Fire Alarm System Types

Notifying Systems Municipal Fire Alarm System

A system of alarm initiating devices, receiving equipment, and connecting circuits (other than a public telephone network) used to transmit alarms from street locations to the public fire service communications center.

Public Fire Alarm Reporting System

A system of fire alarm-initiating devices, receiving equipment, and connecting circuits used to transmit alarms from street locations to the communications center.

Type A Public Alarm Reporting System

The alarm from a street location is received in a control room and transmitted either manually or automatically to a fire station.

Type B Public Alarm Reporting System

The alarm from a street location is transmitted directly to fire stations and , if used, is transmitted to supplementary alerting devices.

Auxiliary Systems
Auxiliary Fire Alarm System
A system connected to a municipal fire alarm system for transmitting an alarm of fire to the public fire service communications center. Fire alarms from an auxiliary fire alarm system are received a the public fire service communications center on the same equipment and by the same methods as alarms transmitted manually from the municipal fire alarm boxes located on streets.

Local Energy Type Auxiliary Fire Alarm System

An auxiliary system that employs a locally complete arrangement of parts, initiating devices, relays, power supply, and associated components to automatically trip municipal

transmitter or master box over electrical circuits that are electrically isolated from the municipal system circuits.

Shunt Auxiliary Type Auxiliary Fire Alarm System

An auxiliary system electrically connected to an integral part of the municipal alarm system extending the municipal circuit into the protected premises to interconnect the initiating devices, which, when operated, open the municipal circuit shunted around the trip coil of the municipal transmitter or master box. The municipal transmitter or master box is there upon energized to start transmission without any assistance from the local source of power.

Central Station Fire Alarm System

A system or group of systems in which the operations of circuits and devices are transmitted automatically to, recorded in, maintained by, and supervised from a listed central station that has competent and experienced servers and operators who, upon receipt of a signal, take such action as required by this code. Such service is to be controlled and operated by a person, firm, or corporation whose business is the furnishing, maintaining, or monitoring of supervised fire alarm systems.

Combination System
A fire alarm system in which the components are used, in whole or in part, in common with a non-fire signaling system.

Non- notifying Systems

These systems notify only building occupants and do transmit alarm status to a municipality, central station of fire station automatically.

Household Fire Alarm System

A system of devices that uses a fire alarm control unit (panel) to produce an alarm signal in the household for the purpose of notifying the occupants of the presence of a fire so that they will evacuate the premises. Note: Standard smoke detectors without a fire alarm control panel are not covered by this definition.

Proprietary Supervising Station Fire Alarm System

An installation of fire alarm systems that serves contiguous and noncontiguous properties, under one ownership, from a proprietary supervising station located at the protected property, or at one of multiple non-contiguous protected properties, at which trained, competent personnel are in constant attendance. This includes the proprietary supervising station, power supplies, signal-initiating devices, initiating device circuits, signal notification appliances, equipment for the automatic, permanent visual recording of signals, and equipment for initiating the operation of emergency building control services.

Protected Premises (Local) Fire Alarm System

A protected premises system that sounds an alarm at the protected premises as the result of the manual operation of a fire alarm box or the operation if protection equipment or systems, such as water flowing in a sprinkler system, the discharge of carbon dioxide, the detection of smoke, or the detection of heat.

Remote Supervising Station Fire Alarm Systems

A system installed in accordance with this code to transmit alarm, supervisory, and trouble signals from one or more protected premises to a remote location where appropriate action is taken.

Supplemental Data for Better Understanding

Bostons Municipal Fire Alarm System: The Beginning of Something Great
The fire alarm telegraph system of Boston was revolutionary when it was built over 150 years ago. It was the first fire alarm system and became the model for other American cities to follow. The original system design principles were brilliant and pervasive. Although the design was continuously refined over time, the principles remained essentially unchanged, forming the basis for todays public fire alarm systems. Many of the original concepts evolved into national fire alarm standards which were adopted by the NFPA - National Fire Protection Association.

