False Alarm Management
Contents
1. Application Note A Advanced False Alarm Management This document is intended only for fire system professionals who are already experienced in the selection and positioning of fire detectors Whenever you apply any False Alarm Management technique always take the time to think through the system design to ensure that genuine fires will still give the required response The MxPro 5 and Axis EN series of fire alarm control panels provide a number of different options to assist in the reduction of false alarms Although these features will assist none of these methods will compensate for poorly designed installations inappropriate siting of detectors and the user environment If a detector is influenced by smoke or other phenomena that it interprets as a fire alarm the detector and the system will enter the fire alarm condition As afirst step ascertain the nature of the problem and discuss with the user of the building to identify any management or procedural changes that will address the issue The options available are e Alarm Verification Confirmation e Investigation e Sensitivity 680 513 REV 02 www advancedco com 1 Alarm Verification Confirmation Alarm Verification can be configured by selecting the False Alarm Management icon from the PC configuration software y VEI Pleasure ensure your panels are running 051 02 or higher firmware before using this feature 1 1 Background When Alarm Verification i2. Delaying Outputs AAF Dual function button Acknowledges both Investigation Delay To Outputs Post Fire Alarm investigation and verification alarms www advancedco com 1 4 Verification and Networks Each panel is configured with its own verification strategy This allows most verification settings to be changed without undue concern over how this may affect other panels on the network Verification information does pass over the network As default all nodes will be aware of verification alarms occurring at other nodes on the network You may wish to control limit the effects of this in some situations Network Displays All displays on the network will for type B verification identify the zone and location text of any detector in verification alarm If you do not wish to display this information at certain nodes un tick the Network Pre Alarm zone status qualifier for those zones e g to Suppress verification alarms occurring in zones 1 9 elsewhere on the network ci Network Signals Zone Status Accepted ee General Alarm l Maximum Areas in Verification As default the Maximum Areas in Verification includes both fires occurring on the panel being configured and those occurring on other panels on the network If verification alarms occurring at certain other panels on the network should not be included then they can be excluded according to the sector assigned to each networked panel e g
3. Mode Change In addition to these settings certain types of detector also have the ability to change sensitivity mode to verify an alarm For these detectors the Mode When Verifying can also be set differently during the daytime and night time on the Loop Show Details Point Details screen e g ElSensitivity Adjust Mode used when time clock is off Pre Alarm 80 Delay 5 5 Mode Normal Multi Med High Sensitivity Mode When Verifying Multi High Sensitivity Especial Sensitivity Mode used when time clock is on Pre Alarm 30 Delay 5 0 Mode Normal Multi Low Sensitivity Mode When Verifying Multi Low Med Sensitivity www advancedco com 1 2 3 Adjustable Parameters for each Building Area Operation Setting Yes The selected Verification Inputs will enter verification before a fire is confirmed No All detection devices in the area go immediately into fire alarm Allow Yes Alarms requiring extended time to clear or investigate can be acknowledged by Acknowledge occupants in the area or from the control panel No Alarm acknowledgment facility not used in this area Verified by 2 Yes A fire alarm is confirmed immediately when a 2 detector in the area signals an Device alarm No More than one device can signal an alarm while the panel is still within the verification time Verified by Mode Yes Multimode detectors have the option to change their mode
4. Output Delay Areas a e l a E a PER POINT PER POINT PER POINT It is not recommended to use Investigation Delays in combination with other methods that also delay the notification of the alarm condition www advancedco com 3 Detector Sensitivity Every detector can be programmed with unique fire alarm and pre alarm thresholds These all have default values according to detector type The values can be adjusted either individually on each detector SAM Sensitivity adjust mode or alternatively linked to a time clock SSM Special Sensitivity Mode Some detectors e g multi sensors can also be programmed to run in different modes in SAM and SSM modes Details on Sensitivity are available in the panel manual 680 165 and in specific protocol application notes It is also possible to gate the sensitivity time clocks with switch signals allowing a device to change between SAM amp SSM modes according to the switch e g switch signal from building security systems so that the fire detection sensitivity can be linked with occupancy Point Details Al Point Details Discovery Multi Sensor Optical Heat Detector 58000 700 gt AY Opto 100 a0 2 0 Address Type Multi Sensor Address Type Optical Smoke Location Text Location Text Zone 1 zone 1 Input Action Fire Input Action Fire Fire Category Category B Fire Category Category B Incidence Single In
