DESIGN OF ADDRESSABLE FIRE ALARM SYSTEM FOR THE COLLEGE OF

ENGINEERING OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHEASTERN PHILIPPINES

Presented to the
Faculty of the College of Engineering
University of Southeastern Philippines
Obrero, Davao City

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the ES 108

Kent Steben Baldonado

Joseph Rodel Berber

Brylle Benedick Layson

Hazel Lenn Ruiz

April 2018
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION

The presentation of the background of the study, objectives of the study, statement of

the problem, significance of the study, scope and limitations, and definition of terms are

written herein.

1.1 Background of the Study

The primal stage of student safety from fire incidents begins with the architectural

plans including the fire alarm system of the school and its building (David, 2009). Thus,

designs and developments of fire alarm system contribute to the well-being of the

building’s occupancies - including its properties, and bears responsibility towards them.

Raising its essential to address and warn occupancies on unwanted fire related events,

ensuring life safety for students and employees also considering safeness for educational

and laboratory equipment.

Building codes, fire codes, and life codes have requirements for the use of fire

detection, alarm, and signaling systems in a certain occupancy. The requirements in the

codes are coordinated with other prevention and protection requirements to achieve some

level of life safety and property protection contemplated by the code (National Electrical

Manufacturers Association, 2010). At a glance, fire alarms seem like a straightforward

device, especially from an installation standpoint. But, considering the moral and legal

responsibilities involved in from its design until completion and operation, it contains a

lot of elements that make it complex ( Herres, 2006).

The legal codes and minimum requirements for fire alarm systems that consist of

manual fire alarm boxes throughout the school is provided the by International Building
Code (IBC) and International Fire Code (IFC) (David, 2009). Under the Fire Safety

Measure (Rule 10.2.2.G) of the Republic Act No. 9514: The Fire Code of The Philippines

2008, fire alarm systems shall be provided in every structure depending on size,

arrangement, and occupancy to provide adequate warning to occupants.

A perfect system where in every component can last and meet all future needs

obviously doesn’t exist. But, by setting requirements for certain features and utilization of

upgrades from minimal requirements, engineers can design and specify system that will

be much closer towards meeting and contributing towards future needs. Addressable

control units and detectors are used in creating fire detection and alarm designs (National

Electrical Manufacturers Association, 2010). Thus, the designers prefer to use Addressable

Fire Alarm System to determine state that either separate circuits or isolated modules be

employed to limit the numbers of devices.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

This study aims to answer the following questions:

1. What is the process in designing an addressable fire alarm system for the

College of Engineering of the University of Southeastern Philippines,

Obrero Campus?

2. What are the components to be used to design an addressable fire alarm system

for the College of Engineering of the University of Southeastern Philippines,

Obrero Campus?
 3. How to regulate the laws and legal codes on designing an addressable fire alarm

systems for the College of Engineering of the University of Southeastern

Philippines, Obrero Campus?

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The study aims to determine the following objectives:

1. To design an addressable fire alarm system for the College of Engineering of the

University of Southeastern Philippines, Obrero Campus.

2. To determine the components to be used to design the addressable fire alarm

system for the College of Engineering of the University of Southeastern

Philippines, Obrero Campus.

4. To regulate the laws and legal codes on designing an addressable fire alarm

systems for the College of Engineering of the University of Southeastern

Philippines, Obrero Campus.

1.4 Conceptual Framework

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

 Design
 Related studies calculations
and laws Addressable Fire
 CAD design Alarm System for
 Materials for and simulations the College of
designing Engineering of the
 Designing
 Design data University of
and  Testing Southeastern
considerations Philippines, Obrero
 Evaluation of
Campus
 CAD software efficiency and
functionality
 Figure 1. Conceptual Framework of the Study

The figure above shows the main variables of the study. The input of the study

includes the related studies and laws concerning to be used. The materials required for

designing, the design data and considerations for the designing, and CAD software to be

utilized in drafting the prototype design. Design calculations and material selection can be

attained from existing related studies, the literature review, and the related laws and codes.