Key Players

There are two key players associated with the development of this municipal fire alarm telegraph system, William Channing and Moses Farmer. Channing reminds me of Steve Job, founder of Apple Computer; Farmer is like Steve Wosniak, Apples pioneer hardware guru. William Channing was born in Boston on February 22, 1820. His father was a prominent and influential Unitarian minister. He died February 22, 1901, on his eighty-first birthday. He went to Harvard and graduated from the medical school of the University of Pennsylvania with a medical degree. He never practiced that profession, presumably finding electricity more rewarding. Moses G Farmer was an electrical engineer who became a prolific inventor of great ability. He was born on February 2, 1820 at Boscawen, New Hampshire. His father was a farmer and prosperous lumber merchant. He died at Chicago while attending the Worlds Fair, May 2, 1893. Moses was educated at Philips Academy and Dartmouth College. He worked as a telegraph operator, as superintendent of a telegraph company, and as teacher. He invented an electrical bell striking machine used in Bostons system. He also invented some of the early Boston instruments, such as the automatic testing clock. He was a member of the AIEE, predecessor of the IEEE.

Conditions Before 1845

To appreciate and understand the significance of this nomination, go back 150 years and put yourself in the shoes of William Channing. He recognized how poorly Boston responded to fire emergencies. Bell-ringers ran to their assigned church steeple, firemen with their engines ran wildly about the streets, and citizens panicked. Stephanie Schorow, in her new book entitled Boston on Fire, captures the scene of frustration, chaos and confusion during a breakout of a fire: From colonial days to the early 19th century Bostonian knew that the best defense against a fire was getting on the scene as quickly as possible to halt its spread. People shook wooden rattles or simply called for help, something referred as hallooing a fire. Citizens - and later volunteer firefighters would respond by grabbing axes, buckets, ladders and other gear and race towards the direction of the halooing. A fire foreman leading the charge might use a speaking trumpet to bark directions; eventually trumpets became the very symbol of firefighting and a silver trumpet was often a fitting reward for a deserving firefighter. The mayor of Boston summarized the existing fire alarm problem this way: the old method of communicating alarm was very imperfect, arising from the fact that an alarm being given by ringing one bell at the northerly part of the city would frequently, in consequence to the wind or other causes, be first heard at South Boston, or at the extreme South End, and it was impossible to say which of several bells struck the first alarm. There was no possible way of communicating to the ringers of these several bells where the alarm originated, or the fire existed. The engines, therefore, were rushed out of their houses at random, without any direction or knowledge as to the fire unless it was an extensive conflagration and would show itself; the result of which was that the fire made great headway, and there was great destruction of property, in consequence of this delay of the arrival of the engines. . Mr. Wightmans testimony. Reference 6.

Channing understood the basic principal of fire fighting which was simply this get to the fire quickly before the fire breaks out and spreads. Everybody understood this, even playwright William Shakespeare: A little fire is quickly trodden out. Which, being suffered, rivers cannot quench. ..Henry VI pt.3

Channings Landmark Article

In 1845, Channing presented his vision for a better way of dealing with fire emergencies to a local newspaper. The article described his systems engineering approach to the problem which involved better communication, better coordination, with centralized control. Systems engineering is a branch of engineering concerned with the development of large and complex systems, where a system is understood to be an assembly or combination of interrelated parts working together toward a common objective. Although not large or complex by todays standards, Channing did address something big and new. This article is worth studying because of its powerful functional requirements, and brilliant solution to the fire alarm problem. Weve transcribed the entire article and highlighted important parts in the next paragraphs. The article was entitled Morses Telegraph for Fire Alarms and appeared on page two of the Boston Advertiser and Patriot, June 3, 1845: There is a highly important application of the Electro-Magnetic Telegraph in which public attention has not as yet been directed. This is its use in our cities to give an instantaneous, universal and definite alarm in case of fire. The peculiar properties of the Telegraph rapidity and precision of communications - are in this instance pre-eminently needed. Almost all cities, except Boston, have felt the necessity of maturing, to some extent, signals indicating the existence and direction of a fire. In this city there has been great negligence in this respect, and the result is that our engines are sometimes obliged to run wildly about the streets and return home without reaching the place to which they should have been directed. But even in New York and Philadelphia, where some plans have been taken by means of the peculiar tolling of the bells to indicate the direction of a fire, an alarm is communicated slowly and uncertainly. By a very simple application of the Electro-Magnetic Telegraph, those evils may be avoided, and the means obtained of giving immediate and precise information throughout the city on any alarm. Let there be a central office in one of the public buildings, from which shall proceed a double wire, passing over the top of the houses successively, to every engine house and fire bell in the city, and returning again to complete its circuit, to the place where it started. In each engine house or other station, thus created, let there be one of Morses registers, recording permanently any impressions communicated to the wire, and giving at the same time a sufficient warning or alarm. Let there also be a key in each station, by the simple depression of which, the appropriate signal will be mechanically communicated on the wire, and sent simultaneously and without time to every other station in the circuit. The telegraph system being thus established, on the occurrence of a fire, information would be carried at once to the nearest station, and the intelligence would then be instantly known throughout the city by means of the simplest mechanical signal. Instead of having a single great circuit, it would be an easy modification of this arrangement to have five or six circuits, proceeding each to different districts of the city,

