Essentials of Fire Fighting,

5th Edition

Chapter 16 Fire Detection, Alarm, and Suppression Systems Firefighter II

Chapter 16 Lesson Goal

After completing this lesson, the

student shall be able to operate different types of fire detection, alarm, and suppression systems and identify the different types of alarm and auxiliary systems following the policies and procedures set forth by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ).
Firefighter II 161

Specific Objectives
1. Describe types of heat detectors. 2. Describe types of smoke detectors/alarms. 3. Explain how flame detectors and firegas detectors operate.

(Continued)
Firefighter II 162

Specific Objectives
4. Discuss combination detectors and indicating devices. 5. Describe types of automatic alarm systems. 6. Discuss supervising fire alarm systems and auxiliary services.
(Continued)
Firefighter II 163

Specific Objectives
7. Describe the operation of an automatic fire sprinkler system. 8. Discuss water supply for sprinkler systems. 9. Describe major applications of sprinkler systems.

Firefighter II 164

Fixed-Temperature Heat Detectors

Relatively inexpensive compared to
other types of systems Can be slowest to activate Activate when heated to temperature for which rated

(Continued)
Firefighter II 165

Fixed-Temperature Heat Detectors

Installed in highest portions of room Should have activation temperature
rating slightly above highest ceiling temperatures normally inspected in space

(Continued)
Firefighter II 166

Fixed-Temperature Heat Detectors

Activate by one or
more of three mechanisms Fusible device Frangible bulb Continuous line detector

Firefighter II 167

Rate-of-Rise Heat Detectors

Operate on assumption that

temperature in room will increase faster from fire than from normal atmospheric heating Designed to initiate signal when rise in temperature exceeds 12 to 15F (-11C to -9C) in one minute
(Continued)
Firefighter II 168

Rate-of-Rise Heat Detectors

Can be initiated at room temperature

far below that required for initiating fixed-temperature device Reliable, not subject to false activations Pneumatic rate-of-rise spot detector

(Continued)
Firefighter II 169

Rate-of-Rise Heat Detectors

Pneumatic rate-of-rise line detector Rate-compensated detector Thermoelectric detector

Firefighter II 1610

Smoke Detectors

Detect presence of smoke; must

transmit signal to another device that sounds alarm Respond to smoke or other products of combustion Preferred over heat detectors
Firefighter II 1611

Smoke Alarms

Capable of
Detecting presence of smoke Sounding an alarm
Firefighter II 1612

Photoelectric Smoke Detectors

Use photoelectric cell coupled with

tiny light source Function in two ways to detect smoke

Firefighter II 1613

Ionization Smoke Detectors

Detect minute particles, aerosols

produced during combustion Use a tiny amount of radioactive material to ionize air molecules as they enter chamber within detector

(Continued)
Firefighter II 1614

Ionization Smoke Detectors

Respond

satisfactorily to most fires Respond faster to flaming fires than smoldering ones

Firefighter II 1615

Power Sources of Smoke Alarms

Battery-operated Household current

Firefighter II 1616

Flame Detectors
Types Among most sensitive detectors used to
detect fires Prone to being activated by nonfire conditions

(Continued)
Firefighter II 1617

Flame Detectors
Usually positioned in areas
where other light sources unlikely Positioned to have unobstructed view of protected area

(Continued)
Firefighter II 1618

Flame Detectors
Some single-band IR detectors sensitive
to sunlight, should be installed in fully enclosed areas UV detectors virtually insensitive to sunlight, can be used in areas not suitable for IR detectors

Firefighter II 1619

Fire-Gas Detectors
Monitor levels of carbon dioxide, carbon
monoxide because these are only chemicals released from all fires Initiate alarm signal faster than heat detector but not as quickly as smoke detector

(Continued)
Firefighter II 1620

Fire-Gas Detectors
Can be more discriminating than other
types Can be designed to be sensitive only to specific gases

(Continued)
Firefighter II 1621

Fire-Gas Detectors

Use semiconductors/catalytic elements

to sense gas, transmit signal to initiate alarm Not used as frequently as other types
Firefighter II 1622

Combination Detectors

Various combinations of previously described means of detection may be used in single device
Firefighter II 1623

Indicating Devices
Some produce loud signal

to attract attention in high-noise areas Some generate electronic tone audible in almost any type of environment Some employ bells, horns, chimes
(Continued)
Firefighter II 1624

Indicating Devices
Others use speakers that

broadcast prerecorded evacuation instructions May include visual alarm indicators to accommodate special circumstances/populations
(Continued)
Firefighter II 1625

Indicating Devices
May include strobe

indicators Must meet requirements of Americans with Disabilities Act in areas where there may be people with hearing impairments
Firefighter II 1626

