Direct Fire Alarm System - Coursework Example

Direct fire alarm (alert) system Introduction Direct fire alert system designed to assure better response time and avoid any delay from receiving the signal and to take action. However, some elements should be, taken in consideration to complete the chain of this system to make it effective and successful. If any of these elements is, missed, the chain will be incomplete and it will not achieve the proposed target. In many cases, this service is compulsory and chargeable. Therefore, any failure to achieve the required goal may end with the court. Some elements of this chain are, discussed in general in the following sections. This include the urban planning of the city and resulted traffic load, quality assurance of alarm devices, its design standard and resulted number of false alarm, the person in charge in the premise, and the planned procedure of receiving the signal and response. Some examples around the world are, illustrated with highlighting any difficulties that might face the efficiency of this system. Finally, the performance monitoring of the whole system and any recommended solutions shall be, discussed in the last section. The urban planning of the city Majority of damages on public and private facilities are associated with fire outbreaks and therefore, having fire alarm (alert) systems is fundamental as fire prevention measures (Doughton, et al., 2001). Due to the increased traffic load and increased boom in housing facilities associated with widening rural to urban migration resulting in rapid swelling of population densities, there is a greater need for government agencies, the city council, urban landscapers and planners, fire safety and transport and communication related sectors to collaborate in developing and implementing systems and structures (Kubba, 2007). To ensure an effectual city urban planning that supports quality direct alert systems, the key stakeholders should understand that there are variety of direct alert systems that are appropriate for divergent types of facilities and applications (Cote & N.F.P.A. 2003). An effective and efficient direct fire alert system should not only safeguard property, but also the occupants of the affected facilities (Pickard, 2005). Urban planning is fundamental in helping to accommodate integration of effective and efficient direct fire alert systems. This involves setting up road networks specifically meant for use by emergency response units (Doughton, et al., 2001). This will ensure emergency response units such as ambulance services, medical response units, fire fighters and other related fire response units such as water services are able to reach location of fire alarms as efficiently as possible, to be able to rescue occupants before they have fatal injuries and containing fires at point of origins. Policies and guidelines on urban planning should be, standardized to ensure urban real estate developers and landscapers comply with safety regulations (Pickard, 2005). This entails constructing facilities that have a wide leeway to accommodate efficient exits for occupants incase of fire outbreaks, establishing distinct audible and visuals fire alert systems that notify occupants of fire outbreak, which are easy to distinguish from other alert systems (Schaeman & Seits, 1985). Urban planners should ensure, there are enough avenues and street routes in between building complexes and facilities to ensure each individual premises can as easily be accessed incase of fires as promptly as possible by fire response units and that fires are contained and do not spread to adjacent premises or facilities (Fitzgerald, 2004). Additionally, development of reliable lighting systems is critical which should be, coupled with well-structured electrical supply systems (Doughton, et al., 2001). Electrical malfunctions and poorly maintained electrical systems are, attributed to more than half of fires that occur worldwide. Use of modern technological equipments and communication solutions are essential for combating fires and safeguarding against fires in modern cities. This includes use of radio calls for urban areas which communication and transportation systems and structures are a menace (Pickard, 2005). The urban planning of the city should carry out systemic evaluation of effectiveness and failure of direct fire alert systems and act accordingly (Solomon, 2002). Mobilization of the public on public fire safety and response initiatives are vital to protecting, preventing, responding and extinguishing fires. Regular monitoring and maintenance of available urban infrastructures and systems and developing new efficient subsystems is a move urban planners can effect to ensure sustainable direct fire alert systems and fire prevention and improved time responses (Fitzgerald, 2004). The urban planning is, charged with the responsibility of ensuring appropriate and safe construction of buildings, improving the designs of buildings and giving official directives on how premises should be, maintained and utilized to ensure effective and efficient fire prevention, detection, and response initiatives (N.F.P.A. 2007). Designing the allocation of fire response stations in strategic position of the city lies under the role of urban planning (Purkiss, 2007). Quality assurance of fire alarm devices in buildings The consistent failure of fire alert devices in industrial, commercial and residential premises is associated with failure to facilitate effective quality assurance of the said devices (Cote & N.F.P.A. 2003). Quality assurance of fire alarm devices enhance discovery and locating fire outbreaks, containing fires in the point of origins, enhancing reliability of fire alarms and minimizing false alarms, improving accurate establishment of locations where fire have occurred, and helps in promoting quick response times and intervention measures (Modarres & Joglar-Billoch, 2002). A quality assured fire alarm device refers to a fire alarm device that functions as anticipated, with an inevitably increased frequency (Pickard, 2005). Assuring quality and reliability of fire alarm systems is, related with fire alarm devices containing listed constituents, made by a proficient and qualified expert, installed by a skilled technician, examined, and verified by fire alarm equipment expert. Quality assurance in fire alarm devices is achievable by ensuring compliance to applicable international environmental standards, establishing internal and external quality assurance policies and threat management plans in work and living