and each ..(newspaper is not legible at this point) . from the central office to each station. To allow communication backwards and forwards from a number of stations, two small galvanic batteries alone would be needed, and these would be naturally placed at the central office. The agent at this office would have it in his power to communicate directions to all the stations, and every alarm of fire might be made to pass through the central office before being communicated to the stations generally. There is indeed no end to the useful modifications of which this design is susceptible. There is, however, one which deserves to be especially mentioned. By a slight change of the arrangement at the alarm bell stations, and an increase of machinery, the hammers of the bells could all be disposed so as to strike mechanically on the communication of a galvanic impulse from the central office. The agent would therefore be enabled, by depressing a single key with his finger at certain intervals, to ring out an alarm, defining the position of the fire, simultaneously on every church bell in the city. By combining this system of alarm with the more precise one previously given, there would be hardly anything left to wish for. My object has only been by giving the details of such an arrangement, to show to every scientific man its practicality and simplicity. Its first expense would be but a few hundred dollars, hardly reaching to thousands, which would be saved probably during the first month of its operations. The chief objection to it would be the danger of the interference of mischievous individuals with the wiring passing over the houses. In New York and Washington, however where wires are similarly placed, no such difficulty has occurred. They could moreover be protected by law, and a number of circuits be employed, taking different routes, by which it would be impossible to intercept the whole. Supposing this last however to be affected, we should still be left in no worse condition then at the present. I suggest this project to the consideration of the authorities of the city, on this account especially, that Boston has been and is entirely behind hand in her arrangements for spreading alarms of fire, and would thus have an opportunity of retrieving her character, by taking a step in advance of other cities. The landmark article was signed simply with the letter C. What was going through his head as he wrote this? Is it really far fetched to say that Channing had a vision of todays modern public fire service communications system - the 911 emergency system? Channing saw the telegraph as a way to bring information about fires to the brain of the city, which he called the central office. He believed the conventional Morses telegraph was linear, a way to bring intelligence in a straight line between two points, A and B. The municipal telegraph system he envisioned was different. Not only would it be owned and operated by the municipality, but the system would be two dimensional, encompassing the entire town with telegraph keys distributed throughout, providing coverage across a wide area. I was most interested in reading about Channings strong functional requirements, and his unwavering design principles. Perhaps that may explain why his ideas worked for so long, over 150 years. His important ideas were: 1. that there be instantaneous, universal and definite alarms. Universal meant general purpose or wide spread; definite meant trustworthy, dependable or certain. 2. that there be rapid and precise communications.

3. that there be a central office from which double or redundant wires would depart from, then daisy chain from station to station, finally looping back to central office to complete the circuit. 4. a telegraph key for each alarm station, whereby by simply depressing the key, you send the appropriate signal to every station in the circuit. Channing uses the word mechanically meaning that code signals are sent by turning a crank of some sort, not by keying lengthy telegraphic coded messages. 5. an agent, an operator, is designated to communicate, control, or coordinate the fire departments response to fire emergencies. 6. information about an incident of fire is transmitted system wide. 7. aware of human nature, he proposes that there be a permanent record for each alarm. 8. system design is flexible to accommodate different circuit arrangement. 9. by depressing a single key, the agent rings out a general alarm defining the position of the fire simultaneously on every church bell in the city. 10. touches briefly on reliability or security issues, a major concern since circuits would be vulnerable over rooftops and strung out on poles. History does not document what led to Channings interests and obsessions. Presumably he personally witnessed the breakout of fire in his neighborhood. Being a real innovator, William Channing spent a lot of time refining his ideas based on the application of Morses telegraph. Not only was he first to conceive of a complete fire alarm system, but by 1851 he was determined to see his ideas become reality.

