Products
Guardian Alarms supplies and installs a wide range of products including:
- Conventional and analogue addressable fire alarm systems
- Single and Multi Zone Fire Alarm systems
- Manual Call Points
- Heat and Smoke Detectors
- Evacuation Sounders
- Security Systems
All equipment supplied conforms to the appropriate New Zealand standard.
Description of Types of Fire Alarm Systems
(from Appendix A, BIA Acceptable Solution C/AS1)
Type 1 - Deleted
Type 2 - Manual fire System
An alarm system which is activated only by someone operating a Manual Call Point. It is a single or multiple zone system with an alarm panel providing a zone index diagram and defect warning, and suitable for connection to the Fire Service.
Type 3 - Automatic fire alarm system activated by heat detectors and manual call points
A detection and fire alarm system, which activates automatically when a pre-determined temperature is exceeded in the space, and can be activated manually at any time.
Type 4 - Automatic fire alarm system activated by smoke detectors and manual call points
A detection and fire alarm system which activates automatically in the presence of smoke, and can be activated manually at any time. Type 5 is an optional alternative to this system for purpose groups SA and SR.
Comment: Smoke detectors should not be located in spaces where the activity within that space (e.g. a kitchen or smokers bar) is likely to initiate a false alarm. See F7/AS1 for alternate systems.
Type 5 - Automatic fire alarm system with modified smoke detection and manual call points
A variation of the Type 4 and Type 7 alarm systems permitting part of the smoke detection component to comprise only a local alarm.
The local alarm system, activated by the presence of smoke, has audible alerting devices to warn only the firecell occupants and building management, where such management exists.
Examples of such management situations are motels, hotels or multi-unit residential accommodation in a retirement village.
The local alarm component of a Type 5 system:
- Is restricted to single firecells containing sleeping accomodation being household units in purpose group SR, or individual suites in purpose group SA. The local alarm system shall not be extended to other areas such as exitways or common spaces which shall retain a Type 4 smoke detection system, and
- Shall be permitted only where an automatic fire detection and alarm system activated by heat detectors (part of the main alarm system) is also installed in sleeping firecells which do not already have an automatic sprinkler system.
Comment: The local smoke alarm provides the necessary early fire warning for the firecell occupants. If the firecell is unoccupied or if the occupants fail to respond to the local alarm and there is a developing fire, the automatic alarm activated by either heat detectors or sprinklers will alert the Fire Service and occupants in the building. The small increase in risk, due to the brief delay between activation of the local smoke alarm and activation of the automatic alarm, is more than compensated for by avoiding Fire Service callout and total building evacuation in the event of a false alarm in one firecell.
Type 6 - Automatic fire sprinkler system with manual call points (type 2 manual fire alarm)
An automatic fire detection, alarm and control system which, when a specified temperature is exceeded in the space, activates the sprinkler head in the affected area and includes alerting devices throughout the building. The system permits alerting devices to be activated manually.
Type 7 - Automatic fire sprinkler system with smoke detectors and manual call points
An automatic fire alarm system having the same characteristics as a Type 6 alarm plus an automatic smoke detection system. The fire alarm signal resulting from smoke detection need not be directly transmitted to the Fire Service.
A type 5 alarm is an optional alternative in SA or SR purpose groups for part of the smoke detection component of the Type 7 system. (Refer to Type 5 above for specific requirements).
Comment: Smoke detectors are used to gain an earlier warning to life threatening situations than may be achieved from the response of sprinklers, particular where a smouldering fire does not produce enough heat in its early stages to activate a sprinkler head.
