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LPS 1653 Issue 1.1 Requirements and testing procedures for the LPCB approval and listing of fire detection and fire alarm network systems

This document specifies the requirements for network integrity, methods of test, and performance criteria for a fire detection and fire alarm network system installed in one or more buildings on a single site.

This document does not include overall fire detection and fire alarm system performance since this is covered in other standards e.g. EN 54-2 Fire detection and fire alarm systems – Part 2: Control and Indicating Equipment and EN 54-13 Fire detection and fire alarm systems – Part 13: Compatibility assessment of system components.

Non fire data may be transported by the network.

All components that form part of a fire detection and fire alarm system as defined in EN 54-1 Fire detection and fire alarm systems – Part ^Introduction are to be assessed to the requirements of this standard.

Distributed Control Indicating Equipment (CIE)

A collection of separate cabinets that together form the function of B as defined in EN 54-1

Note: a network system may contain more than one distributed CIE (Refer to annex B) Network

The network transmission paths needed to interconnect the function of ‘B’ as defined in EN 54-1 where B is not contained in a single cabinet

Network processor

The CPU / processor responsible for data transmission to the network transmission path. Note: The network program may reside in any processor e.g. main CIE processor. Network topology

A configuration of the fire system network including both the categories of nodes and interconnections of transmission paths between them

Network transmission path

Connection between the cabinets of a distributed CIE or between CIEs for the transmission of information and/or power

Example: cables, radio links.

Node

A point of access to the network for a part of the CIE

Example: complete CIE, a printer port, or sounder driver, third party or building management system interface

Category ‘A’ Node Requirements

In the event of a single network processor fault, the node shall re-establish communication such that the system complies with all mandatory requirements within 20 seconds of the fault.

In the event of a single network transmission path fault, the node shall establish compliance with all mandatory requirements within 300 seconds of the fault.

Note 1: A network processor fault is regarded as a corruption of the network program or a failure of the processor to execute the network program correctly.

Note 2: The 20s is based on the time that is allowed for the CIE to reset under EN 54-2 clauses 7.6 and 8.7.

Note 3: Mandatory requirements in this context could be met if a node complies with EN54-2 clause 13.7 in the event of a single processor failure.

Note 4: This requirement could be achieved by using a redundant network processor or by any other fallback mechanism that allows the system to comply with EN54-2 clause 13.7.

Category ‘B’ Node Requirements

In the event of a single network transmission path fault, the node shall establish compliance with all mandatory requirements within 300 seconds of the fault.

Category ‘C’ Node Requirements

Any single fault within a Category C node shall not affect mandatory system functions.

General requirements

  1. The inclusion of non fire functions shall not jeopardise compliance with any requirements of this standard.
  2. Network components may be incorporated within the CIE housing or contained within separate housings. In either case, it shall not jeopardise compliance with any requirements of this standard or other EN 54 standards where the network component is housed.
  3. Distributed CIEs on the Network shall comply with EN 54-2.
  4. Network nodes shall comply with the following:
    1. functionality tests in accordance with the manufacturer’s published specification
    2. Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) in accordance with EN 50130-4
    3. Environmental tests as specified in EN 54 series (depending on the location of the network node)
  5. Network systems shall meet the requirements specified in EN 54-13 Clause 4.3.

Power supply

  1. The power for any Category ‘A’ or ‘B’ node shall be supplied by a power supply complying with EN 54-4 Fire detection and fire alarm systems-Part 4: Power Supply Equipment.
  2. Any single power source failure shall not affect any network transmission path. Note: A power supply may be common to a CIE and a node.

General Indications

Each CIE within the network shall have at least one user interface that meets the requirements of EN 54-2 (Clause 12.3.2), additional user interfaces may display limited information provided the information shall not result in contradiction or confusion. For example the additional user interface may display only fire alarms pertinent to a certain part of the building.

All CIEs shall be capable of unambiguously indicating the following functional conditions

  • Network fault
  • Network node disablement (if provided)

Note: Limited information is intended to allow for site specific requirements

Network Fault conditions

Reception and processing of network fault signals

The CIE shall enter the fault warning condition when signals are received which, after any necessary processing, are interpreted as a network fault.

Indications of Network faults

The following network faults shall be detected:

  1. Network loss
  2. Loss of a node
  3. Invalid data
  4. A failure of a network transmission path e.g. open, short, partial circuit , interference on radio link
  5. A failure of network processor

The presence of a network fault shall be indicated without prior manual intervention on all CIEs with affected mandatory functions. A network fault shall be indicated on at least one CIE even if it does not affect a mandatory function.

The network fault warning condition is established when the following are present:

  1. A visible indication by means of a separate light emitting indicator (the general fault warning indicator).
  2. An audible indication, as specified in EN 54-2 clause 8.6.
  3. a separate light emitting indicator or alphanumeric display or both

Network fault indications can be suppressed in the fire alarm condition as defined in EN 54-2. Mandatory functions affected by the fault shall be indicated in accordance with EN 54-2 or by a system fault.