environments, adhering to location safety strategies and upholding occupational health and safety standards to minimize causes of fires (Cote & N.F.P.A. 2003). Fire alarm devices should at any time, function, as purposed and correctly installed and regular maintenance work should be, conducted on them as per manufacturer’s instructions (Modarres & Joglar-Billoch, 2002). Contracting third party certification systems for fire alarm devices is among efficient ways of ensuring adequate assurance, value, dependability and accuracy of fire alarm devices (Pickard, 2005). Quality assurance of fire alarms in buildings can be, verified by the number of failures of alarm devices during their lifecycle, their ability to indicate accuracy, efficiency and reliability in locating fires and sending the signals to fire control stations and their adherence to global quality standards and guidelines (N.F.P.A. 2007). An effective fire alarm device, installed and maintained poorly is prone to consistent defects and malfunction and therefore, training qualified experts and technicians is essential in ensuring quality assurance of fire alarm devices (Solomon, 2002). Quality assurance is influenced by components and technology used by the manufacturer to make the devices, engineering designs and systems used, installation techniques, inspection procedures, device testing, maintenance, repair and modification of the fire alarm devices (Cote & N.F.P.A. 2003). Design standard for fire alarm system in buildings Formulating design standards for fire alarm systems in buildings is among the critical step in ensuring effectiveness of direct fire alert systems and enhancing prevention, protection of fires for premises and its occupants and improving the efficiency of the time response when fire is, detected (Bunker & Roux, 2006). Design standards for fire alarm systems involve establishing the need for installing the alarm system, in-depth knowledge of suitable design standards and their costs, the legal safety guidelines, device application, and collaboration with relevant specialists (Langston, & Kristensen, 2002). The designing process entails establishing the need for fire alarm systems, carrying out a risk assessment, consulting with experts, selecting appropriate design standard, selecting appropriate alarm technology, strategizing on allocating zones and choosing appropriate alarm systems components (Schaeman & Seits, 1985). Design standards for fire alarm systems should comply with existing international legal, occupational, environmental and quality guidelines. This is to ensure safety for premises and the occupants. Design standards developed and implemented for fire alarm systems should be, based on generally accepted best current practices, on fire safety of designing, production, and use of the fire alarm systems (Gagnon, 2008). Among international design standards include BS5839, BS5588, BS7273, BS EN60079-14, BS EN 50281-1-2, EN54 and BS7671 among others (Schaeman & Seits, 1985). Designed procedure: Interactive signal receive/ call back and responding. Effective and efficient response to a fire alarm and location of a fire incident is, influenced by the signal transmission period and speed from the point of fire occurrence to the emergency center, to the fire control center and back to the location of fire alarm (Langston, & Kristensen, 2002). This calls for efficient flow of communication of alarm signals to and from the location of fire distress, and minimizing response delays (Doughton, et al., 2001). Delay of fire alarm signals are associated with the attendant being distracted thus, unable to hear the alarm signal, the inability of the attendant to distinguish between fire and false alarms, incorrect response to alarm alerts, and leaving the alarm systems in test mode (Modarres & Joglar-Billoch, 2002). The designed procedure of alarm signal sending and receiving should be without distortion and should be, understood by both parties (Bunker & Roux, 2006). This will translate to the improved time response to emergencies and reducing the rates of false alarms. Once an occupant have identified the start of fire either visually or through the sounding of a fire alert system, they call the emergency response service, where the attendant will verify that fire has broke, by asking for the name of the premises, name of the caller and offering reassurance (Cote & N.F.P.A. 2003). More often than not, the attendant or operator may do a call back to analyze the situation while communicating situations to response units, and informing occupants on the response efforts being, carried out incase, the caller has been, trapped in (Fitzgerald, 2004). Call -backs can be, used to verify the authenticity of the alarm signal to ensure alarm signals are not false alarms caused by malfunctioning fire alarm devices, poorly installed fire alarm devices, alarm testing and fire drills and malicious fire distress callers (Doughton, et al., 2001). Thereafter, they call the fire control service and other related sectors to respond within the shortest time possible. There are fire alarm systems that make use of personal alarm devices such as mobile phones installed with power source; transmitter and programmable register that allows keying in callback number into the programmed register hence, activating broadcast of an alarm signal. The signal enters the control monitoring alarm unit, which interpret the signal and instigate appropriate response such as alerting response units and calling back the caller. This system is, cost- effective, effective and ensures quick time responses (Langston, & Kristensen, 2002). Australia Australia is, credited for being the first developed state to adopt the use of automatic fire alarm transmitter. The efficiency and effectiveness of direct fire alarm systems in Australia is commendable (Schaeman & Seits, 1985). However, the efficiency of the direct fire alarm systems may face challenges. such as the need to modify them using costly technologies, the costs incurred is transferred to the consumers, who may opt not to install them or use alternative less efficient fire alarm systems, hence compromising time of response, and effectiveness of response measures to contain the fire at the point of origin (Fitzgerald, 2004). Faulty designs, compromised inspection procedures, and non-compliance to applicable legal guidelines and current best practices on fire response and prevention initiatives, will minimize the quality assurance, reliability and accuracy of the direct fire alarm systems (Solomon, 2002). USA It is, estimated