Automatic Alarm Systems

Transmit signal to off-site location to

summon organized assistance Produce automatic response upon activation of local alarm May be installed to complement wetpipe or dry-pipe sprinkler systems

Firefighter II 1627

Auxiliary Systems
Local energy systems Shunt systems Parallel telephone
systems

Firefighter II 1628

Remote Station Systems

Similar to auxiliary systems but

connected to fire department telecommunication center directly/through answering service by some means other than municipal fire alarm box system
(Continued)
Firefighter II 1629

Remote Station Systems

Can be connected by leased telephone
line or radio signal on dedicated frequency Common in localities not served by central station systems

(Continued)
Firefighter II 1630

Remote Station Systems

May transmit coded or noncoded

signal Must have ability to transmit trouble signal to fire alarm center when system impaired

(Continued)
Firefighter II 1631

Remote Station Systems

May not have local alarm capabilities if

evacuation is not desired action in fire May be monitored by entity besides fire department
Firefighter II 1632

Proprietary Systems
Used to protect

large commercial, industrial buildings, high-rise buildings, groups of commonly owned buildings in single location
Firefighter II 1633

(Continued)

Proprietary Systems
Each building/area has own system

wired into a common receiving point somewhere on facility The receiving station Capabilities

Firefighter II 1634

Central Station Systems

Very similar to proprietary systems;

instead of having alarm-receiving point monitored by occupants representative on protected premises, receiving point is at off-site, contracted service point called a central station
(Continued)
Firefighter II 1635

Central Station Systems

Central station is
alarm company that contracts with individual customers

(Continued)
Firefighter II 1636

Central Station Systems

When alarm initiated at contracting
occupancy, central station employees take information, initiate appropriate emergency response Response usually includes calling fire department, representatives of protected occupancy
(Continued)
Firefighter II 1637

Central Station Systems

Alarm systems at protected property
and central station most commonly connected by supervised telephone lines

Firefighter II 1638

Supervising Fire Alarm Systems

Designed to be self-supervising Older systems Newer systems

(Continued)
Firefighter II 1639

Supervising Fire Alarm Systems

Sounds of alarm, trouble signals may
differ with each brand Many fixed fire suppression systems depend on signal from manual pull station/from automatic fire detection device to trigger suppression system

Firefighter II 1640

Auxiliary Services Available on Newer Systems

Shutting down, altering airflow in
heating, ventilating, and airconditioning (HVAC) systems for smoke control Closing smoke/fire-rated doors, dampers

(Continued)
Firefighter II 1641

Auxiliary Services Available on Newer Systems

Facilitating evacuation by increasing air
pressure in stairwells to exclude smoke Overriding elevator controls Monitoring operation of commercial incinerator management systems

(Continued)
Firefighter II 1642

Auxiliary Services Available on Newer Systems

Monitoring refrigeration systems, coldstorage areas Controlling personnel access to hazardous process/storage areas Detecting combustible/toxic gases

Firefighter II 1643

Principle Parts of Automatic Sprinkler System

Water supply Sprinkler valve Alarm Manual valve System drain
(Continued)
Firefighter II 1644

Principle Parts of Automatic Sprinkler System

Test connection Sprinkler head Riser Feed main Cross mains

Firefighter II 1645

Sprinklers
Discharge water after release of cap
or plug activated by some heatresponsive element such as fusible link

(Continued)
Firefighter II 1646

Sprinklers
Identified by temperature at which

designed to operate, either by colorcoding, using different colored liquid, stamping temperature on sprinkler

(Continued)
Firefighter II 1647

Sprinklers
Fusible link

Frangible bulb

(Continued)
Firefighter II 1648

Sprinklers
Chemical pellet

Firefighter II 1649

Sprinkler Position
Pendant

Upright

(Continued)
Firefighter II 1650

Sprinkler Position
Sidewall Special-purpose

Firefighter II 1651

Sprinkler Storage
Storage cabinet to house spare

sprinklers, a sprinkler wrench usually installed near sprinkler rise, main shut-off valve Cabinets hold a minimum of six sprinklers and sprinkler wrench in accordance with NFPA 13 and 13D
(Continued)
Firefighter II 1652

Sprinkler Storage
In many jurisdictions, job of changing

sprinklers must be performed by representatives of buildings occupants qualified to perform work on sprinkler systems

(Continued)
Firefighter II 1653

Sprinkler Storage
In other jurisdictions, firefighters

allowed to replace fused/damaged sprinklers to restore system to service sooner

Firefighter II 1654

Water Supply
Minimum water supply has to deliver
required volume of water to highest sprinkler in building at residual pressure of 15 psi (105 kPa) Minimum flow depends on hazard to be protected, occupancy, building contents
Firefighter II 1655