5. cidence Single Blink On Poll E Alarm verification on LED Colour Green Investigation Qutput Delay Controlled by Area Disablement Group 0 Blink On Poll a SSM Time Clack Mo 1 Disablement Group 0 Elsensitivity Adjust Mode used when time clock is off SSM Time Clock Mo 1 Pre Alarm OU fused when time clock is off Delay is 0 Mode Normal Opto Med High Sensitivity Especial Sensitivity Mode used when time clack is on Pre Alarm OU Elsensitivity Adjust Mode Pre Alarm 45 Low Alarm Delay fs Mode Normalt Mode When verifying Delay 3 Mode Normal Opto Low Sensitivity High Sensitivity Med High Sensitivity Low Med Sensitivit Especial Sensitivity Mode Pre Alarm Low Alarm Opto Low Sensitivity Delay 5 z Mode iMormal 4 Mode When VeriFying z www advancedco com 4 Other Options Q want to delay the activation of one or more outputs until a second fire alarm is recognized A This can be configured using the Type C Dependency This is commonly used to ensure that the outputs to fire routing or fire protection equipment are not activated until confirmed by the spread of fire or by the activation of a manual call point lt can also be used in permanently staffed installations so that the activation of all sounders except one located in the permanently staffed area are delayed until either a second fire alarm occurs or the responsible person activates a call
6. e 10 Mode Normal 3 Mode When Verifying 3 Verification Outputs The types of output that can automatically activate during verification are Point Details A J So u n d e rs Discovery Sounder Beacon Base 45681 393 d Beaco Ns Address 3 0 e Sounder Re ays ee Text Zone 3 r Output Group 198 The options available for each type of output are Blink On Pall r ipa E 7 Disablement Group 0 All All of the specified type of outputs in the area will activate Invert Output M ifi May Silence lv during verification ade old None of the specified type of outputs will activate aeva With peteta LLL Per Point Only individually selected outputs of the specified type will ome Level activate Tone Tone 1 Purpose Sounder Where the option is set to per point then it is necessary to set each applicable output point in the area to activate on alarm verification yes ticked or no not ticked An example is shown opposite Where the option is set to ALL or the point details selection is set to Controlled by Area and cannot be changed www advancedco com 1 2 4 Verification Times With verification Type B there are a number of adjustable timing parameters In the following examples we will consider the effects of these times on a smoke detector signal however the principles are also the same for other types of detector The Verification Time starts from the instant the smok
7. e in the detector increases above the Alarm Threshold The panel will turn on any Verification Outputs i e outputs in the same building area as the smoke detector while verifying the alarm In the example in Figure 1 by the end of the verification time the smoke has cleared from the detector avoiding a full fire alarm condition The panel will hold the Building Area in the verification state until the Verification Hold Time has elapsed If the smoke increases and remains above the Alarm Threshold prior to the Verification Hold Time elapsing the panel will go into full fire alarm condition Alarm Threshold AUUUUUUUAAAUUUUUUUUUUUAAASAWUUUUUNNAAAUUUUUUUUUUUAUAUUUUUUUUEUTAUUUUUUTUUNI Verification Time Smoke 3 Verification Hold Time Figure 1 Smoke cleared No fire alarm In figure 2 smoke is still above the alarm threshold at the end of the verification time so the panel goes to full fire alarm condition Alarm Threshold PEPER D EEE PEEP E EEE EEE EE EEE UEP EEE EEE EEE EEE EEE EEE EEE EEE Verification Time Smoke 3 Verification Output s Figure 2 Smoke NOT cleared Fire alarm www advancedco com 1 3 Alarm Acknowledgement Facility AAF Building occupants are often able to recognize and acknowledge potential unwanted alarms such as from burnt toast The Alarm Acknowledgement Facility supports various methods of AAF input signals e g Advanced s AlarmCalm button that in
8. mp 10 in this example Configure a Cause amp Effect Output Group rule Double Zone Fire Rule to cover the zone to be protected and Surrounding zones Configure an output to operate on this output rule Adi New Double Fre Zone Rule zone Range ah bul Ringing Style o Style 0 mes For more information on the configuration of fire routing and fire protection interfaces please refer to application note 680 501 From zone To zone 10 www advancedco com
