1、 Composition and working principle of fire alarm system

1. Composition

The fire alarm system consists of a triggering device, an automatic alarm system, a fire alarm controller, an audible and visual alarm, and various control modules. According to the size of buildings and the number of key areas for prevention and control, fire alarm systems are divided into regional fire alarm systems, centralized fire alarm systems, and control center fire alarm systems.

2. Working principle

When the fire alarm system is in operation, it will send a fire alarm controller inspection signal and detect the situation of the fire alarm system. The temperature and smoke concentration within the detection range of the working area will be detected and fed back to the fire detector. When there is an abnormality in the data, such as temperature exceeding the standard or smoke concentration exceeding the standard, the temperature and smoke concentration will be detected and fed back to the fire alarm controller to patrol and judge the information. The setting of the fire alarm control device will be determined based on the situation of the fire alarm system. Once a fire occurs, the fire alarm system will display an alarm and activate the corresponding control module to control each corresponding fire extinguishing equipment, while issuing a fire alarm.

2、 Problems in the operation of fire alarm systems

1. The system equipment is not functioning properly

During the operation of the fire alarm system equipment, the inability of the alarm controller to be properly connected to the backup power supply may result in the alarm controller being unable to carry the backup power supply. In addition, during the operation of fire alarm systems, the frequency of alarm controller host failures is usually high, and the accuracy of fault diagnosis is relatively low. In actual operation, users should adopt isolation, shielding and other methods to maintain the normal operation of the system. Some fire alarm systems have a long service life, severe equipment aging, outdated equipment technology, and some components are difficult to configure due to their age, resulting in high replacement costs and difficulty. Some users can only barely maintain their operation, causing the fire alarm system to operate with faults.

2. Linkage equipment cannot start normally

The linkage equipment of the fire alarm system did not start the fire protection equipment properly, and the centralized alarm controller, automatic fire extinguishing system, fire hydrant system control device, smoke exhaust system, ventilation system control device, fire roller shutter controller, fire communication equipment and other equipment were not activated, resulting in all corresponding functions not functioning properly and not operating normally in the event of a fire. Some building fire alarm systems and automatic fire extinguishing systems are not well-equipped, and automatic fire protection facilities such as mechanical smoke exhaust cannot be linked, resulting in damage to the drivers. Make it impossible for the fire pumps, smoke exhaust fans, and other important fire protection facilities linked through the bus control module to operate and effectively monitor their operating status. In addition, manual control mode is often used in the fire linkage process, making it difficult to ensure that the fire alarm system can be activated in a timely manner in the event of a fire.

3. Improper selection of fire detectors

According to the design specifications of fire alarm systems, the selection of fire alarm systems should be carried out, mainly by selecting the type of fire detector and analyzing the fire mode in the detection area. The room height and environmental conditions in the detection area of the fire alarm system should be analyzed, and the factors causing the fire should be paid attention to. The correct selection of fire detector models should be made to avoid false alarms. In the construction of fire alarm systems in some buildings, some detectors are not selected correctly and are not installed with the same model of detectors, which can easily lead to inconsistent detection, non alarm or false alarm situations, and cannot effectively monitor fires.

4. Environmental interference

The operation of a fire alarm system requires high environmental requirements and requires the removal of environmental interference. However, in the actual operation of a fire alarm system, the environment is more complex and limited by external environmental influences. If there are banners blocking or decoration material contamination during the operation of the fire alarm system, it will affect the normal operation of the fire alarm system.

5. Inaccurate address identification information

During the renovation process, some projects failed to update facility data in a timely manner due to changes in the installation position of detectors caused by the construction mode. Due to inconsistent identification information of the installation address of the fire alarm system and physical location records of the detector, the fire alarm system cannot accurately reflect the location and situation of the fire in the event of a fire.

3、 Analysis of the causes of problems in the fire alarm system

1. Design one's inherent shortcomings

The operation of the fire alarm system is affected by various factors. In the design of fire alarm systems, some designers have not fully considered the actual situation of the design scheme in practical applications, and have not taken into account the issue of usage time, resulting in the system not functioning properly.

2. The installation and debugging personnel are not skilled enough

Some construction companies have poor project construction quality. In the operation of fire alarm systems, due to the lack of relevant professional technical personnel and equipment, some personnel change the design scheme on their own, resulting in more prominent system quality problems and affecting the implementation of fire alarm system functions.

3. Poor quality of fire alarm equipment products

The quality of the alarm equipment used in the fire alarm system is poor. In the process of selecting fire alarm systems, some units may not fully grasp the technical indicators, which can lead to unstable detector operation, affect the normal operation of fire alarm system devices, affect the matching of products, and increase system matching problems.

