EN 54-1 Fire detection and fire alarm systems – Part 1: introduction

1 Scope
This part of EN 54 defines the terms and definitions that are used throughout EN 54. It gives the principles on which each part of the standard has been based and describes the functions carried out by the components of a fire detection and fire alarm system.
This European Standard applies to fire detection and fire alarm systems in and around buildings. This European Standard does not apply to smoke alarm devices which are covered by EN 14604.
2 General
2.1 Standardization series
EN 54 specifies:
— requirements, test methods and performance criteria against which the effectiveness and reliability of the component parts of fire detection and fire alarm systems can be assessed;
— requirements and test methods against which the ability of components to be combined into an effective system can be assessed;
— guidelines for the incorporation and use of fire detection and fire alarm systems into buildings or other construction works.
2.2 General principles
The function of a fire detection and fire alarm system is:
— to detect fire at the earliest practicable moment, and to give signals and indications so that appropriate action can be taken;
— to give audible and/or visible signals to the occupants of the building who may be at risk from a fire.
The functions of a fire detection and fire alarm system may be grouped to form subsystems such as a fire detection subsystem and a voice alarm subsystem.
As the system is required to function satisfactorily, not only under fire conditions, but also when exposed to conditions likely to be met in practice, the tests specified in the EN 54 series are intended to assess the performance of the components and the system under such conditions.
The performance of components is assessed from the results obtained in the specified tests and from their ability to perform the required functions. This standard is not intended to place restrictions on the design or construction of components other than those necessary for the performance of desired functions.
The compliance of a component with the relevant part of EN 54 does not ensure that this component will necessarily function correctly when connected with another component also conforming to the relevant part of EN 54 (e.g. control and indicating equipment with a fire detector), unless both components have been assessed together as conforming to the requirements for a system.
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviations 3.1 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
NOTE 1 The list of components of fire detection and fire alarm systems is not intended to be exclusive.
NOTE 2 Definitions for other components may be added in later revisions of this European Standard or by amendment when such components are produced.
NOTE 3 Additional definitions specific to individual parts are included in those parts.

3.1.1 fire alarm and fault warning transmission system

system used for routing fire alarm and fault warning signals from fire detection and alarm systems in buildings to fire alarm and/or fault warning receiving centres
NOTE Alarm and fault transmission system comprises fire alarm routing equipment, fault warning routing equipment, receiving equipment and a communication network.

3.1.2 ancillary equipment

equipment which support fire related functions not currently defined in EN 54

3.1.3 aspirating smoke detector

smoke detector, in which air and aerosols are drawn through a sampling device and carried to one or more smoke sensing elements by an integral aspirator (e.g. fan or pump)
NOTE Each smoke-sensing element may contain more than one sensor exposed to the same smoke sample.

3.1.4 building management system

facilities used to monitor, control and manage equipment installed in a building for comfort, safety and/or security purposes

3.1.5 combustion gas detector

fire detector sensitive to gaseous products of combustion and/or thermal decomposition EXAMPLE Carbon monoxide fire detector.

component of a fire detection and fire alarm system through which other components may be supplied with power and which:
a) is used:
1) to receive the signals from the connected detectors and/or manual call points;
2) to determine whether these signals correspond to a fire alarm condition;
3) to indicate any such fire alarm condition audibly and visually;
4) to indicate the location of the danger;
b) is used to monitor correct functioning of the system and give audible and visible warning of any faults (e.g. short circuit, line breakage, or fault in the power supply); and, if necessary is able to pass on the fault warning through fault warning routing equipment to a fault warning receiving centre;
c) if necessary, is able to pass on the fire alarm signal; for example:
— to audible or visible fire alarm devices or to a voice alarm system;
— to the fire alarm routing function to a fire alarm receiving centre;
— to the control function for fire protection equipment or systems;
— to fire brigade panel;
— to other systems or equipment not covered by EN 54 EXAMPLE Visualization equipment, such as a mimic panel.

control for fire protection equipment or system

device used to actuate fire protection equipment or fire protection systems after receiving a signal from the control and indicating equipment

detachable detector

detector which is designed for removal of the head from its base
NOTE The use of detachable detectors can assist during maintenance without disconnecting the fixed wiring.

duct smoke detector

smoke detector that monitors the air in a duct


fault warning receiving centre


centre from which the necessary corrective measures can be initiated on receipt of fault signals


fault warning routing equipment


equipment which routes a fault warning signal to a fault warning receiving centre


fire alarm device


component of a fire alarm system, not incorporated in the control and indicating equipment, which is used to give a warning of fire
EXAMPLE Fire alarm sounders, visual alarms, voice alarm loudspeakers, tactile devices.


