E – 1778 Overview of Fire Alarm and Detection Systems

A key aspect of fire detection and alarm system is to identify a developing fire emergency in a timely manner, and to alert the building’s occupants and fire emergency organizations. Depending on the anticipated fire scenario, building and use type, number of occupants and criticality of contents and mission, these systems can provide several main functions. First they provide a means to identify a developing fire either through manual or automatic means and second, they alert building occupants to a fire condition and the need to evacuate. The system can be designed to simultaneously alert the fire department or other emergency response organization by means of a direct or relayed alarm notification signals. In addition to the alarm function, fire alarm and detection systems can also actuate other fire safety measures in a building.