Proposal to the City of Boston

On March 27, 1851 he delivered his historic proposal to the mayor of Boston. The proposal was 28 pages long with a colored illustrated map plotting out the proposed signal and alarm circuits. The proposal had all the elements of a modern engineering proposal: objectives, technical requirements, operations, equipment description, schematic diagrams, construction cost estimate, installation schedule, licensing of Morses patents, staffing recommendations, plus a brief estimate of annual operating costs. He broke down the emergency response problem into two steps: first, getting citizens to report fires by sending a signal to a central office; then alert fire stations and get firemen moving smartly to the scene of the fire. The proposal is quite clear as to what the system functional requirements are: In Channings own words: 1. instantaneous communication of the intelligence of a fire 2. means of striking a definite alarm 3. security against interruptions of communications and alarms 4. security against false alarms and 5. control of fire department resources under one agency The telegraph would provide rapid and instantaneous communications. But the proposal promised much more than that. Just the telegraph alone wasnt going to convince skeptics, especially those with bad experiences involving telegraph service or malfunctions. As we shall see later, the telegraph was only one of many components in the system. He wanted rapid communications, but he also wanted a system that was dependable. Paraphrasing

what Channing said in one of his lectures, the fire alarm system would have to provide unerring certainty of operations because the public would rely on it for emergencies. Instantaneous, universal, and dependable were his guiding design principles. He knew that if his innovation was going to be accepted by the public, then it had to work correctly at all times. The word availability is often used with the development of critical and emergency systems. Availability is a measure of the degree to which it is operable at the start of a mission when it is called for at a random point in time. Channing used unerring certainty of operations to convey the same meaning. Signal Stations: 26 signal stations were initially proposed. These proposed signal stations were expected to be mounted indoors, under lock and key with a sign reading - In case of fire the key may be found at_________. Watchmen and business owners would have had access to these boxes. Moreover, the proposal is vague about how the signal station was suppose to work. Presumably it was going to be mechanically quick and easy. Signal station would cause its circuit to open and close, signaling the district and box number to a remote central office, thereby alerting the agent on duty who would translate the dots and dashes. Alarm Station: 19 alarm stations were proposed. Each alarm station would consist of a custom built bell striking machine. Bells weighted anywhere from 300 to 3700 pounds. Bell striking machines would be located in church steeples all over town. These machines were going to be electrically actuated by individual electric solenoids, presumably connected to a 24 volt battery. The central office operator would depress the alarm pushbutton, thereby energizing the district alarm circuit causing all of the bells to strike in unison. Getting five or more bells of different sizes to ring simultaneously was not going to be an easy task. This interesting electro-mechanical problem is discussed at length by Bosch in Reference 7. Central Office: City hall was proposed as a suitable location for a command post. Batteries, instruments, control pushbuttons, telegraph registers, and so on, were to be located there. An agent, an operator, would be posted there 24 7. Upon receipt of a signal for help, he would dispatch fire engines to the scene. Firefighters on the scene would use the nearest signaling station to communicate with the central office by keying telegraphic messages using the signal key. Circuits: Two classes of circuits were proposed: signaling circuits and alarm circuits. These two classes of circuits are illustrated in Reference 2 To prevent interruption of service due to broken conductors, each circuit had to be in duplicate. Each circuit was connected from station to station then looped back to central office, also improving reliability. Interestingly, separation of redundant circuits was discussed to guard against common mode failures. Separation was a way to guard against circuit tampering, or falling ice and snow, from affecting both circuits simultaneously. Ground return was not to be used because an accidental connection made between the wire and ground would complete an open circuit, or affect part of a closed circuit He also imposed strict controls over the installation and arrangement of conductors. The proposal specified periodic testing of circuits. This may not have been a novel idea since the telegraph industry did routine testing of circuits. Routine tests on circuits help detect failures early so repairs may be made. The proposal specified that periodic test be carried out automatically.