These sources can provide information and existing standards that are important to

understanding how to design an addressable fire alarm system and in drafting the design

of the prototype. Design data and considerations are obtained from the site in which the

addressable fire alarm system is to be proposed.

Once the necessary inputs have been ascertained, the researchers will then proceed to

the process of developing the design. This includes the design calculations, CAD design

and simulation, testing, and evaluation of efficiency and functionality of the addressable

fire alarm system. The related laws and codes will be used to regulate the design in

accordance to international and national standards. The draft and measurement of the

design are to be finalized and simulated. Then, the designed addressable fire alarm system

of the site is to be tested for efficiency and functionality by CAD software simulation.

Finally, the designed addressable fire alarm system of the site shall be the output of

the entire study. The data collected from the testing will be analyzed and evaluated with

respect to the objectives of the study. The results are then tabulated and discussed in

chapter 4 and are further discussed in chapter 5.

1.5 Significance of the Study

The research project entitled “ Design of Addressable Fire Alarm System for the

College of Engineering of the University of Southeastern Philippines” will propose a fire

alarm system for the College of Engineering of the USeP with primary purpose of offering

assistance in situations of unwanted fire incidents. This study will be beneficial to the

following:

Students and Employees - This project will offer the students and employees of the

College Engineering of the University of Southeastern Philippines, Obrero Campus

safe assistance in case of fire incident in the building.

Educational and Laboratory Equipment - This also may provide a better way to suppress

fire considering the incendiary laboratory equipment and combustible machines of

the college building.

Administration - The output of the study may serve as a proposal design for the College

of Engineering of the University of Southeastern Philippines, Obrero Campus.

Future Researchers - This study shall serve as a reference for future research on

designing fire alarm system for schools buildings.

1.6 Scope and Limitations of the Study

The study centers on the design of addressable fire alarm system to be proposed to the

College of Engineering of the University of Southeastern Philippines, Obrero Campus

primarily to ensure safety of students, employees, and educational and laboratory

equipment therein. Using simulation software, the effectiveness and potency of the project
will be tested accordingly. Furthermore, the project to be designed will not consider

possible fire exits of the building and cost efficiency of the components to be used. Testing

will be done in the University of Southeastern Philippines College of Engineering (7.0864°

N, 125.6155° E). Results obtained are to be interpreted and analyzed.

1.7 Definition of Key Terms

For clarification, the following important key terms used in the study are hereby

defined:

Fire Alarm System

A fire alarm system is intended to enable a fire to be detected at a sufficiently early

stage so that people who are at risk can be made safe either by escaping from the fire,

or by the fire being extinguished (Goh, D., & Kwek, M., 2005)

The aim of the researcher to design in the site.

Addressable Fire Alarm System

An addressable fire alarm system is made up of a series of fire detectors and devices

that are connected back to a central control panel (Euro Fire Protection, 2015)

The type of fire alarm system to be designed in the site

Occupancy

The fact or condition of holding, possessing, or residing in or on something

The students, employees, educational and laboratory equipment, and the likes that

resides on the building of the Colloge of Engineering, USeP.

CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE, STUDIES, AND LEGAL

BASES

In this chapter, the researchers will present the synthesis of related literature, studies,

and legal bases that are related on the origins, mechanism, design, and application of an

addressable fire alarm system. The literature came from books, online journals, research

articles, and unpublished materials to help the researchers in establishing the backbone of

the study. It also presents a review of published reports on actual researches done

previously on addressable fire alarm and detection systems.

2.1 Related Literature

2.1.1 History

In 1852, Dr. William F. Channing and Moses Farmer invented the first fire alarm

system consisting of two fire alarm boxes with telegraphic keys and a handle (Fire Alarm

Systems, 2017). In the event of fire, someone would need to reach inside the box and crank

the handle which would send an alert and details of the fire alarm box number to an alarm

station nearby (DPL Fire and Security, 2014). After receiving the alarm, an operator would

then forward the message to the fire department to send help (Silver Group, 2015).

