should include details of the type of material, location, asbestos type, finish and condition, along with a Material Risk Assessment (MA) of each ACM and a recommendation on how the material should be treated or managed moving forwards.

The ‘Duty Holder’ in charge of the building should then put in place an Asbestos Management Plan, including a Priority Risk Assessment (PA), which assesses the likelihood that each ACM may be accessed or potentially damaged considering different variables around occupation and use of the building. The combination of the MA and PA will then give the overall Risk Assessment score of each ACM and this in turn will help to manage and prioritise any required remedial actions.

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR2012) specifies that ACMs should be inspected annually, primarily to ensure the level of damage has not changed, hence increasing the risk level of that material. This is carried out by means of an Asbestos Re-Inspection Survey in order to maintain ongoing compliance.

Do I only need one survey type? Different surveys can be conducted in sequence to reduce risk while maintaining compliance with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. For example, an Asbestos Management Survey prior to purchase will locate most, if not all ACMs within the building in the majority of cases, thereby significantly reducing risk of unknown costs following acquisition. This survey could also be carried out at the early stages of a development project if the building is still occupied, again to identify ACMs and reduce risk of disruption to the SoW.

Once the building is acquired and/or vacated the survey can then be topped up to an R&D Survey to ensure compliance prior to refurbishment, conversion or demolition. Any ACMs that remain in situ can then be monitored annually by way of a Re-Inspection survey to ensure the Asbestos Management Plan remains up to date and in compliance with the legislation.

The earlier you speak to an asbestos consultant prior to acquisition or while planning proposed works the better. This will ensure that the right surveys can be scheduled at the right time and will save you from headache and undue cost down the line.

Alec Smith BS. AFAAM
Director

If you need any help with Asbestos Surveys and Management then you can get in touch with Artisan at;

Tel:      01329 800650
Email: enquiries@artisanenvironmental.co.uk
Web:   www.artisanenvironmental.co.uk

Fire Door Safety Week – 21- 27 September 2020

RES are once again supporting Fire Door Safety Week by helping to spread the word on the importance of correctly fitted and maintained Fire Doors.

Everyone can play their part in ensuring a fire door performs as it should, from the manufacturer through to the building users, and this is why the annual Fire Door Safety Week campaign exists.

During the event week we aim to post articles and information in support of our Fire Door services:

• Fire Door Installation
• Fire Door Inspections and Maintenance
• Fire Door Repairs
• Fire Door Guidance, Advice and Training

For more information about Fire Door Safety Week

https://www.firedoorsafetyweek.co.uk/

https://twitter.com/FDSafetyWeek

https://resfire.co.uk/fire-doors-london-reading/

#FIREDOORSAFETYWEEK

Natural and mechanical ventilation systems

RES Fire Protection Engineers offer help to repair and service/maintain smoke ventilation systems installed within a building. We cover businesses and residential premises across the south of England.

Smoke control/ventilation systems can be divided into natural/passive or mechanical systems.

A natural ventilation system relies on the natural movement of smoke and hot gasses, venting these through an opening. The opening can be a window, vent or a ventilation shaft, these can be permanently open, be manually opened or have an automatic opening mechanism attached to them. Automatic Opening Vents (AOVs) can be opened by actuating arms attached to windows, hatches or doors etc and activated by local smoke detectors which automatically open that vent. The AOVs normally have a local manual back up switch/button (a call point) as well. Once opened/activated the vents allow smoke and heat to leave the building/area, offering a safe means of escape for occupants, with greater visibility and access for fire-fighters.

Natural systems also offer normal ventilation and allow a natural flow of air to enter a building.

Mechanical ventilation systems extract heat and smoke from a building by using mechanical means, fans etc and forced air movement. Mechanical ventilation is normally interlinked with the Buildings Management System (BMS) and incorporates a control panel, secondary power supplies, dampeners that operate to blocking smoke from entering a floor where there is no fire, but opening on the fire floor to allow smoke to leave etc.

Mechanical smoke control systems include Smoke Pressurisation Systems (SPS) these are designed to stop smoke circulating by introducing clean air into the stairwells etc. This increases the air pressure in the stairwell and reduces air pressure in other areas to create safe and clear escape route for building occupants as well as a rescue route for firefighters.

Maintenance of these systems has to not only check each element is intact but that each is talking to the main control systems that govern them.

Smoke control/ventilation systems are a requirement of the Building Regulations.

Smoke control/ventilation systems with RES Fire Protection Engineers

Our experienced team of engineers can maintain, repair or replace installed smoke control /ventilation systems within a building, including extraction systems for car parking areas.

We work with systems manufacturers and accredited service and maintenance providers to ensure that smoke control/ventilation systems we work on adhere to current legislation and requirement.

We cover the South of England, London, Berkshire, Middlesex, Surrey, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Kent, West & East Sussex.

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) SOCIAL DISTANCING SIGNS

RES can now provide the following signage:

• Social Distancing Signs (With 1 metre update)
• PPE Signs
• Hand-washing Hygiene Signs
• Floor Markings
• One-way system Signs
• Bio-hazard Signs

“Government guidance recommends”

“Introducing more one-way flow through buildings. Providing floor markings and signage should remind both workers and customers to follow social distancing
wherever possible.

Reducing maximum occupancy for lifts, providing hand sanitiser for the operation of lifts and encouraging use of stairs wherever possible.

Encouraging customers to use hand sanitiser or handwashing facilities as they enter the premises to reduce the risk of transmission by touching products while
browsing.

Using floor tape to mark areas to help people keep to a 2m distance.

Providing clear guidance on social distancing and hygiene to people on arrival, for example, signage and visual aids.”

From the JALITE Catalogue

See the  full catalogue and call us for more information.

Additional 1 metre supplement catalogue is here

All products are provided by Jalite. RES are an authorised distributor of Jalite products.

Staying COVID-19 Secure in 2020

We conirm we have complied with the government’s guidance on managing the risk of COVID-19.

• FIVE STEPS TO SAFER WORKING TOGETHER

BUSINESS CONTINUITY: Coronavirus (COVID-19) update – 14 May 2020

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation is a concern to us all and we want to keep our customers and supply partners updated about what we are doing in accordance the Government guidelines.

In line with the guidance from the Home Office that ‘personnel responding to failures of fire protection systems are designated as key workers to ensure we maintain public fire safety’, we are committed to supporting customers’ requirements at all times.

We have in place a policy (see our Working with COVID-19 strategy) with robust procedures to ensure that our engineers are available to safely provide essential life safety routine service & maintenance services as well as 24/7 callout services.

RES will continue to monitor Government advice (see Working safely during COVID-19 in offices and contact centres GOVT guidance 11-05-20, and also Working safely during Covid 19 Vehicles 11-05-20) and our working situation will be continuously reviewed to ensure we comply at all times.

The safety of all staff, customers, supply partners and professional contacts continues to be paramount, so the strictest hygiene standards are being followed by our engineers and office staff.

Thank you for your continued support and we will be regularly updating information on our web site and social media channels.

Kind regards,

Directors of RES Systems Ltd