Construction of the First Fire Alarm Telegraph System

Soon after successful completion of initial trials, the City of Boston appropriated funds to complete the project. A special committee was appointed to oversee the installation. Moses Farmer was appointed superintendent of construction and licenses were obtained from Samuel Morse for his patents. Actual outside work began on September 7, 1851. The following paragraphs describe the system that was actually constructed, which deviated somewhat from the proposal. But first, the basic elements of the fire alarm system will be explained using the electrical schematic drawing submitted with the Channing and Farmer patent application. The telegraphic fire alarm system consisted of three basic elements as illustrated in the US patent diagram: A signal station B central station (same as central office) C alarm station As previously mentioned, there were two distinct types of circuits: signaling circuits which connected signal stations to the central station; alarm circuits which connected the central station to alarm stations. Conductors were installed in duplicate as shown by items Is & ks and EEs & DDs. The patent covered two categories of circuits, the series connected and the open type circuit. Originally, signal circuits were open type, but this was changed to series by connecting Morses keys in series, which was standard practice in the American telegraph industry. On the other hand, alarm circuits were open type, with solenoids connected in parallel. Districts: The city was divided into six zones or districts. Each district was connected by three signaling circuits and three alarm circuits. Wiring: The fire alarm system consisted of 23 miles of single signaling and alarm circuits. Each circuit was made up of #8 and #10 conductors, Swedish iron, strung out alongside of buildings and supported on glass insulators. 50 poles were used between buildings. Since each circuit was run in duplicate, the total circuit length in miles was 46. Its unclear whether these wires were insulated or not. Werner says they were not, however Channing stated that conductors had to be insulated numerous times in his writing. Signal Stations: The number of stations actually installed was 41. This apparatus is illustrated in figure 4 of Reference 3. Boxes were distributed as follows: North signaling circuit had 18 South signaling circuit had 16 South Boston signaling circuit had 7 Signal stations were attached to walls of building. They were cast iron boxes, sealed and made water tight, much like todays boxes except painted black instead of red. Each box had a lightning arrestor, a writing magnet and armature, a weighted hand crank, a toothed code wheel and a spring key. The signal key was available for sending messages by hand using Morse code. Signal stations were made to work correctly, but only after repeated design changes. The final design that lasted till the 1860s, consisted of a hand crank attached to a gear connected to the code wheel. Turning the crank turned the code wheel which actuated the spring key, making and breaking the circuit. The code wheel first

transmitted the district number by a series of dots, then the station number was transmitted in telegraphic character which included at least one dash. Alarm Bell- Striking Machines: 19 bell-striking machines were installed. This apparatus is illustrated in this article. Alarm circuits were distributed as follows: North alarm circuit - 3 miles long with 8 bells South alarm circuit - 5 miles long with 9 bells South Boston alarm circuit - 6 miles long with 2 bells The Central Office: was located in one of the rooms in the city building at Court Square and Williams Court. It housed the following apparatus triple receiving magnet with alarm bell (see illustration) a district keyboard for striking the district number of the alarm bells (see figure 6) triple alarm Morse register circuit testing clock with audible alarm for testing every hour switches, keys and accessories electrical batteries for the signal box circuits were in the same building water driven dynamo for alarm circuits All conductors in the interior of the building, including those entering and leaving the building through the roof, were installed in gas pipes. 48 single conductors poked through the roof of the building. After construction was partially completed, Farmer was appointed superintendent of operations, a position he held for about two years while improving the system. After a long trial and error period, the municipal fire alarm system was turned over to the city and placed in service, April 28, 1852. Permanent operating staff included the position of superintendent, an operator, and an electrician.

System Performance
For the first few years after completion, failures and malfunctions continued to plague operations. Eventually, Farmers hard work paid off to the extent that the system was declared fully operational and placed in service. By 1854 Channing and Farmer were ready to apply for a joint patent. This section will explain how well the system accomplished its mission. Firemens acceptance of the new system was very important. At first, firemen were opposed to the new system, but their attitude changed as system reliability improved. Also, citizens complaints decreased drastically with the completion of frequent adjustments and retests of local church bells. There is evidence that Channing was very pleased with the systems performance. In a lecture to the Smithsonian, he reported that firemen had learned to operate fire alarm equipment properly. During fire emergencies, firemen would cluster around the nearest street box to find out which street box number initiated the alarm, thereby finding out where the fire was. At the scene of the fire, men stayed in touch with the central office, either waiting for instructions or reporting their status. System reliability also improved. In one year, central office recorded only 12 false alarms out of a total of 195 fire calls. Six of these alarms had been initiated by citizens who later admitted acting prematurely; the remaining six were due to unknown causes, that is,

