Derrick Hall, Director of Sales and Marketing, Kentec Electronics tackles the complexities and necessities of certification for fire prevention technologies in his latest column
Packed with features that protect even the most complex buildings, Taktis is Kentec’s most powerful and sophisticated analogue addressable fire alarm control panel. Alongside its EN 54-13 approvals, the latest version is also fully compliant with the highest specifications of BS 7273-4.
The prompt evacuation of a burning building requires as few obstructions as possible. Similarly, restricting the spread of fire and heat in such a situation relies upon the use of well-engineered fire doors that are usually kept shut. However, the time taken to manually open fire doors enroute to an exit could add valuable seconds to the evacuation of a building, with potentially disastrous consequences.
BSI’s BS 7273-4:2015+A1:2021 Code of Practice for the operation of fire protection measures – Actuation of release mechanisms for doors, to give it it’s full title, applies to electrical control arrangements for actuation of mechanisms that unlock, release or open doors in the event of fire. It covers recommendations for the interface between fire detection and alarm systems, as well as equipment not covered in any other standards.
Adhering to BS 7273-4 is increasingly important, as the guidance in Annex A is now normative, and recommends which category of actuation is appropriate for a particular application. If the guidelines are not followed it is likely that the fire door provision would fail to satisfy a fire risk assessment. BS 7273-4 also outlines recommendations for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire alarm control panels. It addresses the interface between these panels and the release mechanisms for doors, emphasising the need for seamless integration to enhance overall fire safety.
There are three categories of actuation outlined in BS 7273-4 – A (critical), B (standard) and C (indirect) – and the circumstances under which the control mechanisms should revert to their failsafe position to protect escape routes and prevent the spread of smoke in the event of a fire. Category A is the most stringent, as it requires several failsafe operations, and the most challenging is when there is loss of communication protocols between the panel and interface device operating the door closure or opening mechanism – or if there are various fault conditions relating to the primary and secondary power supplies and the wiring.
When not all the fault conditions specified for Category A actuation would close open doors, or release secure or powered sliding doors to open, Category B is considered appropriate. Finally, Category C addresses any situations where there is no direct communications path between the fire alarm control panel and the release mechanism, such as when it is facilitated by, for example, an access control system or an electrically controlled hold open system.
Through the implementation of advanced cause and effects, Kentec has worked hard to ensure that the latest version of Taktis meets all the requirements of Category A. This means that door release mechanisms will continue to operate in the event of a fire, or any event that leads to a fault on the critical signal path that could prevent a fire signal activating the release mechanisms.
Selecting a fire alarm control panel that adheres to BS 7273-4 is crucial for an integrated and efficient emergency response system, as it provides essential guidelines for integrating fire alarm systems with other building components.
For further information please visit https://kentec.co.uk/taktis/#connect_section or contact [email protected]
To read more articles, see our last issue here.
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