How does the fire detection system need to be in order to comply with the new regulations?
How does the fire detection system need to be in order to comply with the new regulations? it is a very common question. Following the incidents of the last period, the Romanian legislation regarding the fire prevention measures has changed considerably.
These changes have caused confusion in the security systems market, many of the existing fire systems not being compatible with the new legislation.
What can be found in the new regulations
To clarify this confusion further we present some of the characteristics that are found in the new regulations:
- On addressable systems, there appeared the software area that should not exceed 32 elements. Many installers did not understand this request of the norm and had to return to the objectives to be protected in order to modify the programming of the plants, this generating additional costs related to the execution.
- There is nothing in the new regulations regarding conventional fire detection plants. According to the new regulations, all fire detection units must be equipped with at least an LCD display. Train to have a memory of 1000 events and a menu in Romanian. These requirements have created confusion because they are not in the EN-54 norm, but rather in the German VdS standard.
- For applications exceeding 10000 sqm, there is a requirement for the monitoring software of the boiler (s) serving this type of objective
- Another difference that presses on the cost of the investment is the modification of the location of the fire detection station, from “as close as possible to the main access path, to reduce the intervention time of the teams designated for this”, to “in a room protected by fire … ”, this modification introducing into the equation another panel repeating the state of the boiler.
- A requirement that is really useful, is the one regarding the commad for interrupting the supply of electricity of the objective (except for the circuits that supply vital equipment from the building) when the boiler enters the alarm, lowering the elevators in the ground floor to prevent their use. and the use of stairs specially dedicated to this type of event, as well as other automations that differ from one endowment to the other buildings (starting the solenoid valves, hydrant pumps, opening the smokestacks, starting the fans for introducing fresh air, etc.).
In addition to these features that fire systems must meet, there are some rules that must also be observed:
- All devices that will be connected to the fire detection system must be selected in accordance with the provisions of SR EN54
- Fire detection, signaling and warning systems must be designed in such a way that activating fire extinguishing systems does not endanger persons in the protected area.
- The entire fire system must be designed in such a way as to limit the effects of defects in cables or connections.
- Failure or failure of a component of the fire detection system should not impair its functioning.
According to the law, the technical documentation elaborated by the designer must contain the following:
- installation plans
- index of detection areas
- list of system components block diagram
- identification of the equipment
- periodic verification plan (service)