4. Inadequate daily maintenance and management of the unit

(1) Some construction units do not attach importance to the application of fire alarm systems, and their maintenance and management are not in place. Especially due to the complexity of fire alarm systems in some large public buildings, which require professional maintenance, there is a high demand for professional knowledge. Due to the lack of professional personnel in the unit and inadequate maintenance of the fire alarm system, the system cannot operate normally. Many fire alarm systems suffer from false alarms due to long-term disrepair.

(2) Some fire alarm systems neglect the installation and maintenance of manual alarm systems, resulting in a lack of daily maintenance management and affecting normal use of fire alarm systems.

(3) Some detectors are installed improperly and not standardized according to the design drawings. The detector base and wires are not installed according to the construction requirements, resulting in the detector not being able to alarm normally when a fire occurs, losing the fire safety detection information function of the fire alarm system and having a certain impact on the monitoring object.

5. Inadequate usage training

(1) Some production enterprises of fire alarm systems only focus on the sales process of fire equipment, and neglect the tracking service and vocational training of fire alarm systems. The equipment using units do not have sufficient mastery of the use of fire alarm systems, leading to blind operation by the using units, affecting the normal operation of the equipment, and even causing direct damage to the fire alarm system.

(2) Some units are not proficient in equipment operation and only focus on operation and use, without paying attention to fault maintenance. Especially some units lack training, do not know how to maintain, do not have the necessary knowledge, do not have the necessary means, nor are they familiar with the working principles and operating rules, and do not conduct maintenance checks on the system operation.

4、 Solutions to problems in fire alarm systems

1. Improve design quality

The design personnel of the fire alarm system should strictly follow the national design standards and combine the actual situation of the user unit to carry out the design work of the fire alarm system. They should choose the fire detector model reasonably based on the characteristics of the use area of the fire alarm system, comprehensively and meticulously carry out the design work, do a good job in reviewing the construction drawings, and communicate well with professionals to improve the design quality.

2. Improve installation and debugging level

(1) The construction unit of the fire alarm system should do a good job in organizing and managing the fire alarm system. Before construction, it is necessary to strictly check the construction drawings, consider every detail operation, and ensure that the installation and commissioning of the fire alarm system are well organized. To design a detailed and feasible construction plan, ensure that every branch of the fire alarm system is managed according to requirements, inspect pipelines and equipment, plan and record construction, and especially keep records of project acceptance.

(2) Comprehensively record the information recording work of the fire alarm system, mark the drawings, do a good job in the construction organization of the construction unit, and provide training on operational skills. Enable the staff to fully master the installation technology of fire alarm systems and fire-fighting facilities, hold certificates for work, strictly follow the construction drawings for operation, and cannot arbitrarily change the design.

(3) For the procurement of fire alarm system equipment, it is necessary to follow the principle of sunshine procurement, strictly control the procurement quality, carry out product qualification testing, and purchase according to the design drawings of the fire alarm system. The specifications and quantity of the fire alarm system cannot be changed, and the installation and commissioning of the fire alarm system must be strictly carried out in accordance with national regulations.

3. Enhance supervision efforts

We need to prepare fire contingency plans, establish a supervision system for fire alarm systems, strictly regulate the use of fire alarm systems, and strictly supervise the construction of fire alarm system projects, implement them at different levels, and supervise them at different levels. The public security fire department is responsible for supervising and guiding the design unit, and supervising the implementation of the fire alarm system design in accordance with national laws and regulations. We need to strengthen dynamic supervision work, carry out on-site supervision and inspection of fire alarm system projects, strictly monitor the completion acceptance of the project, and ensure that the design and implementation of the fire alarm system are in place.

4. Strengthen system maintenance and management

Train professional technical personnel for fire alarm systems, supervise units to carry out maintenance work on fire alarm system equipment, and ensure that the fire alarm system is in a safe and stable state. Maintain and regularly inspect the fire alarm system, and carry out regular cleaning and dust removal work. During the construction process of the fire alarm system, there should be no barrier within 0.5m of the detector, and the horizontal distance should not be less than 0.5m. When installing the manual fire alarm button, it should be installed at a height of 1.5m from the ground to facilitate operation.

5. Strengthen system usage training

We need to strengthen training on the use of fire alarm systems, actively explore and continuously improve the level of public fire safety management. Fire alarm system usage training is a comprehensive technical training that requires the production industry to provide comprehensive and systematic training to the management and operation personnel of the using units, so that relevant personnel can fully grasp the functions of the fire alarm system and ensure implementation effectiveness. At the same time, the fire supervision department should also carry out training work in accordance with relevant national regulations and practical needs. Regular training and practical simulation. Based on the characteristics of urban development, using modern communication technology and a unified supervision and management system to improve the application level of fire alarm systems is the fundamental way to strengthen public fire safety.