that almost 5000 fires damage properties worth more than five billion US dollars in the United States annually. The rates of deaths caused by fires in the United States are double the numbers in European States (Schaeman & Seits, 1985). The amount of resources directed for federal, national and local fire prevention systems is immense as there has been increased population densities, constricted infrastructures and increased number of housing units and premises coming up to satisfy the increasing need for housing. With increased population densities, there emerges pressure on traffic load. In the US, disregard for risk factors when planning for urban areas such as the size of facilities, the use of constructed buildings, the capacity of occupants, type of construction and lack of adequate spaces between premises have been blamed for the increased failure of fire prevention and response initiatives (Bunker & Roux, 2006). Consistent delays to respond to alarm signals due to alarm system malfunction or incorrect response to alarm signals are other contributing factors to reduced efficiency of direct fire alert systems (Langston, & Kristensen, 2002). The efficiency of direct fire alert systems is greatly, compromised by inadequate fire prevention and safety information by vulnerable groups such as the young children, the sick and the elderly, who are unable to act efficiently upon firebreaks and they are the major cause of fires in America (Modarres & Joglar-Billoch, 2002). Efficiency and effectiveness of direct fire alert systems in USA lies in implementing properly designed premises, fire codes and effectual fire alarm device safety regulations when deigning and manufacturing the. To ensure quality assurance, full range inspection procedures, qualified installation technicians and regular maintenance work cannot be overemphasized (Fitzgerald, 2004). Developing and implementing fire alarm equipments that are made from quality raw materials, based on engineering designs and in compliance of international quality of standards, training skilled experts, mobilizing the public on alarm and fire prevention techniques, ensures accurate and reliable sending of alarm signals (Kubba, 2007). Moreover, quick time responses, accurate establishment of location of fires and their containment The USA fire prevention and emergency response units have dismally failed and compromised direct fire alarm systems by non-compliance to set standard operating procedures on receiving alarm signals and responding to emergencies (N.R.C., et al., 2003). Dubai the emirate of Dubai has urban planning systems that do not accommodate implementation of direct fire alarm systems as illustrated by lack of special lane for emergency mobile units and fire control and patrol cars). The design of urban planning did not take in consideration emergency vehicles movement. Quality assurance is another problem with absence of necessarily legal guidelines and standards regulations to help facilitate effective sending and receiving of fire distress calls. Contractors do not follow approved safety, environmental and quality standards when designing buildings and fire alarm devices resulting in increased rates of false alarm. This adds to fire safety bills (Langston, & Kristensen, 2002). Due to communication barriers such as language barriers and lengthy callbacks, majority of fire outbreaks are not, responded to in time causing spread of fires to adjacent premises causing increased fatalities and damages to properties. Among cultural traditions and habits such as Arabic traditional perfume (Oud), poor public education on fire safety and emergency response procedures, have resulted to deaths of rescued victims, as locals are reluctant to give way for ambulances and fire engines. Performance monitoring tools Direct fire alert systems can be, monitored by developing and implementing modern communication devices that do not require cables to ensure, a caller can send an alarm signal wherever and whenever they are hence enhancing the time response, carrying out efficient rescue operations and containing the fire in the point of origins. Conducting regular inspection and maintenance work on installed direct fire alarm systems is among ways of ensuring proper functioning of the devices and reducing rates of false alarms (Cote & N.F.P.A. 2003). Employing trained and qualified personnel and experts will ensure equipment malfunction is, noted as early, as possible and thereby, improving the reliability, accuracy and performance of the direct fire alarm systems (Modarres & Joglar-Billoch, 2002). To improve efficiency and effectiveness of alarm signals and alarm devices, use of remote alarm systems and use of two-way radio calls are beneficial in sending prompt alarm signals, reducing false alarm signals, improving the effectiveness of callbacks and improving the efficiency of the response units (Fitzgerald, 2004). Factors contributing to the success of the direct fire alarm systems are compliance to current best practices, competent manufacturer who uses credible raw materials and components, and effectual engineering designs (N.F.P.A. 1991). Additionally, having trained alarm response attendants and operators, enhanced public awareness on sending alarm signals and response to prevention and response initiatives and compliance to legal guidelines on safety equipments and adherence on international quality standards (Modarres & Joglar-Billoch, 2002). There is need implement standardized inspection, installation and maintenance procedures (Langston, & Kristensen, 2002). Use of direct tunnels can be, facilitated by collaboration between government agencies and related sectors such us urban planners to allocate enough land and financial resources to accommodate implementation of direct fire alarm systems. There is need to consider alternative structures and systems to facilitate proper sending of alarm signals and effectual callbacks that will ensure the caller relays the required information to facilitate response initiatives, while the attendant is able to distinguish between real and false calls as quick as possible to eliminate delays (Fitzgerald, 2004). Conclusion Direct fire alarm systems are, meant to minimize the number of mediums used to convey alarm signals thus reducing distortions, ensure quick time of response, minimize false alarms, monitor fire alert and response systems, and ensure applicable safety guides and international quality standards are not compromised References Bunker, M.W., & Roux, J.R. 2006. 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