MOS 5301 Unit 3 course project.docx - Running Head: THE...

Running Head: THE FIRE DETECTION AND ALARM SYSTEMS 1
The Fire Detection and Alarm Systems
Unit III Course Project
Frank J. Seay II
Columbia Southern University
MOS 5301- Fire Protection Technology

THE FIRE DETECTION AND ALARM SYSTEMS 2
In the rapidly growing industries of today, with the use of lighter weight, synthetic
materials in building construction, it is imperative that companies have a properly designed and
operational fire protection system in their businesses. This is required in almost every local and
national fire and building code. Without these systems, there would be tremendous life and
property loss if there was ever a fire in these businesses.
A fire protection system is comprised of many different parts that work together to make
the entire system. One of the most important components of any fire protection system is the
detection and alarming part of the system. Without this part, the system would not alert the
occupants of the fire or notify the proper authorities of the emergency.
A fire detection and alarm system are the parts of the system that recognize the fire in the
building, notify the occupants of the fire, send a signal to activate the system and activate the fire
suppression systems. These systems are engineered and designed specifically for the type of
occupancy they are installed in. These systems are required to be tested by a nationally
recognized testing facility such as Underwriter’s Laboratories to ensure that they are operational
and will work properly before they are installed (Brakhage, Abrams and Fortney, 2016).
In each of these systems, one of the most important parts is the Fire Alarm Controlling
Unit or FACU. This part of the system is essentially the brain of the entire system. It contains
the electronics that supervise and monitor the system. In receives the alarm for the initiating
devices, then it activates the audible devices from that signal and transmits the signal to the
offsite monitoring services (Brakhage, Abrams and Fortney, 2016).
With the technologies of today, they are numerous options for these parts of the system.
In older systems of yesterday there were bells, gongs and numerous audible ways to notify the
occupants of the building of a fire. These notification devices fall into four different categories.

THE FIRE DETECTION AND ALARM SYSTEMS 3
They are audible warning devices or devices such as horns, bells and speakers that notify during
a fire, visual warning devices such as approved lighting devices, textual warning devices or
devices that visually display a text or symbol when activated or tactile warning devices that send
out a vibration when activated (Brakhage, Abrams and Fortney, 2016).
In many structures such as hospitals, and large multiuse buildings, to remain compliant
with the Americans with Disabilities Act, a combination of different types warning devices in
their systems are required to match the needs of the disabled persons in the building. The ADA