INSTRUCT-O-GRAM FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS THE HANDS-ON TRAINING GUIDE FOR THE FIRE INSTRUCTOR PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES TASK

Transcription

1 INSTRUCT-O-GRAM THE HANDS-ON TRAINING GUIDE FOR THE FIRE INSTRUCTOR VOLUME XIV, ISSUE 2 FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS FEBRUARY 1993 FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS ^ TASK To review public fire alarm boxes, their resetting and/or rewinding, other public alarm systems and the various private alarm systems which may be encountered. ESTIMATED TIME 3 hours INTRODUCTION Firefighters should have knowledge of the proper methods to restore alarm boxes to service and of the supervisory alarm systems in their area. OUTLINE 1. To identify the types of public fire alarm boxes and their proper resetting for service. 2. To identify the supervisory fire alarm systems and define their manner of functioning. 3. To define the methods which may be used to activate these systems. PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES I. NFPA Standard 1001, Firefighter III A The firefighter shall demonstrate the rewinding, resetting, or both, of any fire alarm boxes or devices on the public fire alarm system. B The firefighter shall identify the types of supervisory alarm systems. STUDY GUIDE 1. Read references listed below. 2. Review SOP's and orders regarding public and other alarm systems. Source: Fire Department material. 3. Review department and station alarm receiving devices. Source: Fire Department equipment. STUDENT REFERENCES IFSTA, Industrial Fire Protection NFPA, Public Fire Service Communications ISSN:

2 IOG '93 FEBRUARY 1. LESSON DEFINED It is the purpose of this lesson to review the public fire alarm boxes of various types and define the proper method of restoring them to service, if required. It is also to cover the several supervisory systems which firefighters may encounter and other public alarm systems such as the telephone. 2. OUTLINE AND PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES A review of the outline and performance objectives indicates a limited requirement regarding alarm box resetting and identifying supervisory systems. 3. GENERAL PROCEDURES Though the objective on supervisory systems is close to that presented in a previous IOG, the alarm box resetting has not been addressed on its own. However, the rewinding and resetting of public fire alarm boxes probably is of concern to no more than five or six percent of the departments in the country, if even that many. Where this is not required, the instructor should work into the lesson material devoted to the alarm systems of the department(s) involved in the program. Perhaps details not previously covered can be determined and the class conducted accordingly. In many instances, instructors will be working with departments that have neither public alarm systems nor supervisory systems of any type. Here again, subject material should be devoted to the communications system used by the departments. Where alarm boxes of some type are used, the instructor must be prepared to the point of understanding the features and operation of the box and the alarm system and the details of resetting if required. Where telegraph boxes are used, the box and system is set up to transmit and receive a coded signal which indicates a box number at a specific location. When that number is received, a pre-determined response is dispatched to the location. These boxes must be rewound after transmitting for they transmit through a clockwork mechanism actuated by the movement of a manual switch or handle. In most cases the box is designed to transmit its number four times. If it's a Class A alarm system, as used in larger communities, the signal is received at the alarm office (bureau, communications, headquarters) and retransmitted to stations. If it's a Class B system, the signal is transmitted to both the alarm office and the stations at the same time. This normal procedure can be manually altered at the fire alarm office if desired. Usually if more than 2,500 alarms are received annually the Class A system is required. In both of these systems, the alarm boxes are designed as "non-interfering, successive" units. With this design, when two boxes are pulled at the same time, one will transmit and the other will wait until that transmission is complete and then transmit its signal. However, Class A systems are usually designed to receive more than one box alarm at the same time allowing for both boxes to transmit simultaneously. Regardless of the system, the boxes must be rewound after use and usually a specific officer is assigned this responsibility. A special key is used to get into the interior of the box to access the rewind handle. The instructor should determine ahead of time the exact procedure required forthe boxes used by the departments in the program. Some of these systems are set up to use a special portable telephone which is carried on the apparatus and plugged into the box when that type of contact is desired. A push button on the phone handle alerts the alarm office. This action in no way affects the operation of the box. There is no resetting. Radio alarm boxes usually require no resetting. The box is usually actuated by a push button type switch and is entirely electrical in operation. There is no clockwork mechanism. The box automatically resets after sending its signal which usually goes to an alarm office or some other central point from which dispatching is carried out.