fire alarm receiving centre


centre from which the necessary fire protection or fire-fighting measures can be initiated on receipt of a fire alarm signal


fire alarm routing equipment


equipment which routes an alarm signal from a control and indicating equipment to a fire alarm receiving station


fire alarm sounder


fire alarm device intended to signal an audible warning of fire between the fire detection and fire alarm system and the occupants of the building


fire brigade panel


device connected to the CIE specifically designed for use by the fire brigade


fire detection and fire alarm system FDAS


group of components including the control and indicating equipment which when arranged in (a) specific configuration(s) is capable of detecting and indicating a fire, and giving signals for appropriate action
3.1.21
fire detector
component of a fire detection and fire alarm system which contains at least one sensor which constantly or at frequent intervals monitors at least one suitable physical and/or chemical phenomenon associated with fire, and that provides at least one corresponding signal to the control and indicating equipment
NOTE The decision to give the alarm of fire or to operate fire protection equipment or system that may be made at the detector or other component of the system, for example at the control and indicating equipment.
EXAMPLE These may include:
— flame detectors, smoke detectors, heat detectors, combustion gas detectors;
— point detectors, line type detectors, multipoint detectors, aspirating detectors;
— resettable detectors, non-resettable detectors;
— detachable detectors, non detachable detectors.
3.1.22
fire protection equipment
equipment to limit the effect of fire
3.1.23
fire protection system FPS
group of devices that in combination are capable of automatically actuating measures to limit the effect of fire EXAMPLE Compartmentation systems, smoke control systems and fire fighting systems.


flame detector


fire detector responding to radiation emitted by flames from a fire
EXAMPLE Infrared (IR) flame detectors, ultra-violet (UV) flame detectors, multiband flame detectors
3.1.25
heat detector
detector which responds to an increase in temperature
3.1.26
hierarchical system
networked system in which one CIE is designated as the main CIE and in which the main CIE is able to receive signals from and/or transmit signals to the CIE of a sub-system, and indicate the status of the CIE of a sub-system
3.1.27
infrared (IR) flame detector
flame detector responding only to radiation having wavelengths greater than 850 nm
3.1.28
ionization smoke detector
detector sensitive to combustion products capable of affecting ionization currents within the detector
3.1.29
input/output device
device connected to a transmission path of a fire detection and fire alarm system, used to receive and/or transmit electrical signals necessary for the operation of the fire detection and fire alarm system
3.1.30 installation
work of fixing and interconnecting the components and elements of a system, which may be carried out by one or more parties
3.1.31
installed system
system after installation and commissioning has been completed
3.1.32
line detector
detector which responds to the phenomenon sensed in the vicinity of a continuous line
3.1.33
linear heat detector
detectors which respond to heat applied to any point along the length of the sensing element
3.1.34
line smoke detector using an optical beam
detector consisting at least of a transmitter and a receiver and which may include reflector(s) for the detection of smoke by the attenuation and/or changes in attenuation of an optical beam
3.1.35
line type heat detector
detector which responds to heat sensed in the vicinity of a continuous line
EXAMPLE Linear heat detectors, multipoint heat detectors.
NOTE A line type heat detector may consist of a sensor control unit, a sensing element and functional units.


manual call point


component of a fire detection and fire alarm system which is used for the manual initiation of an alarm
3.1.37
manual call point type A: direct operation
manual call point in which the change to the alarm condition is automatic (i.e. without the need for further manual action) when the frangible element is broken or displaced
3.1.38
manual call type B: indirect operation
manual call point in which the change to the alarm condition necessitates a separate manual operation of the operating element by the user after the frangible element is broken or displaced
3.1.39
multi-band flame detector
flame detector having two or more sensing elements each responding to radiation in a distinct wavelength range and each of whose outputs may contribute to the alarm decision
3.1.40
multi-point detector
detector which responds to the phenomenon sensed in the vicinity of a number of fixed points


multi-point heat detector


detector which contains multiple discrete temperature sensors, separated by a distance embedded within a sensing element
3.1.42
multi-sensor detector
detector using more than one sensor to respond to one or more phenomenon of fire
3.1.43
networked system
fire detection and fire alarm system in which control and indicating equipment are interconnected and able to exchange information
3.1.44
non-detachable detector
detector which is designed to be mounted directly to a surface without the use of a mounting base
3.1.45
non-resettable detector (with exchangeable elements)
detector which, after response, requires the renewal of a component or components to restore it to its normal state of readiness
3.1.46
non-resettable detector (without exchangeable elements)
detector which, after response, cannot be restored from its alarm state to its normal state of readiness


optical smoke detector


detector sensitive to combustion products capable of affecting the absorption or scattering of radiation in the infra-red, visible and/or ultraviolet regions of the electromagnetic spectrum