(Continued)

Water Supply
In most cases, water supply for

sprinkler systems designed to supply only fraction of sprinklers actually installed on system If large fire occurs/pipe breaks, sprinkler system will need outside source of water and pressure
(Continued)
Firefighter II 1656

Water Supply
Sprinkler FDCs should be supplied with

water from pumpers that have capacity of at least 1,000 gpm (4 000 L/min) or greater; minimum of two 2-inch (65 mm) or larger hoses should be attached to the FDC
(Continued)
Firefighter II 1657

Water Supply
After water flows through FDC into

system, passes through check valve Proper direction of water flow through check valve usually indicated by arrow on valve or appearance of valve casing

Firefighter II 1658

Water Supply
Departmental preincident plans may

identify the pressure at which a sprinkler system should be supported

Firefighter II 1659

Wet-Pipe Systems
Used in locations where

temperatures below 40F (4C) not expected Simplest type of automatic fire sprinkler system
(Continued)
Firefighter II 1660

Wet-Pipe Systems
Generally require little maintenance Contain water under pressure at all

times Connected to public/private water supply so fused sprinkler immediately discharges water spray, actuates alarm
(Continued)
Firefighter II 1661

Wet-Pipe Systems
Usually equipped with alarm check

valve installed in main riser adjacent to where feed main enters building Newer versions may have a backflow prevention check valve and electronic flow alarm.
(Continued)
Firefighter II 1662

Wet-Pipe Systems
May be equipped with retarding device
as part of alarm check valve

Firefighter II 1663

Dry-Pipe Systems
Used in locations

where piping may be subjected to temperatures below 40F (4C)

(Continued)
Firefighter II 1664

Dry-Pipe Systems
Have pitched (sloped) pipes to help

drain water in system back toward main drain Replace water in sprinkler piping with air under pressure

(Continued)
Firefighter II 1665

Dry-Pipe Systems
Designed so small amount of air

pressure above dry-pipe valve will hold back much greater water pressure on water supply side of dry-pipe valve Equipped with electric or hydraulic alarm-signaling equipment
(Continued)
Firefighter II 1666

Dry-Pipe Systems
Larger systems may have several-

minute delay while air expelled from system

Firefighter II 1667

Preaction Systems
Dry systems that employ deluge-type
valve, fire detection device, closed sprinklers Used when especially important to prevent water damage, even if pipes broken

(Continued)
Firefighter II 1668

Preaction Systems
Will not discharge water into sprinkler

piping except in response to smoke- or heat-detection system actuation Sound alarm to give warning before opening of sprinklers

Firefighter II 1669

Deluge Systems
Similar to dry-pipe system in no water

in distribution piping before system activation Differ from dry-pipe systems in sprinklers have no fusible links, do not function as fire detection devices
(Continued)
Firefighter II 1670

Deluge Systems
Designed to quickly supply large volume
of water to protected area Sometimes used to discharge foam/other extinguishing agents in occupancies containing flammable liquids, other volatile fuels

Firefighter II 1671

Residential Systems
Installed in one- and two-family

dwellings Designed to give occupants of dwelling chance to escape, prevent total involvement in room of origin Employ quick-response sprinklers
(Continued)
Firefighter II 1672

Residential Systems
Use several types of piping systems Must have pressure gauge, flow

detector, means for draining and testing system Can be either connected directly to public water supply or to dwellings domestic water system
(Continued)
Firefighter II 1673

Residential Systems
Require control valve to turn off water
to sprinkler system and to domestic water system if connected; if sprinkler system supplied separately from domestic water system, sprinkler control valve must be supervised in open position
Firefighter II 1674

(Continued)

Residential Systems
Operate in same manner as other wet-

pipe/dry-pipe systems May be equipped with fire department connection (FDC); FDC may be 1-inch (38 mm) connection

Firefighter II 1675

Summary
Many of the buildings to which

firefighters are called for emergency operations are protected partially or fully by automatic fire detection and/or suppression systems.

(Continued)
Firefighter II 1676

Summary
Firefighters need to familiarize

themselves with the types of systems installed in their area of responsibility. They should also learn the locations of these systems as well as the capabilities and limitations of each type of system.

Firefighter II 1677

Review Questions
1. How does a photoelectric smoke detector work? 2. How do flame detectors work? 3. Describe the three basic types of auxiliary automatic alarm systems.

(Continued)
Firefighter II 1678

Review Questions
4. What is a proprietary automatic alarm system? 5. Describe commonly used release mechanisms to activate sprinklers.

Firefighter II 1679