SIGNALS TO FIRE DEPARTMENT- MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS Ark Tsisserev, P.Eng. Senior Technical Manager CFAA Technical Seminar April 15, 2015
BRIEF SUMMARY This seminar covers application and installation requirements for Central Stations. It also deals with the acceptance criteria for Central Stations to provide signals to fire department.
CENTRAL STATION Central Station is an assembly of interconnected pieces of equipment designed and installed to transmit, receive and monitor a signal from a fire alarm system.
COMPONENTS OF A TYPICAL FIRE ALARM SYSTEM Fire alarm initiating devices (input) Control and processing equipment (interface) Signal devices (output) Smoke detector CPU audible signal device Heat detector Visual signage device Manual station Annunciator Voice communication device Water flow device CACF Ancillary devices: (elevator homing; door hold open devices; electromagnetic locks; smoke control equipment, smoke venting equipment) Signal to fire department
SIGNALS TO FIRE DEPARTMENT
ELECTRICAL SUPERVISION REQUIRED BY ULC S524 Electrical supervision of the wiring shall be provided to the following: Manual Stations; Fire Detectors; Water flow devices for water based fire protection systems; National Building Code of Canada required supervisory devices for water based fire protection systems; Audible signal devices; Visible signal devices; Voice communication equipment; Emergency telephone handsets; Primary power supplies and emergency power supplies; Power supplied to field devices; Annunciators; Display and control centre at the central alarm and control facility; and Common fault indication from the engine driven generator, as required by Clause 3.2.4.2.
Article 3.2.4.8. of the NBCC mandates that the fire department must be notified upon: 1. Initiation of the 1st stage (alert signal) in a 2 stage fire alarm system 2. Activation of a water flow-indicating device of a fire alarm system 3. Activation of any fire alarm initiating device of a single stage fire alarm system installed in a building of assembly occupancy with an occupant load exceeding 300.
NBCC also requires that any abnormal supervisory condition of the sprinkler system (connected to a building fire alarm system) must be transmitted to a fire signal receiving centre (to a central station) Sentence 3.2.4.8. (4) of the NBCC states that notification of the fire department must be provided via a Fire Signal Receiving Centre that conforms to CAN/ULC- S561, standard for Installation and Services for Fire Signal Receiving Centres and Systems
CONNECTION OF A FIRE ALARM SYSYTEM TO A CENTRAL STATION Installation by an electrical contractor Installation by a Listed Central station ( shared service installation, or full service ) FAS CPU Transmitter Communication system Protective receiving centre/monitoring station Full service central station (installation and monitoring) conforming to ULC S561 and listed by the ULC in accordance with ULC certificate central station Fire Protective Signaling service
CITY OF VANCOUVER ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA OF CENTRAL STATIONS
COMMUNITY SERVICES CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL S OFFICE 453 West 12 th Avenue Vancouver, BC V5Y 1V4 CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL W.M. Johnston, P.Eng. BULLETIN 2000-019-EL January 28, 2000 (Revised: May 2008) ACCEPTABLE CRITERIA FOR CENTRAL STATIONS Clause 3.2.4.7.(4)(a) of Division B of the City of Vancouver Building By-law requires that signals to the Fire Department be provided by way of independent central stations conforming to CAN/UL-S561, Installation and Service for Fire Signal Receiving Centers and Systems. The following acceptance criteria have been developed by the City of Vancouver for central stations that are intended to provide services in conformance with Clause 3.2.4.7.(4)(a) of the Vancouver Building By-law: 1. Current ULC listing under the Certificate Service, Central Station Fire Protective Signaling Systems (3821RO) ; 2. Proof of qualification of the technical personnel operating the central station (training courses, relevant certificates, etc.), and 3. Indication of the type of communication channels utilized between each of the protected premises and the central station, including ULC-listed transmitters, approved for fire protective signaling systems.
BULLETIN 2000-019-EL January 28, 2000 (Revised: May 2008) ACCEPTABLE CRITERIA FOR CENTRAL STATIONS NOTES: a) Each central station must be listed by ULC for full central station service (monitoring and installation) or for shared central station service (monitoring, or installation). b) Where a monitoring of signals to the Fire Department is provided by a central station listed under shared central station service (monitoring), each installation certificate must also indicate the name of a ULC-listed central station under shared central station service (installation). c) Current list of acceptable central stations is provided on Attachment 1 to this Bulletin. d) A sample of ULC Certificate Central Station Fire Protective Signaling Service is provided on Attachment 2 to this Bulletin. The ULC Certificate must be completed for each F.A.S. installation that requires connection to the Fire Department. This Certificate must be completed as a part of the F.A.S. Verification Report (see Bulletin 2000-021-EL). (SIGNED) A.Z. Tsisserev, P.Eng. Electrical Safety Manager, Chief Electrical Inspector & City Electrician Attachment 1 and 2
