New guide for fire alarms and BS 5839-1

BSI British Standard's official guide to BS 5839 Part 1 is fully updated to cover changes in fire legislation and the Fire Reform Order.

The Design, Installation, Commissioning and Maintenance of Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems: A Guide to BS 5839-1 (Third Edition) by Colin S Todd.

The essential guide to BS 5839-1 is now in its third edition.

It has been extensively updated to cover the radical changes to fire safety legislation in the UK, reflecting changes in the standard and the Fire Reform Order.

The universal 'bible' written by a leading expert, for those involved in the design, installation, commissioning, maintenance and use of fire detection and alarm systems in the UK.

Also a useful reference for consulting engineers and students following fire engineering courses.

This book gives guidance on the recently-amended BS 5839-1:2002 Code of practice for system design, installation, commissioning and maintenance.

BS 5839-1 is part of the suite of codes and standards bearing the generic heading 'Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings' and represents the universal reference for those involved in the design, installation, commissioning, maintenance and use of fire detection and alarm systems in the United Kingdom.

Compliance with the Code is commonly required by building control authorities, fire and rescue authorities and others who may enforce provisions for fire safety in certain occupancies; property insurers who may require automatic fire detection systems to comply with the recommendations of the Code and consulting engineers who commonly demand compliance with the code, often as part of the electrical specification for a building.

Sample pages are available to download at www.bsigroup.com/bip2109 The book is priced at GBP50 and can be purchased from www.bsigroup.com/bip2109 About the author: Colin S Todd is a leading specialist in fire detection and fire alarm systems and has been a significant player in the development of this important code of practice.

As the author of the initial draft and a member of the BSI technical committee responsible for the code, he is able to give an insight to the recommendations of BS 5839-1, enabling a deeper understanding than can be obtained from reading the code of practice in isolation.

Contents: Introduction; History of fire alarm installation codes; The format and layout of the code; Scope of BS 5839-1:2002; Contents of the code; Defining the terms; Selecting a suitable fire alarm system; The fire alarm contract and definition of responsibilities; The interface between the fire alarm system and other systems; The components of the system; Design of fire alarm circuits; Detection zones and alarm zones; Communication with the fire and rescue service; Audible, visual and tactile fire alarm signals; Staged fire alarms; Manual call points; Which type of detector? Design, installation, commissioning and maintenance: Spacing and siting of automatic fire detectors; Control and indicating equipment; Networked systems; Power supplies; Cables and wiring; Radio-linked systems; Electrical safety and electromagnetic compatibility; False alarms and their limitation; Installation work; Inspection and testing; Commissioning; Documentation; Certification; Acceptance by the user or purchaser; Verification; Routine testing; Servicing; Repair and non-routine attention; User responsibilities.

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