RE: Smoke & gas detectors

["Nigel Giddings" <nigel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Chris,

As with all Fire Systems they have battery backup, in this case 2 x 12v
2.1AH sealed lead acid batteries. I think this gives autonomy for 3
days... The panel even checks the batteries and gives a fault condition
if they are not charging properly...

I have to say I am impressed with it as a bit of kit.

Nigel

-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Hunter [mailto:cjhunter@xxxxxxx]
Sent: 09 April 2006 11:16
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [ukha_d] Smoke & gas detectors

Nigel -

Interesting ... I couldn't work out if there was a back-up power
arrangent in case of power-cuts ... although I imagine the generator
cocers that, in your case !   Actually, that's a thought ... what will
happen when the generator powers-up ... the short delay, the variable &
perhaps noisy voltage ... will the Rafiki be OK ?

Chris



Nigel Giddings wrote:

> Chris,
>
> My last visit from the BCO ended up with him asking for smoke
detectors
> in the following rooms; Kitchen, Dining Room (Open Fire), Living Room
> (Open Fire), Study, Hall, Master Bed dressing room. As you probably
know
> these need to be mains operated and linked...
>
> Having looked at the options and deciding I wanted to add a few more
> detectors in the Basement (inc Node 0) and Loft (Node 3 and storage),
I
> thought it would make sense to go for a 'system' rather than the more
> normal self contained units looped together with 3 core and earth.
>
> I have gone for the Rafiki Twinflex system
>
> http://www.rafikiprotection.com/twinflex.html
>
> It has a central control panel with dry contacts for fault, zone 1
> alarm, and zone 2 alarm. You can add remote repeater panels and link
> several panels together (they do a 4 and 8 zone version as well). Each
> zone can support upto 32 sensors (heat and or smoke by DIL switch)
which
> have sounders built in...
>
> One feature I particularly like is the 'Evacuate' signal. EG if Zone 2
> has an alarm (in my case 1st Floor / Loft) Zone 2 will give a constant
> alarm and Zone 1 will give an intermittent 'evacuate' alarm, so if
> people are in the basement they know to get out and that the fire is
on
> the 1st floor or in the loft...
>
> For those who want more HA stuff it also does what it calls 'class
> change'. You may remember from school the Pips at the end of a Class
> Period... The panel has an input to allow this to be triggered. Could
be
> used as a movement indication if linked to PIRs, but I'm sure this
would
> drive you mad eventually...
>
> As far as I know no Gas detectors are available but these could be
> interfaced via the dry contacts to trigger a zone.
>
> Wiring is simple as it is only two cores per zone (some sort of data
> bus). To meet British Standards it needs to be wired with FP200, and
> though this is expensive it is very easy to use. It looks like Pyro
but
> no special tools required.
>
> A picture here, not the most useful
>
> http://photos.corbenic.co.uk/photos/photo236.html
>
> One thing to bear in mind is that you should use the approved P clips
> and or Stainless Steel cable ties...
>
> HTH
>
> Nigel
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Chris Hunter [mailto:cjhunter@xxxxxxx]
> Sent: 09 April 2006 01:02
> To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> Subject: [ukha_d] Smoke & gas detectors
>
>
> 'am looking for sensors to go with HA, and Googling brings up far more
> makes & models than I'd expected ... with prices anywhere from
below
> 5GPB to over 90GPB ... some battery, some mains, some both, some
> low-voltage, some smoke & gas in one ... etc.   I need some that
work
> well & reliably & offer zero-volts ralay contacts & look
good or at
> least acceptable.   Can anyone recommend particuar ones, please -
90GBP
> seems OTT to me, and 5GBP seems NVM !
>
> Chris