LIST OF CENTRAL STATIONS ACCEPTABLE TO PROVIDE SIGNALS TO FIRE DEPARTMENT IN CONFORMANCE WITHSENTENCE 3.2.4.7. (3) OF DIVISION B OF THE VANCOUVER BUILDING BY-LAW #9419 (VBBL 2007) (Updated May 2008) Attachment 1 to Bulletin 2000-019-EL
No. NAME OF CENTRAL STATION (FULL SERVICE AND SHARED MONITORING) ADDRESS OF CENTRAL STATION PHONE AND FAX # TYPE OF ULC CERTIFICATE SERVICE 1 Acme Protective Systems Limited 1632 West 6th Avenue Vancouver, BC V6J 1R3 731-8204 738-0140 Full service 2 ADT Canada Inc. 8500 Baxter Place Burnaby, BC V5A 4T8 421-7111 421-7131 Full service 3 Alarmtron (BC) Ltd. #101-12414 - 82nd Avenue Surrey, BC V3W 3E9 594-0022 501-4479 Full service 4 Arpel Security Systems 7015 Buller Avenue Burnaby, BC V5J 4S1 437-3317 437-3336 Full service 5 Chubb Security Systems Counterforce 5201 Explorer Drive Mississauga, ON L4W 4H1 681-7364 681-7384 Full service 6 General Security Systems Ltd. (Formerly General Alarms Ltd.) 4477 Lougheed Highway Burnaby, BC V5C 3Z2 299-8525 299-0921 Full service 7 Intercon Security Ltd. #200-750 Cambie Street Vancouver, BC V6B 2P2 685-2661 685-2640 Full service
No. NAME OF CENTRAL STATION (FULL SERVICE AND SHARED MONITORING) ADDRESS OF CENTRAL STATION PHONE AND FAX # TYPE OF ULC CERTIFICATE SERVICE 8 Amesos Drasis Response (Lanvac) #314 2660 Southvale Crescent Ottawa, ON K1B 4W5 778-866-8550 1-866-526-8226 (Monitoring) 9 Paladin Security Systems Ltd. #295-4664 Lougheed Highway Burnaby, BC V5C 5T5 980-7550 984-7443 Full Service 10 Price s Alarm Systems 843 Fort Street Victoria, BC V8W 1H6 1-250-384-4104 Full Service 11 Protectron Security Inc. (Formerly Rogers Canguard) #670-475 West Georgia Street Vancouver, BC V6B 4M9 683-5173 683-5940 Full Service 12 Sonitrol of BC #30-3033 King George Highway Surrey, BC V4P 1B8 542-5330 542-5335 (Monitoring) 13 Strategic Defense Inc. (SDI) 439-6th Street New Westminster, BC V3L 3B1 659-3100 659-3113 (Monitoring) 14 A.P.I. (Alarm Monitoring) 6929 Royal Oak Avenue Burnaby, BC V5J 4J3 676-8989 676-8986 (Monitoring)
NOTE: The following is a list of organizations acceptable to install ULC-listed transmitters and to connect these transmitters to monitored fire alarm systems via supervised circuits. Organizations shown herein are listed by the ULC under shared certificate service, "Central Station Fire Protective Signalling System Installations". No. NAME OF CENTRAL STATION (FULL SERVICE AND SHARED MONITORING) ADDRESS OF CENTRAL STATION PHONE AND FAX # TYPE OF ULC CERTIFICATE SERVICE 1 Accurate Alarms Ltd. 439-6th Street New Westminster, BC V3L 3B1 526-4291 526-1855 2 Acme Fire & Safety 7015 Curragh Avenue Burnaby, BC V5J 4V6 437-8555 437-1301 3 Atlas Alarms Ltd. 4 East 7th Avenue Vancouver, BC V5T 1M2 876-5000 876-7975 4 Bartec Fire Safety Systems Ltd. #201 6200 Darnley Street Burnaby, BC V5V 5V1 420-2964 420-7964 5 Cobra Integrated Systems Ltd. #203-3993 Henning Drive Burnaby, BC V5C 6P7 664-7671 664-7673 6 D & L Security Systems Ltd. 1343 Sutherland Avenue North Vancouver, BC V7L 4X3 808-7857 986-7855 7 Fire-Pro Fire Protection Ltd. #15 3871 North Fraser Way Burnaby, BC V5J 5G6 299-1030 299-6353 8 Focus 2000 Industries Ltd. P.O. Box 635 Lions Bay, BC V0N 2E0 209-7713 9 Moore Security #203-4634 Hastings Street Burnaby, BC V5C 2K7 291-0210 294-3034
NOTE: The following is a list of organizations acceptable to install ULC-listed transmitters and to connect these transmitters to monitored fire alarm systems via supervised circuits. Organizations shown herein are listed by the ULC under shared certificate service, "Central Station Fire Protective Signalling System Installations". No. NAME OF CENTRAL STATION (FULL SERVICE AND SHARED MONITORING) ADDRESS OF CENTRAL STATION PHONE AND FAX # TYPE OF ULC CERTIFICATE SERVICE 10 Monitall Monitoring Inc. P. O. Box 82123 North Burnaby, BC V5C 5P2 299-3880 299-8818 11 Omni Security Systems Ltd. 1859 Welch Street North Vancouver, BC V7P 1B7 253-6664 (Van.) 980-8898 980-4433 12 Pacific Protective Systems Ltd. 221 East 16th Avenue Vancouver, BC V5T 2T5 876-2111 876-0100 13 Scott Security Systems Ltd. #104-8988 Fraserton Court Burnaby, BC V5J 5H8 451-0300 451-0340 14 Shadow Alarms Ltd. 3705 27th Street Vernon, BC V1T 4X4 250-542-5276 250-542-9793 15 Spectrum Security Corp. (Formerly A.I.M. Protection Services Ltd.) P. O. Box 430 Maple Ridge, BC V2X 8K9 467-0393 467-0375 16 Tricom / Counterforce #208-2740 Matheson Blvd. East Mississauga, ON L1W 4X3 436-2270 430-2134 17 Vancouver Fire Prevention Service Co. Ltd. 22131 Fraserwood Way Richmond, BC V6W 1J5 232-3473 232-3456 18 Windsor Security Ltd. #626-10833 160th Street Surrey, BC V4N 1P3 583-3778 583-3173 19 Wolverine Communications and Security #109-7198 Vantage Way Delta, BC V4G 1K7 231-5999 231-5959
SIGNALS TO FIRE DEPARTMENT QUESTIONS?