UK security companies are world leaders in the sector, being alone worth an estimated £4.37bn in 2002. James Hunt examines Fire & Security issues and some of the latest products and services:
The multiple occupancy building (care home) sector is in crisis following recent major fires. A number of elderly people died. Without pre-judging forthcoming investigations, it seems likely that, in one instance at least, it was a classic case of a corridor between two fire doors, with a number of bedrooms leading off. Many bedroom doors had been open as the residents didn't like them shut. Those who died were in the bedrooms with open doors - through smoke inhalation.
The issues need to be examined in the light of the UK's Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). This comes into force on October 1st 2004 and encourages building user-friendliness to people with a wide range of disabilities. The Act demands that every shopping mall, cinema, health club, public library, office and government building will have to be more user-friendly for disabled people or the operators will face prosecution. ADT Fire & Security, the leading UK provider of electronic fire and security solutions, believes that many employers still have a long way to go to comply with the Act and urges companies to act immediately.
The changes mean installing ramps, visual and audible fire alarms, tactile devices and induction loop hearing systems. Door access controls may have to be changed; Braille messaging may be required. ADT can help businesses comply.
BPT Security Systems (UK) has launched a new range of DDA compliant panels. These incorporate illuminated buttons with tactile digits for the visually impaired and LED indicators for the hard of hearing.
The National Care Homes Association (NCHA) endorses DORGARD, the acoustically activated fire door hold-open device by Fireco. This will save lives and protect buildings whilst still allowing freedom of access. DORGARD is a regulations and standards compliant solution that offers care providers an easy and cost-effective way of legally holding open fire doors and doors into residents' rooms safely. It automatically releases on 'hearing' the fire alarm. DORGARD does not have to be 'wired-in' and it can hold the door open at any angle. Fitting is extremely quick at around five minutes / door.
Fire detection & prevention:
Installers must take reasonable steps to prevent fire through risk assessment, training and detection systems.
Fire alarm systems are usually either conventional or analogue addressable. In choosing a system, conventional two or four zoned panels are appropriate for areas up to 4000m2. Four to eight zones would typically be suitable for an 8000m2 building (offices, industrial premises or fitness centres). A building - up to 15,000m2 - such as a school or multi-storey office block - would need a 16-zone panel.
The difference between analogue and conventional systems is that the former use 'intelligent' sensors within a communications system, rather than simple two-state binary detectors. Each detector is coded with a unique 'address' and is interrogated in turn. Up to 120 detectors can be wired in a single loop instead of a two-wire spur, with up to four loops fed from one control panel. For large sites, several systems can form a local area network for better protection. False alarms caused by transients or faulty circuits are virtually eliminated.
Morley-IAS's advanced Dimension 2- and 4-loop addressable control panels use advanced multi-protocol support. The panels feature simple installation, easy commissioning and stable, reliable operation. Dimension's compatibility with leading detector protocols allows great freedom of choice in specifying.
Overall system effectiveness is largely dependent on detector performance. Recent developments aim to prevent false alarms which may reduce the cover available for a real emergency. Today, many detectors incorporate drift compensation. This automatically recalibrates according to changing dust levels. Also combating false alarms is the multi-criteria detector. Cooper Lighting and Security's photo/thermal detector, for example, varies the threshold at which the smoke detection element goes into alarm according to temperature changes. The technique reduces false alarms and improves sensitivity to hotter, faster-burning fires, traditionally the preserve of ionisation detectors. Now, a single detector caters for a wide range of fire types and is also easily disposed of (no radioactive sources).
Other recent innovations benefit the contractor. For example, Cooper's detectors incorporate a light pipe, allowing the LED to be seen from any angle and speeding installation. Other improvements include mountings that prevent bases from distorting when attached to uneven ceilings, break-outs and channels to ensure flush mounting, and separate in/out terminals to ease loop wiring connection.
System Sensor Europe's new 6500RS / 6500R conventional infrared beam detectors protect shopping centre atriums, concert halls, historic buildings and warehouses. The 6500RS features Asuretest, a remote test capability that saves significant time during routine maintenance. The externally powered 6500R combined transmitter/receiver is compatible with any conventional panel.
Now that Halon is banned, ADT has become the first UK company to introduce a fire suppression system using 3M Novec1230 Fire Protection Fluid, a new standard for Halon alternatives. This offers significant environmental benefits and can be transported in un-pressurised containers requiring minimal storage space.
Security systems:
Today, in medium to large buildings, access control systems are governed by their 'intelligence', from controlling a few doors to large and complex systems for multi-site operation, integrated with CCTV and other alarms. Many such systems - often wired using fibre-optics and linked into full building management systems - allow for future expansion.
Door entry devices come in many types, from sophisticated devices such as biometric readers (an example is iris recognition) to simple vandal resistant readers (video, audio, or simple keypad entry).
CCTV cameras deter, observe and identify. In selecting a CCTV camera, it is important to be sure what the image is to show. Norbain, the UK's biggest selling brand of CCTV equipment, says that the more likely it is that a person in the picture needs to be identified, especially as evidence, the more care must be taken in choosing both camera and installation. Stylish camera domes are now common. Whether fixed or with pan/tilt and zoom focus features - they offer similar functions as standard cameras but are more difficult to disable.
Other security devices include passive infra-red (PIR) intruder sensors - which today may be dual purpose, being combined with microwave sensors - plus video entry systems, multiplexers, monitors, panic attack buttons, locks and door/window contacts. Some modern devices will continuously assess intruder's movements in real time. Leading UK fire and security company, ADT, can supply most security devices. Norbain, an authorised distributor for a wide range of security brands, also supplies a wide range of products.
Many manufacturers offer domestic security systems. Typically, these feature eight fully programmable alarm zones with an option to expand to 16 zones. They can often be linked to manufacturers' alarm centres. For larger homes, modern systems can provide a history and cater for a wide variety of detector types.
Skills competence cards:
The ECA and ECA Scotland (SELECT) are supporting the Electro-Technical Certification Scheme (ECS) with the Joint Industry Board and JIB Scotland for the provision of fire and security systems skills competence cards for work on construction sites. These should ensure that installers have the right competence and knowledge to operate safely. Some construction sites have now begun to enforce use of the cards.
Fire resistant cable and more:
Draka UK's industrial cables now meet all the requirements of BS5839-1: 2002. With the soon to be published BS8434, which sets out the new cable test requirements for both standard and enhanced categories under BS5839-1: 2002, Draka UK has announced that it has LPCB approval for its Firetuf and Firetuf Plus cables. Draka can now supply fire performance cable for both the enhanced and the standard cable categories, offering the complete solution for fire alarm installations. Firetuf 300/500V cable meets the standard cable category under BS5839-1: 2002, while the new, enhanced Firetuf Plus cable meets the enhanced cable category (BS5839-1:2002). Its special feature is a new Draka OHLS sheath which incorporates a novel flame retardant technology which, together with improvements in the screen and insulation, enables the attainment of enhanced performance whilst still being pliable.
This article was originally published in Electrical Times magazine by Highbury Business Communications - a Voltimum UK Media Partner.
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