Alarms and Sprinklers Flashcards
List the three (3) types of detectors:
- Heat
- Smoke
- Flame
What are the four (4) types of smoke detectors:
- Point type (2 types)
- Beam type
- Air sampling type
- Household type
What does the acronym VESDA stand for
Very Early Smoke Detection Apparatus
What are two (2) advantages of household smoke detectors:
- low installation cost
- low maintenance
With regards to household smoke detectors, what is the Victorian Law that complies with Australian Standards AS 3786?
Building regulations state that any home (unit/flat/apartment) constructed prior to 1st August 1997 only requires a stand alone, 9V battery operated smoke alarm.
Residential homes constructed after 1st August 1997 must have smoke alarms connected to 240V mains power with a backup battery installed.
What type of smoke alarms are preferred by the fire services in Australia:
Photoelectric type smoke alarms are recommended when installing or replacing existing smoke alarms.
List five (5) common causes of false alarms:
- Welding, cutting, grinding.
- Rainwater in detector
- Improper installation or maintenance
- Battery failure
- Sprinkler heads broken
List the advantages and disadvantages of the Point type Ionisation smoke alarms:
Advantages:
- They provide earlier warning than heat detectors
- They require lower current consumption than optical smoke detectors
- More sensitive to fast burning fires than optical smoke detectors
Disadvantages:
- Affected by high humidity and air currents
- Less sensitive than photoelectric detectors to slow burning, smouldering fires (the most likely and deadliest type of fire in residential homes)
List four (4) air handling systems activated or controlled by fire detection systems
- Plant shut down
- Stairwell pressurisation
- Zone pressurisation
- Automatic smoke exhaust systems
- Automatic smoke vents
- Automatic smoke exhaust systems & smoke vents
List the five (5) acceptable sources of water supply for sprinklers systems
- Town mains
- Gravity tank
- Ground reservoirs with automatic supply
- Elevated private reservoirs
- Pressure tanks
Glass bulb sprinkler heads
57 degrees = Orange
68 degrees = Red
79 degrees = Yellow
93 degrees = Green
141 degrees = Blue
182 degrees = Mauve
204 - 260 degrees = Black
What are the four (4) causes of an alarm activation (sprinklers)
- The opening of a sprinkler head
- The opening of a drain or test valve
- Damage to any part of the installation which leads to an outflow of water
- A rise in the pressure of the water being supplied to the installation, thus lifting the alarm valve and allowing water to pass to water turbine, operating the gong (the local alarm) and the DBA (Direct Brigade Alarm)
State the nine (9) steps for the Sprinkler Reinstating Procedure
- Investigate the area of activated sprinkler head. IC to send appropriate wordback.
- Turn off the Local Warning Alarm (LWA) stop cock and detail a member of the crew to stand-by the sprinkler installation.
- When the IC is satisfied the sprinklers are no longer required, they will order the main stop valve closed and drain valve to be opened. (1. turn pump off 2. shut water down)
- When the system is drained, replace the broken/activated sprinkler heads.
- Close drain valve and lock in the closed position
- Open the main valve slowly and fully. Lock in open position
- Check sprinkler heads for leaks and pump up system to pressure indicated in the sprinkler maintenance book (or 200-300 above combined mains pressure)
- Open the Local Alarm stop cock and lock in open
- Check lights on ASE and verify with VKN8, if necessary.
What is the function of a Fire Indicator Panel (FIP)?
The FIP is an early detection and warning system design to communicate warning and evacuation directions to occupants at the detection of a fire. It contains the controls and indicators for the fire detectors for various detection/suppression systems in a structure.
In a premise with an FIP, how are occupants alerted to an alarm activation
An audible automatic alarm signal will sound
