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Fire Engineered Solutions

The design of a fire alarm system has a number of aspects to consider. Our fire engineered solutions are at the forefront. Our distinctive capability allows us to observe standards with competence and know how to combine Building Regulations, British Standards and the Fire Safety Reform Order.

There are legislative requirements which need to be satisfied in order to gain licences for a building to operate, as well as allowing persons to occupy the premises safely. The design has to be tailored to the structure and fabric of the building in a functional manner, but often also to ensure that aesthetically the new system does not detract from the look of the premises. Small designer shops and historic family homes all have specific needs which may be less of a concern in a workspace environment.

The use of the building also affects the type of system, whether it is engineering for specific high risk areas such as a bus garage workshop, or to allow for large crowds unfamiliar with the premises i.e. a hotel, church or museum.

Awareness of the system user is also essential, less able bodied people may or may not be capable of exiting without assistance, but high levels of people with sporting injuries or with hearing difficulties may require a system which addresses their needs.

Fire Alarm Categories

Usually the system quoted is from a menu of options. For example, British Standard 5839 part 1 covers most non-domestic premises in the UK and splits the fire alarm into a number of Categories:

  • Category M systems are manual and without automatic fire detectors.
  • Category L1 systems are automatic (installed throughout all areas of the building) and further subdivided into Category L2 (installed only in defined parts) and Category L3 designed to give warning at an early enough stage to enable all occupants to escape safely before the exits are impassable due to fire, smoke or toxic gases.
  • Category L4 systems are installed within parts of the escape routes comprising circulation areas and circulation spaces i.e. corridors and stairways.
  • Category L5 are systems in which the protected area(s) and/or the location of detectors are designed to satisfy a specific fire safety objective (other than that of a Category L1, L2, L3 or L4 system).
  • Category P systems are automatic and intended for the protection of property and further subdivided into Category P1 (installed throughout all areas) and Category P2 (installed only in defined parts).

There are clearly times when we need to be made aware of specifics, such as the defined part of the building mentioned in an L2 or P2 system, or the specific fire safety objective mentioned in L5 where we can design systems to suit the requirements of the customer.