Fire alarm systems

A fire alarm system is an electronic system that receives events from various fire detectors, evaluates them and then reacts. In the case of corresponding events, the fire brigade is alerted and built-in extinguishing systems, such as a sprinkler system, are triggered. Fire alarm systems are usually installed in buildings that are particularly at risk, such as company buildings, factory halls, old people's homes or hospitals.

The advantage of the fire alarm system is that even in the absence of people, a fire is detected as early as possible and the fire brigade can extinguish it while it is still developing. Unfortunately, there are always false alarms due to various misinterpretations of the automatic fire detectors as well as malicious operation of the push-button detectors. As a rule, several fire detectors are combined into groups or loops (ring line), so that the location can be determined very precisely when they are triggered. If hot work is being carried out, an entire loop is switched off. Thus, the rest of the object remains monitored. In newer systems, it is also possible to switch off individual detectors.

False alarms often occur because this work is not reported as required by regulations; the detectors are then still armed during the work. For special applications, smoke aspiration systems (RAS) are used as an alternative to a small fire alarm system or as part of a large system. In this case, air is fed to a central detector unit via a pipe system. The connection of fire alarm systems to the central control centre Waldeck - Frankenberg is regulated by law and is determined in the building permit procedure.