random failures. Over the years, great improvements have been made to reduce failure rates to very low levels, consistent with todays expectations. Soon after 1854, similar fire alarm systems were installed in various cities. These performed successfully, judging from expert testimonies given before the Commissioner of Patents in 1857. The Commissioner tried to put a monetary value to Channing and Farmers invention: That this invention is valuable and important would seem to me to need no demonstration. Witnesses find it difficult to set a money value upon the invention; though they all agreed that the annual saving to the country in consequence of the invention, is many millions of dollars, besides many human lives. The chief engineer of the fire department of Newark, New Jersey, testified as to the benefits: I believe it is a great advantage to the people of Newark, and during the last year it has saved from $30,000 to $50,000 in losses, by giving quick alarm. Every minute saved at a conflagration in providing the means of extinction is regarded by fire engineers as of the utmost important. This expresses my opinion as to the value of time. Another expert in the business reported: the great importance of the telegraph is of using so much less of our engines than we would under the old system. A final measure of the systems performance, was the success it achieved all across the country. By 1857, the Channing and Farmer fire alarm system had been installed in New York, Cincinnati, Detroit, Albany, New Haven, Mobile, St. Louis, Chicago, and nearly forty other cities and towns, including Montreal.

Landmark Features
Communication Centers The first control center was illustrated in 1852. The room was photographed soon after the invention of photography as seen in the accompanying figures. Then and now, functions by the fire alarm operator have not changes: The communication center is the building used to house the central operating part of the fire alarm system; usually the place where the necessary testing, switching, receiving, transmitting devices and power supplies are located. In 1851 Channing emphasized the importance of this center: It is necessary, in the first place, to have so important a system under the control of some department or agent of the city government and to provide for intelligent direction at its Center. This control center was essentially unchanged 50 years later, except for improvements in hardware which Bosch wrote about in Reference 7: The general plan of a modern central office fire alarm system stills resembles that outlined by Dr. Channing, fifty-two years ago; but, in the instruments and apparatus used, most wonderful improvements have been made. Receipt and Transmission of Alarms NFPA Article 9.5 specifies that recording devices are necessary in each communications center to automatically receive and record all alarms from street boxes. Additional provisions include: a device for producing a permanent graphic recording of all alarms, trouble and test signals

a permanent visual record and an audible signal shall be required to indicate the receipt of an alarm. The permanent record shall indicate the exact location and time the alarm was transmitted. a minimum of two separate means of transmitting alarms to the fire stations shall be provided. These topics were addressed by Channing. Alarms were to be automatically received and recorded at the central office. Instruments were necessary to give a permanent visual record and to alert the operator of each incoming alarm. Early recording instruments, crude by todays standards, indicated the exact location from which the alarm was transmitted. Channing wanted to prevent human errors and eliminate false alarms, critical topics covered by the NFPA. In 1851, Channing proposed that alarms be transmitted by machinery; today we use computer assisted dispatching systems with carefully designed hardware and software. In his own words: It is necessary also to provide means to complete the Circuit of the alarm bells with perfect regularity and at perfect intervals, which would be impossible, except by machinery placed at the Central Office. Fifty years later in the late 1890s, Adam Bosch, AIEE member, noted that instruments to prevent human errors and false alarms had evolved considerably: In central offices equipped with new apparatus within the last few years, every safeguard is provided to prevent mistakes in the transmission of alarms. With the first blow on the gong from a signal box, a cylindrical indicator revolves and exposes the number of the circuit from which the signal is being received, as well as the number of every box on that circuit. The operator may therefore while counting the signal set the transmitter, and with one glance at the printed record of the register, and another at the circuit indicator, verify its correctness and have the alarm in process of transmission within five seconds after the completion of the first round from the box. Monitoring for Circuit Integrity NFPA specifies that wired circuits, upon which transmission and receipts of alarms depend, shall be constantly monitored, or supervised, to give prompt warnings of conditions adversely affecting reliability. Monitoring shall be accomplished automatically. Monitoring apparatus also provides a record of the condition of the circuits at stated periods of time. All monitoring for integrity of box circuits shall be provided with a visual and audible means. Any conductor failure in the installation, such as open or ground faults, can be automatically indicated within 200 seconds. Channing in 1851: It is essential to have systematic means of testing all the circuits employed in the Fire System. Where a closed Signal Circuit is used, an interruption from any cause, gives of itself a Signal at the Central office. Where an open circuit is used, as it is in connection with the Alarm machinery, other means must be employed. Reliability Features Judging by the many NFPA articles governing system design and installation, reliability is more demanding than ever before. We will mention just a few features involving system reliability: Interconnection means shall be arranged so that a single break or single ground will not cause an alarm signal. An open, ground, or short circuit fault on the installation conductors of one alarm circuit shall not affect the operation of any other alarm circuit. Two separate means for transmitting fire alarms