Almost four decades later, in 1890, Francis Robbins Upton came up with the first

electric fire alarm system upon realizing the disadvantages of manually operating the
conventional system. This system makes use of thermostat for heat detection which would

then trigger the sprinkler system to put out a fire (Ryan Fireprotection Incorporated, 2014).

Since then, fire alarm systems have improved owing to the advancements in the field,

especially technology. One of the most applied systems nowadays is the addressable fire

system for its capability to pinpoint the direction of the affected zone and enhanced

diagnostic capabilities. Integrating systems through IoT, these systems continue to shorten

the time gap between the fire alarm sequence to fire extinguishing. At the moment, there

are three types of fire alarm systems widely used after considering various factors mostly

dependent on a building’s scale - conventional, addressable, and digital addressable

systems (Protect America Incorporated, 2017).

2.1.2 Addressable Fire Alarm System

It is considered the state of the art fire detection and alarm technology. In this system,

the signaling devices use a microprocessor and system software. It also makes use of a

small computer whose responsible for operating and inspecting for the input and output

devices. An addressable system utilizes addressable detectors and/or call points, signals

from which are individually identified at the control panel (Schroll, 2002). Each initiating

devices has a specific address, every type of device has its own specific response and

locations that are saved to control panel’s memory with all the information. Also, every

circuit is monitored therefore, it may identify any defects that possibly to occur (Northeast

Document Conservation Center, n.d.).

To locate the fire as much as possible at the control panel while helping to conduct

the fire alarm sequence to perform faster, premises are divided into zones, for alarm and
detection. A zone is described by the National Fire Protection Association (2010) as ‘a

defined area within the protected premises. A zone can define an area from which a signal

can be received, an area to which a signal can be sent, or an area in which a form of control

can be executed’. Detector zones, having an area surrounded by a few manual call points

and/or detectors, can indicate the occurrence of a fire within its premises thus assisting in

locating the source of fire, evacuating occupants and firefighting.

Alarm zones are defined by the same code as ‘a geographical subdivision of the

premises, in which the fire alarm warning can be given separately, and independently, of

a fire alarm warning in any other alarm zone’.

Identification of which detector or call point is in the alarm state, addressable systems

can come close to pinpointing the exact location of the fire. Generally, the primary

indication of the origin of the alarm should be an indication of the detection zone of origin.

Addressable detectors can share one circuit around the building with most detectors

having a maximum capacity of 250 devices, therefore the same two-wire circuit can serve

several detection zones; an open circuit would not pose as much as that of a problem since

the loop can be driven in both directions. The occurrence of a short circuit however, is

considerably taken seriously since this condition could affect every device. Thus, short

circuit protection is a requirement in all loop circuits; making the area covered by the

detectors places in between any two line isolators not exceeding 2 000 m2 (Occupational

Health and Safety, 2003).

Addressable fire system must still consider to have a separate ‘at a glance’ indication

of the location of the fire for beneficial purposes, because generally when designing a fire
alarm system for a building, it is broken down into smaller compartments to enable the

fire fighters to site the fire as quickly as possible (Honeywell, n.d.).

The advantages of this system are it enhances the maintenance, stability and easy for

adjustment. In addition, it automatically reset the control panel directly to lessen the

probability of false alarm that may cause by insects, dust or breezes (NDCC, n.d.).

2.1.3 Components and Working Principle

Photoelectric smoke alarms would serve as initiating devices to alert the system enter

the alarm state (Herres, 2006). These operate by the usage of a light source, light beam

emitter and a photoelectric sensor whose optical axes cross in the sampling chamber. When

smoke crosses the path of the light beam, light becomes scattered by the smoke particles,

subjecting it to the sensor thus, activating the alarm (Grainger Incorporated, 2014).

National Fire Protection Association (2011) defined notification appliances as

components that make use of energy from the fire alarm system to inform the occupants

to take precautionary steps towards evacuation. This process is usually done by means of

pulsing incandescent or strobe light, electromechanical/electric horn/chime, speaker, or a

combination of the aforementioned.