Processing of faults

  1. CIE that is required to display network fault shall display the appropriate fault messages within 100 seconds of the fault occurring. If the networked system is hierarchical as defined in EN 54-13 then the main CIE shall indicate appropriate fault messages within 120 seconds of the fault occurring.
  2. If a node is lost, the functions associated with that node can be lost, however all remaining category ‘A’ and ‘B’ nodes shall continue to meet their mandatory requirements in accordance with EN 54-2.
  3. Mandatory outputs shall not be falsified for any fault.
  4. Power required for the function of the network shall be in accordance with EN 54-4. Faults as specified in EN 54-4 shall be indicated in accordance with EN 54-2 by at least one CIE.
  5. Any single earth fault on a network transmission path shall comply with EN 54-2 clause 8.2.4 c) and shall be indicated by at least one CIE.

Data integrity

  1. Invalid data
    1. The system shall ensure that errors in received messages are detected.
    2. The error rate shall be monitored at the receiving node. The error rate at which an invalid data fault is indicated shall be defined by the manufacturer.
    3. An invalid data fault shall be indicated within 100s from exceeding the error rate as specified by the manufacture.

Note: the handling of invalid data faults can be assessed by inspection of the software documentation or through the use of diagnostic tools provided by the manufacturer.

Data loss

The timeframe for retries shall allow the system to operate within the requirements of EN 54-2.

Note: this can be assessed through the use of diagnostic tools provided by the

manufacturer.

Node disablement conditions (option with requirements)

If node disablement is provided then the following shall apply:

– The presence of a network node disablement shall be indicated without prior manual intervention on all CIEs with affected mandatory functions. A network node disablement shall be indicated on at least one CIE even if it does not affect a mandatory function.

The network node disablement condition is established when the following are present:

  1. A visible indication by means of a separate light emitting indicator (the general disablement indicator).
  2. a separate light emitting indicator or alphanumeric display or both

The disablement shall be indicated in accordance with EN 54-2 clause 9.3 where the disablement can not be completed within 2s, the indication that the disablement process is running shall be given at the point of disablement.

Loading of network

Prioritisation

If the network carries non-fire related data priority shall be given to fire related traffic such that the performance requirements as specified in EN54-2 are met under all traffic conditions.

Fire and Fault traffic loading

  1. The network shall be capable of carrying fire related traffic in order to meet the mandatory requirements of EN 54-2 and EN 54-13 on the main CIE in a hierarchical system.
  2. The network shall be capable of carrying fault related traffic in order to meet the mandatory requirements of EN 54-2 and EN 54-13 on the main CIE in a hierarchical system.

Note : This can be assessed through the use of diagnostic tools provided by the manufacturer.

Fire outputs response time (refer to EN54-2 clause 7.7.1)

Unless EN54-2 clause 7.11 (delay) or clause 7.12 type C applies, all mandatory outputs shall be activated within 10 s of the activation of any Manual call point.

Unless EN54-2 clause 7.11 (delay) or clause 7.12 (dependency) applies, the time taken by scanning, interrogation, or other processing of signals from fire detectors, in addition to that required to take the fire alarm decision shall not delay the activation of any mandatory outputs more than 13s.

Radio link

A network node that utilises radio links shall comply with EN 54-25 and the applicable requirements specified in this standard.

Software

The network node shall comply with the CIE software requirements specified in EN 54-2 where applicable.

The execution of network program shall be monitored as under EN 54-2 clause 13.4.2 or 13.4.3. If routines associated with network function are no longer executed, either or both of the following shall apply:

  1. A system fault as in EN 54-2 clause 8.5 shall be indicated.
  2. A network fault shall be indicated.

Standard atmospheric conditions for testing

Testing shall be carried out after the test specimen has been allowed to stabilize in the standard atmospheric conditions for testing as described in EN 60068-1 as follows:

  1. Temperature : 15 oC – 35 o
  2. Relative humidity : 25 % – 75 %.
  3. Air pressure : 86 kPa – 106 kPa.

The temperature and humidity shall be substantially constant for each environmental test where the standard atmospheric conditions are applied.

Network configuration

Each network topology shall be configured as per the manufacturers declared worst case(s), e.g. the limitation of the network system, in terms of number of nodes, cabling and architecture etc. The system shall include a mix of physical and simulated nodes in order for it to be representative of a worst case network.

At least two CIEs shall be configured in accordance with EN 54-2 clause 15.1.4. “Electrical connection”

Testing as defined by LPCB shall be applied on an agreed configuration and network representation of physical and simulated nodes based on technical discussion between LPCB and the manufacturer.

LPS 1653 Issue 1.1 Requirements and testing procedures for the LPCB approval and listing of fire detection and fire alarm network systems.

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