point detector


detector which responds to the phenomenon sensed in the vicinity of a fixed point
3.1.49
PSE (power supply equipment)
component of a fire detection and fire alarm system which supplies power for the control and indicating equipment and/or for other components including those directly fed with power from the control and indicating equipment
NOTE The power supply equipment may include multiple power sources (e.g. electricity from mains and standby sources).
3.1.50
resettable detector


short circuit isolator


device, which may be inserted into a transmission path of a fire detection and fire alarm system, to limit the consequences of low parallel resistance faults between the lines of this transmission path
NOTE A short circuit isolating device may be a physically separate device or it may be incorporated into another device (e.g. integrated into a smoke detector or detector base).
3.1.52
smoke detector
detector sensitive to particulate products of combustion and/or pyrolysis suspended in the atmosphere (aerosols)
EXAMPLE Point smoke detectors, aspirating smoke detectors, duct smoke detectors, line smoke detectors using an optical beam
3.1.53 subsystem
part of a fire detection and fire alarm system which may cover a specific area or specific functionalities EXAMPLE Voice alarm system.
3.1.54
tactile device
device able to generate a tactile sensation for warning person(s) that a fire condition exists
3.1.55
transmission path
connection between components used for the transmission of information and /or power EXAMPLE Cables, radio links.

ultra-violet (UV) flame detector


flame detector responding only to radiation having wavelengths less than 300 nm


visual alarm


device able to generate a flashing light to signal to the occupants of a building that a fire condition exists
3.1.58
visualization system
additional equipment used to visualize, in a user friendly manner, the information provided by a fire detection and fire alarm system
3.1.59
VACIE (voice alarm control and indicating equipment)
component of a fire detection and fire alarm system through which other components may be supplied with power and which:
a) is used:
1) to receive signals from the fire detection control and indicating equipment (CIE);
2) to manage priority and signal routing from emergency microphone(s) and message generator(s);
3) to transmit messages to loudspeaker circuits;
b) is used to monitor the correct functioning of the voice alarm system and give audible and visible warning of any faults, e.g. short circuit, open circuit, or a fault in the power supply or power amplifiers;
c) provides:
1) if required, manual controls for the selection of loudspeaker circuits;
2) if required, indicators for identifying which loudspeaker circuit is selected;
3) message generators and power amplifiers;
4) if required, emergency microphone(s) for broadcasting live emergency messages
3.1.60
voice alarm loudspeaker
device able to generate a voice message and/or an acoustic sound from an electrical signal sent by the VACIE
3.1.61
voice alarm system
group of components, including VACIE and loudspeakers, which broadcasts speech messages and/or warning signals in an emergency
3.1.62 zone
geographical sub-division of the protected premises in which a function may be carried out separately from any other sub-division
3.2 Abbreviations
For the purpose of this document, the following abbreviations apply.
control and indicating equipment
FDAS fire detection and fire alarm system
fire protection system
power supply equipment
VACIE voice alarm control and indicating equipment

4 Functions
To achieve the overall functionality of a fire detection and fire alarm system, basic functions need to be implemented. These functions are identified in Figure 1. They may be complemented by ancillary functions to offer more convenience to the user.
All these functions are performed by components which are inter-linked using wire, radio communication or other suitable means to achieve the overall functionality of the fire detection and fire alarm system.
Functionality may be distributed in one or more component.
Annex A gives additional information about the use of functions and applicable standards.
Key
1 detection and activation functions G control function for fire protection system or equipment
2 control functions for actions H fire protection system or equipment
3 local associated functions J fault warning routing function
4 remote associated functions K fault warning receiving function
A automatic fire detection function L power supply function
B control and indication function M control and indication function for alarm annunciation
C fire alarm function N ancillary input or output function
D manual initiating function O ancillary management function
E fire alarm routing function < ► exchange of information between functions
F fire alarm receiving function

5 Compliance
Each function performed by a component shall be clearly stated and shall conform to the appropriate parts of EN 54.
Detectors that do not include a decision-making element shall only be considered to conform to the appropriate part of this standard (e.g. EN 54-7 for point smoke detectors) when they are tested and used in conjunction with that component of the system which includes the decision-making element.
Some components to be used in the system may not fall conveniently under the definitions given in Clause 3. In these circumstances the area in which the component is intended for installation shall determine which environmental tests are appropriate. For example, components to be installed in the same conditions as control and indicating equipment shall be subjected to the same environmental tests as control and indicating equipment, but components which may be installed in the same conditions as detectors shall be subjected to the environmental tests specified in the standards for detectors. To determine the correct operation of the component in these tests the overall response of the system, including the component, shall be assessed against the requirements from the appropriate part(s) of EN 54.

EN 54-1 Fire detection and fire alarm systems – Part 1: introduction

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to top