7. Conclusions In 1925 Bostons central fire alarm office was relocated to new headquarters on the Fenway in Boston, the site currently occupied. At the time, the new facility was well publicized in engineering journals as well as in a commemorative brochure by the Gamewell Company. Their brochure is included in this submission because of historical photographs of the facility. There are approximately 1500 fire alarm boxes in service in the streets throughout the city and over 1200 master boxes in public and private buildings. The system still operates independently of telephone and electric utility lines and has an uninterruptible power supply. Today in Boston, telegraphic principles are still used but only in street boxes. When you depress the lever, accessible through a small door, you initiate a spring-wound clockwork mechanism which transmits a code number to the central station. Alarms of fire are transmitted to all firehouses over the telegraph system just as they have for the last 140 years. Before the advent of the two-way radios, striking alarms over the fire alarm telegraph system was the only means of alerting fire companies. The fire alarm office also communicated with fire companies at the scene of a fire via the telegraph system using Morse code. Boston fire alarm operators continued using Morse code until March 1988, at which point a modern digital system went into affect. However, the old red street boxes still send signals telegraphically. That the fire alarm telegraph system contributed to the well being of Boston is self evident. It gave people a way to get help quickly and automatically at the outbreak of fires. Although there are three types of transmission systems in use today, telegraphic, telephone and radio communication, much of the original hardwired technology, methods and procedures still apply. For that reason, the fire alarm system of Boston deserves to be recognized as an important IEEE milestone.

An Explanation of Fire Alarm for the Electrician

Depending on the hazard being protected, a fire alarm system includes one or more of several types of alarm-initiating devices. One of these types that everyone is familiar with is the manual pull-station. These are basically electrical switches, and most can be re-set after use. Historically, these have been the favorite targets of juvenile pranksters, and automatic detection devices are much more in demand in the marketplace today.

Heat Detectors
The types of detection devices to be implemented normally depend on design decisions made by the consulting engineer prior to construction of a new building. For example, a fire alarm designer will typically call for automatic heat detectors to supplement a preaction or deluge system. For those system types, the valve controlling water discharge to sprinkler nozzles will not open unless a signal has been received from the heat detection device. The simplest type of heat detector is the fixed-temperature unit. Heat from a fire activates this detector, which contains a fusible alloy that melts rapidly at a specific ceiling

temperature. This action causes the internal electrical contacts to operate, initiating the alarm signal. Temperature settings will range for these devices (just like sprinkler heads), with 140F being a good call for normal conditions. NFPA Pamphlet No. 72 calls out coverages and areas of application for the installation of these units, which depends on a variety of factors, including ceiling height. The coverage area per detector is maximized when there is a smooth ceiling with no airflow obstruction. You need explosion-proof wiring on any detector located in an electrical equipment room. A rate-of-rise heat detector includes a small air vent that allows for expansion and contraction of air inside the units housing. When temperature changes in the room cause the air inside the device to expand more quickly than it can escape from the air hole, pressure is exerted on the diaphragm, which makes the electrical contact. Like the fixedtemperature heat detector, this device is reliable and has a low false-alarm rate. The advantage of the rate-of-rise detector is that, even if the space above the point of fire origin has not yet reached 140 degrees at the ceiling, for example, it will initiate an alarm as soon as the rate of temperature increase exceeds a predetermined value, such as 12F per minute. There is a special label on all detectors classified for hazardous areas.

Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors can be a less expensive option, often featured as the blue-light special at K-Mart. Available since 1960, these detect fire by sensing particles of combustion and certain gases in smoke. With an ionization smoke detector, the design intent is that they are on at all times. Ionized air in the sensing chamber serves as a conductor between two charged electrodes. But when smoke particles present themselves, the air conductance is decreased. When decreased sufficiently, the electrical charge is off, and that quickly signals an alarm. The absolute maximum spacing recommendation for smoke detectors is 900 square feet (not exceeding 41 feet apart) and less than this when an increased response time is imperative. Ionization detectors will give off a false alarm when humidity exceeds a high level, such as 90% or more. Dont install these next to a shower door. A photoelectric smoke detector, which is more expensive, contains a photosensitive device. It doesnt really see the smoke, but operates when there is a change in the intensity of light (caused by the smoke). Another type of photoelectric smoke detector contains a displaced photosensitive receiver, which only initiates an alarm when the smoke particles collecting in the chamber scatter the incoming light, causing light from the source to then strike the receiver. In either case, these units have been proven very effective in spaces with a potential for smoldering fires. Some computer rooms may contain a combination of photoelectric and ionization smoke detectors, the principle being that both have to operate before the alarm system is activated. Since smoke dissipates less rapidly than heat, smoke detectors are generally a better design option for larger open rooms. And, measurable amounts of smoke almost always precede measurable amounts of heat, which is why engineers often call for both sprinklers and smoke detectors in a building. Smoke detectors have been a source of annoying false alarm problems in the past, although nuisance alarms from newer commercial alarm systems installed today with improved technology are becoming increasingly uncommon.