9. ned to different areas Multiple rooms can be in verification for different reasons steam from shower in one room while excessive use of aerosol in another room Can I limit the number of areas simultaneously in verification Yes In some situations it may well be desirable to enter a fire condition if multiple areas are in verification at the same time The Maximum Areas in Verification allows a limit to be placed on this Alarm Verification fm Verification Method Type B Displayed Maximum Areas in Verification 1 setting Maximum Areas in Verification to 1 will mean that a fire will be deemed to occur if more than a single Building Area is in alarm at any instant in time Setting Maximum Areas in Verification to 20 will allow 20 different Building Areas to be simultaneously in verification If an alarm occurs in another location while the others are still in verification then the panel will deem a fire to have occurred All areas will then enter the fire condition www advancedco com 1 2 2 Day And Night Settings In some situations the verification requirements may differ according to time of day or an area being occupied unoccupied The Time Clock option allows any one of the 10 programmable time clocks to be used for this purpose Each Building Area then has independent Day and Night settings p3 False Alarm Management Alarm Verification Po Verified by 2nd Device Verified by
10. of the building covered by the selected panel p3 False Alarm Management Alarm Verification SS Verified by 2nd Device Verified by Mode Change Heat Detectors Smoke Detectors Multi Sensors Sounders Relays lt is often necessary to have independent verification strategies for different areas of the building Each panel supports up to 200 building areas www advancedco com a The quickest way to specify requirements is to first to enter the parameters that apply to most of the areas covered by the panel and then add only the exceptional areas For example A multi occupant building with 50 apartments all with identical verification requirements The building also has 4 escape corridors Verification is not permitted in the escape corridors Let s say the escape corridors are in areas 10 15 20 amp 27 There is no need to define each individual apartment Add only the escape areas with all 50 apartments being specified in the Other Areas column e g Areas can be added from the Add Building Area icon terres P em Allow Verification Verified by 2nd Device Verified by Mode Change Smoke Detectors Multi Sensors Relays 1 2 1 Building Area Concept Why area why not just use zones As default the Building area is indeed just the same as the detection zone i e zone 1 Building Area 1 zone 2 Building Area 2 etc There is no need to change this relationship if this is sufficient
11. point or takes other appropriate measures to evacuate the building Examples 1 A single room containing multiple smoke detectors is to be protected by release of a gas extinguishing system The output to the extinguishing system is to be triggered when at least two smoke detectors in the room zone 5 in this example signal a fire alarm condition Configure a Cause amp Effect Output Group rule Zone Rule for this zone to activate on double knock for fire alarm signals in the zone Configure an output to operate on this output rule Add New Zone Rule fone Range From Zone To Zone Ringing Style jo Style 0 Qualifiers Alarms Test lt Fire Test Alarm s Double Knock In Test State 5 Category 4 Miscellaneous Category B Any Input Disabled Pre Alarm Any Output Disabled Supervisory Any Input Enabled General Alarm Any Output Enabled EE L Control Input Unaccepted Condition Warning z z z z 3 a a Fault Sounders Fire Routing and Protection Sounder Silenced Fire Routing Activated Sounder Disabled Fire Routing Disabled Sounder Fault Fire Routing Fault Fire Protection Activated mea www advancedco com 2 A room or space is to be protected by release of a gas extinguishing system when a fire alarm signal is received from at least two separate zones This would include the room itself and other areas such as adjacent rooms floor or ceiling voids etc Zone 7 8 9 a
12. rea to acknowledge a potential false alarm without effecting occupants in other areas From the Device Selector check the default Zone number corresponds with the required Building Area and then click on the AlarmCalm pushbutton icon E AlarmCalm Point Details then show how the device is being used In the example below the AlarmCalm button acknowledges detectors and silences verification outputs in zone 73 Address Type Location Text fone Used For Input Mon AAF with Silence Alternatively if Building Area is being kept separate to the zone number the example below acknowledges detectors and silences the verification outputs in Building Area 153 Address Location Text fone Building Area Used For 41 0 Input Mon r3 153 AAF with Silence www advancedco com 1 3 2 Global Acknowledgement It possible to configure panel inputs with an Alarm Acknowledgement Facility AAF regardless of the Building Area in verification To do this define the Input Action as Acknowledge e g Point Details Address Prog Button 3 Type Push Button Location Text a Input Acton Used For Acknowledge Used For gives the following AAF Options AAF Only Verification alarm in any Building Area is acknowledged without any effect on the verification outputs AAF with Silence Verification alarm in any Building Area is acknowledged and verification outputs are turned off
