Occupant Initiators

(Pull Boxes / Fire Boxes)

• Enables a person to report smoke or fire that has not been detected through other means
• Connected to Fire Alarm Control Panel
  
  

Smoke Detectors

• Typically mounted on the ceiling
• Connected to the Fire Alarm Control Panel
• Identify presence of smoke within their coverage area

Fire Life Safety

FLS Components (Initiating Devices)

Market Intelligence  

Fire Alarm Control Panel

Notification

Visual Inspection: Semi-Annual

Functional Testing: Annual

Duct Smoke Detectors

• Used in conjunction with an HVAC system, these detectors sample the air for smoke particles either on the supply-side or the return air
• Usually connected to both the Fire Alarm Control Panel and the HVAC control systems, and will shut down the HVAC control system, and will shut down the HVAC system when smoke is detected, limiting the spread of smoke via the HVAC system

Very Early Smoke Detection Apparatus ("VESDA")

• Commonly found supporting critical environments, such as data centers, VESDA systems use a laser system to identify small smoke particles in the air
• By "sniffing the air" more actively than spot detectors, VESDA allows for earlier notification of the presence of smoke within a facility

Heat Detector

• Typically integrated within the sprinkler heads as colored bulbs
• Bulbs will melt at a specific temperature (according to their color), activating the sprinkler

Gas Detector

• These devices are connected to the Fire Alarm Control Panel
• Identify presence of gas, such as Hydrogen or others within their coverage area

Elevator Shaft Detection

• Heat, Flame, and / or Smoke detectors mounted within an elevator shaft where an otherwise undetected fire could spread rapidly throughout a building

Horns / Loudspeakers (Audible)

• Provide audible notification to building occupants that smoke or fire has been detected
  
• Loudspeakers may also broadcast messages or directions to occupants

Strobes (Visual)

• Provide visual notification to building occupants that the fire alarm system has been activated

Combination (Audio + Visual)

• In many cases, the audible and visual notification devices are bundled into one unit

Dialer

• Device that will notify an alarm monitoring center or municipal fire dispatch center
  
• May use POTS (plain-old-telephone-system), cellular, or other internet technology to communicate with the alarm monitor / dispatch center

Fire Life Safety

FLS Components (Notification Devices)

Market Intelligence  

Inspection: Typically performed in conjunction with Fire Alarm Control Panel

Fire Life Safety

FLS Components (Fire Suppression)

Market Intelligence  

Page 3 of 6​

Fire Suppression

Wet Sprinkler

• This is the most commonly seen sprinkler for office spaces, where pipes are charged with water
• Initiated when heat-sensitive bulb melts or when fire pump engages at the direction of the fire alarm control panel
• only areas affected by fire will activate

Dry Sprinkler

• Similar to wet sprinkler, however pipe not filled with water 
• A valve in the sprinkler pipe keeps water out of the sprinkler pipes, which are pressurized with air or an inert gas
• Used where sprinkler pipe is potentially exposed to freezing temperatures, such as walk-in freezers or outside bays / docks in colder climates

Pre-Action Sprinkler

• Usually used in areas containing high value, water-sensitive materials or equipment (such as critical records storage or data centers)
• These systems are similar to dry sprinklers, in that the pipe is not filled with water in its normal state
• Water is held out of the pipe by a valve
• Highlights for each of the various types of pre-action sprinkler can be found in the link, below

Deluge Sprinkler

• Deluge systems are similar to pre-action systems in that their pipes are not normally charged with water, but the sprinkler heads do not have heat fusible links in them, and therefore will only need for the alarm panel to release the valve holding the water back
• Most commonly used in areas that have a high risk of fire spreading quickly, deluge sprinklers will activate for the entire sprinkler system's coverage area

Visual Inspection: Monthly / Quarterly

Functional Testing: Quarterly / Annual

4 Types

1. Wet Sprinkler
2. Dry Sprinkler
3. Pre-Action Sprinkler
4. Deluge Sprinkler

Fire Life Safety

FLS Components (Sprinkler Systems)