3 FEBRUARY IOG '93 Some boxes will be for fire alarm only while others will allow the citizen to select fire-police-ambulance or highway-service. Telephone alarm boxes as indicated have telephones for use by the citizen. Upon opening the box and lifting the phone, the box number is instantly received at the central alarm location. However, the dispatcher may get additional information which is not possible with a telegraph or radio box. This type of box is reset by merely hanging up the phone properly. Voice boxes are wired in a manner similar to telegraph boxes. M any cities have replaced telegraph boxes at their original locations. When using this type of box, the citizen operates a push button switch, the alarm office immediately has the number and location, but a dispatcher also talks to the citizen to get additional information. These boxes were originally used to deter the false alarms being received by telegraph boxes, but was not as effective in practice as in theory. False alarms are still received, the prankster not speaking when the dispatcher answers. In some cities the policy is "no talk, no response." These boxes reset themselves automatically upon release of the button and the dispatcher's answer switch. Telephone - Most departments that instructors will encounter have no type of public alarm box system and consequently most alarms will be received by telephone. According to the location of the department, these calls may be received directly at the station, at a central fire alarm office or a 911 facility. These centers either immediately retransmit the alarm to a fire alarm office (as is done in many cities and urban counties) or else take the information and do the dispatching themselves. The instructor should determine the type of system used by the department(s) involved in the program and be ready to discuss those procedures which would provide the most efficient operation. Supervisory systems of various types may be found at many different occupancies or complexes. The type of system is usually determined by the size and type of occupancy, the cost involved and whether or not a public fire alarm system is available. Auxiliary system - used where a public fire alarm box system is available. In this arrangement, the actuation of an alarm station within the building trips the nearest public alarm box In most communities, these public alarm boxes are located in front of the building. This box is usually in addition to the other street alarm boxes and may be specially marked. A device know as a "trip coil" is found in these boxes and is the connection to the alarm system in the building. Upon arrival, if nothing is showing, a check of the trip coil will indicate if the alarm was transmitted from the building or from the street box. If the coil is "tripped," the alarm came from the building. Very often this type of protection is found in public buildings such as schools, libraries, hospitals etc. When rewinding this type of box the trip coil must be reset if the alarm originated in the building. Central station - a private, commercial alarm system that signals a central station, that is manned 24- hours by trained personnel. Alarms are received and retransmitted to the fire department. In some cases employees with keys, maps etc. are dispatched to the scene. Usually, the central station can inform the department of the type of alarm actuation be it water flow, manual etc. The American District Telegraph Company (ADT) is an example of this service. Remote system - also for protection of private premises. The system may be maintained by the owner or by a central station company. However, the alarm goes to the central fire alarm office, fire station or wherever public fire alarms are received. Proprietary systems - this system is usually found at large plants or other large complexes where the company maintains its own central supervisory sta-

4 IOG'93 FEBRUARY tion. Alarms received are retransmitted to the fire department. Personnel should be trained to transmit the alarm then investigate the situation. Local system - as the name implies, the alarm signal is primarily for alerting occupants and/or employees and does not transmit an alarm to a central station or the fire department. Therefore, employees should be trained to notify the fire department immediately upon the sounding of the alarm. Any of these systems may be actuated by several different means. These include manual pull boxes, sprinkler water flow, standpipe water flow, heat detectors, smoke detectors or any other type of fire protection device. In addition the systems may include annuciator panels which indicate the location of the alarm within the complex or building and the type of actuation. These are usually found in some convenient location such as the main gate house, the proprietary central station, lobby etc. according to the building or complex involved. INSTRUCTOR REFERENCES: IFSTA, Industrial Fire Protection NFPA 1972, Public Fire Service Communications ICMA, Municipal Fire Administration SUGGESTED LESSON PLAN INSTRUCTOR NOTES I. PUBLIC FIRE ALARM BOX SYSTEMS A. Telegraph 1. Coded signal/clockwork 2. Rewind as required 3. Reset trip coil if required 4. Portable telephone carried on apparatus 5. Class A system T a. transmits to alarm office b. retransmitted to stations c. complete control by alarm office d. over 2,500 alarms per year 6. Class B system a. transmits to alarm office and stations b. may be set to send to alarm office only B. Radio 1. Actuated by push button 2. Usually transmits to alarm office 1

5 FEBRUARY IOG'93 INSTRUCTOR NOTES 3. Reset by release of button C. Telephone 1. Actuated by lifting phone in box 2. Reset by hanging up phone 3. May be found in combination with telegraph type box 4. Received at alarm office or station D. Voice Box 1. Replaced telegraph boxes 2. Actuated by push button 3. Answered by dispatcher 4. Reset by release of push button and dispatcher switch 5. Transmits to alarm office E. Telephone Only 1. Actuated by dialing emergency number 2. Received by dispatcher a. fire station b. city/county fire alarm office c. sheriff/police office d. other agency e. 911 system 1) Received at some type of central agency 2) Fire alarm may be sent directly to fire alarm office without getting information/many cities urban counties, two to five second transmission 3) May get information and handle fire dispatching II. SUPERVISORY SYSTEMS A. Auxiliary 1. Used with fire alarm box system/box in building trips alarm box in street/"trip coil" in street box is connection/if tripped alarm has come from box in building; nothing showing, check upon arrival/when rewinding box, trip coil must be reset if alarm came from building box.

