New from the fire protection product firm Advanced is its AlarmCalm false alarm management (FAM) product.
The makers say that the product comprises comprehensive configuration software for Advanced’s fire systems and new intelligent alarm acknowledgement devices called AlarmCalm Buttons. According to the company it will suit almost any building or site and it’s claimed to radically reduce false alarms.
The product provides control over alarm verification periods and investigation delays to outputs. It allows a site to be divided into false alarm management zones called Building Areas (up to 200 per panel, or 40,000 per network). These are virtual areas that can be independent of fire zones and can share grouped or have their own FAM settings. There is no limit to the number of points in a Building Area and every device in the area can be configured precisely.
As for alarm verification, settings for a site can be applied quickly it’s claimed by assigning all common areas of a building with group settings, while allowing specific areas to have their own settings. Verification can be set to on or off, with different settings for day and night. Verification can be set according to device type in each Building Area. Heat, smoke, multi-sensors and other inputs (call points or any input modules) can be used as verification inputs and set by device type or per point. Once a signal is detected the product starts a programmable ‘stage one’ verification time. At the end of this time, if the signal is still present the system will go into full alarm. During this time the signal can be confirmed by mode or sensitivity change; for example, an optical heat detector switching to heat to verify the signal, or by coincidence detection.
Verification can occur simultaneously in multiple areas and users can set the maximum number of Building Areas in verification at any time before a full fire condition is indicated.
To reduce false alarms especially in student flats and apartment buildings, fusionadvanced.com, the company’s new loop-powered alarm acknowledgement device, the AlarmCalm Button can be used by residents to manually verify an alarm signal is due to what they believe is a false alarm, commonly burnt toast or shower vapour. By pressing the AlarmCalm Button, a resident initiates a ‘second stage’ verification time and (optionally), the local sounder can be silenced. If after the second stage time the signal has cleared, the system will re-set to normal conditions; if the signal in the detector is still present, a full fire condition will be signalled.
During the second stage period, a fire condition is also indicated if the alarm is confirmed by another method such as sensitivity change or second detector.
AlarmCalm Buttons can only extend verification time once (before a system reset). If the burnt toast becomes a real fire, a full fire condition will be signalled.
AlarmCalm Buttons are installed on the loop and recognised in the panel software on auto learn. They are compatible with a standard UK single-gang back box, can be flush or surface mounted and include a configurable LED, buzzer and slide in label. Sounders, beacons and relays in each Building Area can be operated during the verification period and can be set by all devices of each type or individually by point. Sounder ringing styles are also fully configurable and can use a different tone during verification and alarm periods.
John Newton, product manager at Advanced said: “Advanced approaches problems differently and in AlarmCalm users have a very powerful automated false alarm management solution that gives fire professionals and building managers unprecedented control and also allows residents to play a role in verification, a tactic being employed and recommended in many territories. AlarmCalm builds in a number of failsafes to ensure misuse cannot delay a full fire condition, from full control of verification times to automatic detection by sensitivity change or an additional device.
“AlarmCalm promises to radically reduce false and unwanted fire alarms. There’s nothing like it on the market and it is very much in demand.”
AlarmCalm is available on Advanced’s EN54 2,4&13 approved MxPro 5 and Axis EN fire systems.
Visit the AlarmCalm microsite – alarmcalm.advancedco.com.