13. rms for that area of the building or for that category of device For the area in question ensure that the following have been set a Allow Verification YES b Verified by Mode Change YES C Multi Sensors ALL or per point 4 False Alarm Management Alarm Verification Areas Allow Verification Allow Acknowledge AAF Verified by 2nd Device Verified by Mode Change Heat Detectors Smoke Detectors Multi Sensors Q Should combine alarm verification with other methods of false alarm management A As each method of false alarm reduction measures introduces a delay in registering a true fire alarm condition it is not recommended to use both types together and concatenate any delays www advancedco com 2 Investigation Alarm Investigation can be configured by selecting the False Alarm Management icon from the PC configuration software Then select the Delay to Outputs button Lary ze The Investigation Delay Mode allows time for the responsible person to investigate the fire signals Outputs can be individually programmed to be held off while the investigation takes place The user manual gives details of how the building occupier can turn the investigation delay feature on or off There are two parts to this delay which comes into effect as soon as a fire is detected The first stage is usually set relatively short If the responsible does not acknowledge the fire signal within the firs
14. s selected the panel will carry out additional checks before determining that an alarm signal from a detector is a real fire What happens during the verification process can be tailored to the particular requirements of each building There are two fundamental methods of fire verification which to a large extent are dictated by the ability of the occupant to take action to prevent the situation turning into a full unwanted fire alarm Verification Method Type A Dependency Not Displayed With this method the panel allows any qualifying detector to go briefly into alarm for up to 60s without it causing a fire The panel display will show normal providing the detector clears within this period Verification Method Type B Dependency Displayed This method offers greater flexibility and can also allow individual detectors to go into alarm for longer periods before determining that a fire has occurred Throughout the verification the panel and any associated repeater panels will provide information on the location of the alarm It is also easy to program the panel to give audible and visual warnings that are targeted specifically at occupants in the vicinity of the potential alarm e g in the room in which the toast is burning Options also allow confirmation of the fire by detector mode change or by a second detector 1 2 Verification by Building Area The Configuration program first shows a default setting that will apply to all areas
15. t stage the delayed outputs will turn on The second stage gives a longer period to investigate the cause of the fire signal This delay can be cancelled at any time by pressing the EVACUATE button or by any nominated input devices by default all call points cancel this mode E Investigation Output Delay Output Delays IM Use Stage 1 Delay 5 e0 Stage 2 Delay s 180 1 Maximum 4reas to Investigate Time Clack Clock 1 Each input and output device can be individually programmed to use the investigation delay from the PC configuration software together with the times appropriate to each stage of the delay A time clock can be configured to automatically turn on or off the investigation mode This time clock may also be gated with an input signal to enable investigation mode only when the building is occupied As in the verification mode the number of building areas that can be in investigation mode can be configured Setting Maximum Areas in Investigation to 1 will mean that a fire will be deemed to occur if more than a single Building Area is in alarm at any instant in time Setting Maximum Areas in Investigation to 20 will allow 20 different Building Areas to be simultaneously in investigation If an alarm occurs in another location while the others are still in investigation then the panel will deem a fire to have occurred All areas will then enter the fire condition B7 False Alarm Management Investigation