6 IOG '93 FEBRUARY INSTRUCTOR NOTES 2. Street box usually an addition to normal alarm box distribution and specially marked/often found at public buildings; schools, libraries, hospitals, etc./heavier than normal first alarm response. B. Central station 1. Private, commercial alarm system/subscribed to and paid for/alarm signals a 24-hour manned central station or office/trained personnel. 2. Alarms received transmitted to fire department/often type of actuation such as manual, sprinklerwaterflow, heat detector etc. may be known and relayed to department. 3. If a large building or complex the floor, building, section or similar information may be known and relayed to the fire department/in some cases employees with keys, maps etc. may be dispatched. 4. System is maintained by the central station company as part of contract. 5. ADT; the American District Telegraph Company is an example of this type of system. C. Remote 1. Protection of private premises/alarm sent to fire alarm office, station or wherever public alarms are received. 2. May indicate type of actuation such as manual, water flow, heat detector etc. 3. May indicate location within building or complex. 4. System maintained by owner of a central station company. D. Proprietary 1. Usually found at large plants and industries/other large complexes/ company maintains its own central supervisory station. 2. Alarms are received at this central station/retransmitted to fire department. 3. May indicate actuation of alarm. 4. Will usually indicate the location on the premises. 5. Central station usually near main entrance with other security systems, guards etc. 6. Personnel should be trained to call the fire department immediately, not after making an investigation/large complex very time-consuming. E. Local alarm 1. Notifies occupants and/or employees. 2. Does not notify fire department or central station. 3. Usually actuated by manual pull box but may be by sprinklerwaterflow or heat/smoke detector. 4. May give location by box number or by light over box or by annuciator panel. W

7 FEBRUARY IOG '93 INSTRUCTOR NOTES 5. Employees/occupants should be trained to call the fire department upon sounding of alarm immediately then clear the building before investigating. 6. System maintenance responsibility of owner. F. Actuation 1. Any of the systems shown may be actuated through several different means. 2. Manual pull box, sprinkler water flow, standpipe water flow, removal of extinguisher from its mount, heat detectors, smoke detectors or any type of fire protection device. G. Annunciator panels 1. Usually indicates the location of the alarm within a building or identifies a particular building within a complex such as a panel at a main gate. 2. Panel in building indicates location in that building. 3. May indicate the type of actuation of the alarm. 4. Usually found at main entrance to complex or building, gate house, proprietary central station, lobby etc./do not have to be manned in all cases according to type of system and location of panel (e.g. apartment house lobby.) 5. Maintained in accordance with the type of system involved. The log's which you have received and will be forthcoming are edited versions of lessons developed by Hal Richman for Wisconsin State Fire Training. Hal is a past president of the Society and a retired Fire Chief with some 30 years in the fire service. Our thanks to Mr. Si Hertzler, Wisconsin State Fire Service Director for permission to use the material and to Fire Coordinators Dave McFadden and Bruce Erickson for their help with the program. Methods and techniques provided in the Instruct- O-Gram are suggested by the author. There are many other methods and techniques which are equally successful and used in many municipalities throughout the world. The new Instruct-O- Gram is aimed at developing sound training procedures for the recruit level. These procedures may differ from policy which is established by the chief of the department and commonly posted as the "standard operating procedure" (SOP). It is suggested that any difference in procedures be brought to the attention of the chief of the department. ISFSI

8 TRAINING NOTICE TIME:. DATE: LOCATION: NOTES: TASK To review public fire alarm boxes, their resetting and/or rewinding, other public alarm systems and the various private alarm systems which may be encountered. ESTIMATED TIME INTRODUCTION 3 hours Firefighters should have knowledge of the proper methods to restore alarm boxes to service and of the supervisory alarm systems in their area. OUTLINE 1. To identify the types of public fire alarm boxes and their proper resetting for service. 2. To identify the supervisory fire alarm systems and define their manner of functioning. 3. To define the methods which may be used to activate these systems. PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES I. NFPA Standard 1001, Firefighter III A The firefighter shall demonstrate the rewinding, resetting, or both, of any fire alarm boxes or devices on the public fire alarm system. B The firefighter shall identify the types of supervisory alarm systems. STUDY GUIDE 1. Read references listed below. 2. Review SOP's and orders regarding public and other alarm systems. Source: Fire Department material. 3. Review department and station alarm receiving devices. Source: Fire Department equipment. STUDENT REFERENCES IFSTA, Industrial Fire Protection NFPA, Public Fire Service Communications _