Addressable fire alarm control panels with detection, notification, and

communications capability are designed with the latest technology and are most

commonly used nowadays. These panels contain programming and operating electronics

and user interface, and is fed by a standard branch - circuit wiring and replaceable circuit

cards - one for each zone. It makes one of an alphanumeric display which presents the

system’s current state and provides info for troubleshooting, and a touch pad which would
enable an on site personnel to silence an alarm signal, reset the system after an event, or

reprogram if needed (Herres, 2006). The devices and the panel are connected to the

microprocessor which manages the relay of data instead of the conventional way of using

electric current to send messages (Rotaflow Controls Incorporated, 2018). High Rise

Security Systems (2017) also deems this technology as effective since it facilitates quicker

detection, faster recognition, and guiding fire fighters to the precise location of the fire

sooner leading to smoother evacuations and lesser damage.

Sealed batteries, mostly 6 V batteries wired in series to make up for 24 V DC in a

power limited system are placed in the control panel or a separate enclosure to be used

when AC power fails.

Auxiliary devices such as remote annunciators with LEDs designed to show the state of

the system, an alarm silence switch, and a visual LED indication of the zone from which

an alarm is initiated are also a requirement to be considered in designing a fire alarm

system (Herres, 2006).

Each detection and notification device is connected to each other and to the central

addressable fire alarm control panel. While operating, the control panel, with a pre-set time

send out an address and waits for a reply in order to check the functionality of each device.

In the instance that a particular detector address would not be able to send a reply, the

control panel would deem a fault. This would also be case if the device would fail to

operate correctly. Having an identity or address of its own, each detector may also receive

a customer-defined character message given that the panel was manipulated to do so. After

receiving the reply, the control panel would then send out the next address and continue
the same process until all devices have been addressed, and then the entire sequence is

repeated again (High Rise Security Systems, 2017).

Herres (2006) stated that initiating devices are connected to the control panel with the

use of 2- or 4-wire initiating device circuit. In the case of a power-limited system, 24 V

DC is applied to two wires directed to a number of initiating devices, which are connected

in parallel. Aside from their isolation from EMT and other raceways which are grounded

through the connector at the control panel, neither of the wires are grounded. The wires’

polarity is also a vital point. The indicated voltage is to be used to power the solid-state

circuitry within each detector. The same voltage is also utilized to monitor the state (alarm

or no alarm) of the initiating devices and zone wiring.

2.1.3 Sprinkler System

The wet pipe system is the most common type of sprinkler system installed in

commercial buildings, private establishments, and houses. This system has water inside

the pipe in a normal or ambient temperature while every sprinkler has its own heat

response elements. Thus, it automatically releases water when it actuates. An automatic

water sprinkler system employs water directly when it senses heat or fire, which causes

cooling of the combustible materials and preventing from spreading of adjacent

combustibles. Nowadays, the automatic sprinkler is the most effective during the fire’s

initial flame growth stage in which it discharges water automatically in order to control

the situation quickly and minimizing the damage of flame (Northeast Document

Conservation Center, n.d.).

2.2 Related Studies

2.2.1 Design Innovations

Liu, Gao, Li, and Wu (2010) divided their design for an automatic fire alarm system

from the logical structure into a central control unit, linkage switching unit, direct control

unit, and fire detector modules for its practical application value and broad potential for

development.

The study conducted by Saunders (2010) proved that photoelectric smoke detectors

would respond faster in an event of a fire as compared to ionization smoke detector within

temperature correlation method (Hesketad’s and Cleary’s method) activation criterion of

4°C, 13°C, and 20°C. This study is used as one of the basis as to why ionization smoke

detectors are slowly being replaced in systems and phased out in the markets.

Thuillard (1994) used fuzzy logic analysis in order to screen and specify the stimulus

that caused the smoke detectors to actuate thus introducing a new way to minimize the

number of false alarms in the system. The system is not only for confined for solving

ionization smoke detectors but also for other types as well with the consideration that

smoke and other disturbances differ significantly.