16. to exclude the verification alarms from sector 2 f Network Signals Operations Accepted from Sectors Seto O Alarm Yerification Count r Ca I 3 www advancedco com Alarm Acknowledgement over Network Global acknowledgement of verification alarms is supported over the network If acknowledgements from certain other panels on the network should not be accepted then they can be excluded according to the sector assigned to each network panel To do this un tick the Investigation box for unwanted sectors as required e g to ignore acknowledgements from Sector 3 ci Network Signals Operations Accepted from Sectors Sector lat Verification Count vestigation 1 iv iv v B I iv E Duplication of Building Area numbers in a network Building Areas should generally be unique to each panel on the network This is automatically enforced when the Building Area is left the same as the zone number 1 5 Frequently Asked Questions Q Once configured and in use on site how do know if verification has been used A All verification alarms from detectors will be recorded in the panel event log Q want to configure a multi sensor to change into a heat only mode while verifying but can t get the Point Details to show its Mode when verifying A The configuration program will only display this information if it is relevant so it is likely that the device has not been set to verify ala
17. to specify the false alarm management requirements Leaving the Building Area for a device the same as the zone number is generally the quickest and easiest way If more flexibility is required the definition of building area can be adjusted using the Extended Building H Area Settings option Deselecting the Use zone number for point building area allows detection points to be assigned to any required area This is useful if the area in which verification is required does not align with a zone boundary e g where several rooms each requiring independent verification are within the same detection zone www advancedco com How do assign devices to a Building Area If the Extended Building Area Settings are not used the Building Area for a device will automatically be set to the zone number lf Extended Building Area Settings are used the Building Area can be assigned from the Point Details view e g Point Details a AV Opto LV 100 Address 2 0 Type Optical Smoke Location Text Fone 1 Building Area 2 How many detectors can be in a single Building Area This is not restricted An area can contain just a single detector or at the other extreme every device on a panel could be assigned to a single Building Area Can two or more areas be in verification at the same time Yes Each area can be in a state of alarm verification independent of what is happening in other areas E g hotel with each room assig
18. to the specified Change Verification mode during the verification process If the alarm signal is also received from the detector once it has changed mode a fire is immediately confirmed Verification Inputs The types of detector that are allowed to be used for verification can be readily defined for each area These can be set for e Heat Detectors Point Details A e Smoke Detecto rs Discovery Optical Smoke Detector 58000 600 e Multi Sensors Address es Type Optical Smoke o Other Inputs ain Text zone 3 Input Action Fire The options available are er iid All All detectors of the specified type will be verified omver O ade Eea Investigation Output Delay Controlled by Area None of the specified type of device will be verified Blink On Poll z tt A A isablement Grou 0 Per Point Detection points are individually set to verify or not verify ae Elsensitivity Adjust Mode fused when time clock is off a Pre Alarm 45 Where the option is set to per point then it is necessary to set each Low Alarm 8 i i ape i elay s 0 applicable point in the area to use On or not use Off alarm verification An as example is shown opposite Mode When Verifying 3 j de ii ESpecial Sensitivity Mode used when time clock is on Where the option is set to ALL or the point details selection is set to Pre Alarm 45 tc ow Alarm 8 Controlled by Area and cannot be changed a
19. turn extend the time to investigate and rectify the situation before a full fire alarm condition is raised The occupier must press an AAF input before the Verification Time has elapsed as in Figure 3 below allowing an additional time 2 Stage Time for the smoke to clear Alarm Threshold PEEEEEECECEELOREEEEEEEEEE si ka oli ie ea ai oases Verification Time Verification extension Smoke 2nd Stage Time Verification Qutput s rs L Occupier Acknowledge i AAF with Silence Figure 3 Smoke cleared after acknowledgement No fire alarm Once the smoke clears the panel will automatically cancel the verification and return to normal as long as the Verification Hold Time has also elapsed The 2 Stage Time begins when the AAF button is pressed If the smoke is still present at the end of the 2 Stage Time a full fire condition will be raised as in figure 4 Alarm Threshold ALAOCOCOCOOOCCOCCLOCCLCRNUNI a a a il Verification Time Verification extension Smoke 2nd Stage Time Verification Qutput s _ fA LC Occupier Acknowledge l AAF with Silence Figure 4 Smoke NOT cleared after acknowledgement Fire Alarm www advancedco com 1 3 1 AlarmCalm Alarm Acknowledgement from Loop Inputs AlarmCalm modules are loop powered devices and can be placed at any required address on the loop Placing an AlarmCalm pushbutton in each Building Area allows the occupants in that a
Download Pdf Manuals
Related Search