Fire alarm: what matters
Fire alarm and evacuation systems. MCHS regulations, licenses, equipment selection
Security and fire alarm — a mandatory part of any facility
Security and fire alarm is not an option, but a legal requirement. Residential buildings, offices, warehouses, production facilities — all are required to have a security and fire alarm. Without a commissioning certificate, the facility will not receive a commissioning permit.
Security and fire alarm can be security (motion sensors, glass break sensors, door opening sensors) and fire (smoke, heat detectors, notification system). In a real system, both types are combined.
Regulations and licenses
Installation of security and fire alarm requires an MES license. Without a license, the work performed will not be accepted for operation, the certificate will not be issued, the facility will not be put into operation.
Regulatory base: SP 484.1311500.2020 (security and fire alarm), SP 3.13130.2009 (notification and evacuation management), SP 486.1311500.2020 (fire automatics), GOST R 53325. Regulations change — it is important to keep track of current versions.
Project documentation is mandatory. Without a project, no MES inspector will accept the system. The project undergoes expertise.
Equipment
Control and receiving devices (CRD) are the brain of the system. Bolid (Orion), Rubezh, Sibirskiy Arsenal, Altonika, Sonar. Detectors and actuators are connected to each CRD.
Smoke detectors are optoelectronic, reacting to smoke. Installed in all rooms except bathrooms and kitchens (false alarms there).
Heat detectors react to temperature rise. For kitchens, boiler rooms, parking lots.
Gas detectors — for boiler rooms, parking lots (detection of carbon monoxide, methane).
Linear detectors — for large rooms (warehouses, halls). IR beam between emitter and receiver, interruption triggers an alarm.
Manual detectors — buttons at exits. Required by regulations.
Notification and evacuation management system (NEMS)
NEMS is a system that manages evacuation in case of fire: voice alerts, flashing EXIT signs, door unlocking, ventilation shutdown.
5 types of NEMS — from a simple bell (type 1) to full-fledged management with voice alerts, flashing lights, direction change (type 5). The type depends on the number of floors, area, purpose of the building.
Residential buildings up to 9 floors usually have NEMS type 1-2. High-rise buildings, business centers, shopping centers — type 4-5.
Integration with other systems
Fire automatics → NEMS → smoke removal → door unlocking → signal transmission to the security panel or fire department. This is an automatic chain.
ACS — in case of fire, doors are automatically unlocked, barriers open, turnstiles are lowered.
Smart home — lighting control (emergency signs are turned on, main lighting is turned on at 100%), elevators go down to the 1st floor.
Video surveillance — recording of what is happening for subsequent analysis, if required.