Market Intelligence  

Page 4 of 6​

Water Mist Suppression Systems

• Conceptually related to more traditional sprinkler systems, water mist suppression systems convert the water supply into a very fine mist, which has enhanced firefighting properties while limiting water damage often associated with sprinkler systems 

Sprinkler Riser

• A fire sprinkler riser serves as a hub for drainage, test, and system control
• The exact configuration will vary, but most sytsems contain:
  • A vertical pipe
  • A main drain
  • An inspector's test connection
  • Pressure gauges
  • A flow or pressure switch
    

Fire Risers, Part 1: Essential Fire Sprinkler Riser Components

Fire Life Safety

FLS Components (Related Components)

Market Intelligence  

Page 5 of 6​

Post Indicator Valves

• Identifies the location for the wet standpipe or fire sprinkler system underground shutoff valve (outside the building)
• The valve controls water supply to these systems
• Includes a visual indicator of the valve's Open / Shut condition, and allows for quick access and control of the valve
• While generally in an open condition, the valve may need to be shut to limit water damage in case of a leak or after a fire has been extinguished

Visual Inspection: Weekly / Monthly / Quarterly

(Depends on type of seal protecting the valve)

Functional Testing:  Annual

Hydrant

• An access point to the local water source (typically city water utility) for firefighters, can either supply water directly to firefighting equipment or be used to fill pumper trucks

Fire Department Connection (FDC)

• This is a location where the fire department can hook up a pumper truck to the building in order to supply additional water to the sprinkler system or standpipe system

Functional Testing:  Annual

Functional Testing:  Annual

Backflow Device

• A backflow device helps to separate the city's water supply from a building's systems
• Including fire sprinkler / standpipe, irrigation, HVAC, and other domestic water
• Since water can remain stagnant within the buildings systems' piping for long periods of time (potentially harboring microorganisms), the backflow device prevents water from draining back into the municipal system should the system lose pressure for any reason

Functional Testing:  Annual

Fire Life Safety

FLS Components (Special Hazards Suppression Systems)

Market Intelligence  

Page 6 of 6​

7 Types

1. 3M™ Novec™ 1230 
2. FM-200 / HFC-227ea
3. Inergen
4. Carbon Dioxide (CO²)
5. Dry Chemical Systems 
6. Halon 1211 / Halon 1301 
7. Foams

3M™ Novec™ 1230 

FM-200 / HFC-227ea  

Inergen

Carbon Dioxide (CO²)

Dry Chemical Systems 

Halon 1211 / Halon 1301 

Foams

Fire protection fluid suppresses fire primarily by physical mechanisms with minimal effect on available oxygen allowing people to still see and breathe, permitting them to leave the area safely. 3M™ Novec™ 1230 is an environmentally friendly replacement of halon and has been very successful as a fire suppression agent.

An environmentally-friendly, rapid extinguishing agent which offers versatile clean agent suppression capabilities available for facilities that cannot afford fire-related business interruptions.  Beginning in 2022, FM200 is being phased down and will become more difficult and expensive to source replacement supplies for the gas.

Systems protect enclosed areas where there is a need for quick reaction to a fire, where people may be present, where fire may strike day or night, and where damage from conventional agents cannot be tolerated.

Systems reduce the oxygen content of the atmosphere to a point where combustion becomes impossible. CO² systems are available in three (3) configurations: total flooding (for unoccupied areas), local application or hand-hose line and are available in both high and low pressure configurations.

While not a clean agent, fixed pipe dry chemical systems have a multitude of industrial applications. These include paint spray booths, public transit vehicles, construction and logging machinery, industrial manufacturing processes and powder coating machinery.

Halon has not been manufactured since 1994, as it has been determined to be ozone-depleting.  While very rare, Halon suppression installations can still be found, and follow similar maintenance regimes as other Clean Agents. 

Foams provide the most effective means to extinguish and secure flammable liquid fires. A special sprinkler system that is pipe-connected to a source of foam concentrate and to a water supply. Loading racks, tank farms, aircraft hangars and flammable liquid processing plants are protected with foam systems.

Visual Inspection: Monthly / Quarterly

Functional Testing:  Semi-Annually