Flame Detectors Another detector type famous for false alarms is the very sensitive, but very quickresponding, flame detector. You will usually find these detectors in occupancies with aerosol-filling or paint-mixing operations, or other areas where flammable vapors or dusts are present. They are expensive but necessary in rooms with explosion potential due to their superior speed of detection. They are able to sense sparks, flames, glowing embers or other sources of radiation. Of the two types, ultraviolet and infrared, the ultraviolet detector is the fastest, making it an ideal choice in a hazardous area where very rapid fires may occur. The field placement of these devices is critical for successful use, and care must be exercised so that large equipment or piled storage does not interfere with their line of sight. The absolute maximum spacing recommendation for smoke detectors is 900 square feet (not exceeding 41 feet apart) and less than this when an increased response time is imperative.

Alarm Systems
The most essential ingredient of any fire alarm system is continuous monitoring. Integrated with the alarm initiating devices, the alarm system is a life-safety building feature which simultaneously alerts the local fire department while loudly notifying building occupants of the immediate need to evacuate the structure. Fire alarm systems come in many varietiessix to be exact. Two of these, local fire alarm systems and emergency voice/alarm communication systems, will at minimum sound a local alarm to notify building occupants of a fire. With emergency voice/alarm communication, the occupants also receive information and instructions pertaining to the emergency at hand. Both of these system types may also provide prompt notification to the local fire service. The alarms from an auxiliary fire alarm system are received by a municipal signaling system for transmission to the public fire service communication system. All protected properties within that community have a similar connection to this alarm protective signaling system. This setup is in contrast to proprietary station systems, which are in wide use at very large industrial facilities containing various properties under one ownership. With that system, transmitted signals are received and recorded automatically at a supervisory station that is located at either the protected premises or another location of the property owner. The central station fire alarm system consists of the operation of circuits and devices transmitted to a manned central station operated by an independent firm. That firm is in the business of monitoring and maintaining signaling systems and retransmitting alarm signals received to the appropriate public fire service. Except for the means of electrical signal transmission, this is a lot like the proprietary system. What is similar in scope is the remote station signaling system, which transmits signals from one or more premises to an (off-site) remote monitoring location (approved by local authorities), where the appropriate action is taken. The signal is transmitted over a leased telephone line to the police station, fire department or telephone answering service. If the remote station is at the police station or the answering service, the fire department personnel are immediately notified.

All of these fire alarm systems have alarm-initiating device circuits which interconnect the fire alarm control panel with automatic detectors, pull stations and sprinkler system waterflow indicators (flow switches). Another feature that all fire alarm systems have in common is that they are all required by code to have a backup source of electrical supply. Requirements for all systems are covered thoroughly in NFPA 72, the National Fire Alarm Code. It is important that all equipment be listed by a testing and inspection agency laboratory, and installed in accordance with the manufacturers specifications. Professionals accurately point out that while conventional alarm systems have been installed in commercial buildings for many years, the newer systems keep getting better and better. What distinguishes the modern-day fire alarm systems is their interconnective capabilities, or single-seat control. Beyond simply transmitting a fire alarm, they are able to activate elevator recall, control exit doors, or as previously mentioned, actuate preaction or deluge extinguishing systems. A signal received from one or more detection devices may also be used to operate smoke control equipment. Here, the fire alarm system can truly be viewed as a life-saving device, because smoke kills. With either the active or passive approach to smoke control, the interconnective fire alarm system utilizes the buildings air-handling equipment. In the passive approach, all fans and smoke dampers (within the ductwork) are shut down during fire conditions. With active smoke control, the air conditioning system is used to exhaust smoke from inside the building to the exterior. For obvious reasons, interconnectivity is also very cost-effective.