The collaborative work of Zhang and Wang (2009) on design and development of

their fire alarm system gave emphasis on the network architecture and communication

protocol. Their prototype system tests show that the system provides early extinguishing

of a fire disaster leading to effective reduction of damages. They recommended to pre-

arrange the installing location and make automatic localization mechanism the focus of

future works in order to reduce the installation workload and to make the system more

convenient.
 Due to a number of codes and protocols to be considered while making a fire alarm

system, Hadjisophocleous, Benichou and Tamim (2015) conducted a literature review to

know what code is the best to follow. The study yielded favorable results toward

performance based codes since they allow more flexible innovations, more functional, less

complex, and easier to apply fire alarm system designs.

2.2.2 Factor affecting Performance

Frank, Gravestock, Spearpoint, and Fleischmann (2013) used component and system

based approaches to adjust the sprinkler system to reach its highest level of efficiency.

They adjusted its effectiveness by system modification such as adding water supplies and

valve monitoring while basing it on the estimate number of failures observed in real life.

The study of Saunders (2010) emphasized their conclusion that one of the factors

affecting the derived activation times between the ionization and photoelectric smoke

detectors is the varying locations of the two detectors. The study arrived at the conclusion

that ‘the presence of horizontal openings near a detector can have a significant impact on

whether the detector is determined to activate during early stages of a fire. This occurs

when the detector is located both at the level of the opening or on the floor above. A small

difference in position can see a detector not being located within the path of flow of the

smoke and thus not activating’.

Björnsson’s (2012) research about the difference of the response procedures following

the fire alarm sequence in Iceland and other neighboring countries concluded that the most

significant difference is brought about by Iceland’s private monitoring stations or firms as

opposed to others’ Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) which leads to a relatively high

percentage of false call outs compared to Iceland.

The Icelandic procedure, however lengthens the unmitigated fire growth time and can

cause harm to people as the fire services might arrive too late to help in the case of

substantial delays.

The most ideal location to obtain minimum response time for a smoke detector to

actuate, according to Petrov (2012) is on the part of the ceiling wherein the way of supply

air flow patterns runs on the opposite to the supply valve location in case of computer

ignition. The study attributed it to the supply air’s tendency to have a big influence on the

smoke mixing in the room. Their experiments showed that in cases when dangerous

substances or items are kept inside the room, it is ideal to place smoke detectors over those

points as close to the assumed ignition as possible while in real cases where nobody can

assume at which point of the room is prone to ignition, the study indicated that smoke

detectors should be placed accordingly based on air flow patterns; thus situating it

somewhere in the middle of the ceiling since smoke will have a higher probability of

crossing the middle than through any other part of the protected space.

Three types of approximation were used by Geiman (2003) to evaluate the smoke

detector response method namely; Optical Density Method, Temperature Rise Method,

and Critical Velocity Method. Their results yielded that values of optical density and

temperature rise do not appear to be normally distributed at the time of alarm. The study

concluded that optical density were sensitive to fire type, detector type, and ventilation for

smoldering fires. While temperature rise were sensitive to similar types with the exception

of ventilation for smoldering fires, velocity were only affected by the fire type.
2.3 Related Legal Bases

Rule 10 of the Impelementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 9514

known as the “Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008”, covering the fire safety measures for

buildings, structures, and facilities, as well as hazardous operations and processes,

discusses construction, protection and occupancy features to minimize danger to life from

fire, smoke, vapor and fumes before buildings are vacated.

The said code requires at least one manual fire alarm box to initiate a fire alarm signal

whose location will be determined by the city/municipal fire marshal or his duly authorized

representative, while automatic sprinkler system designs should have an alarm initiation

device which will operate when the flow is equal to or greater than that from a single

automatic sprinkler.

As for occupant notification (audible and visible signals), a design may contain a

presignal system where an initial fire alarm signal is automatically transmitted without

delay to fire services, provided that it is in accordance with NFPA 72.

Educational institutions are mandated to send automatic fire department notification

through central station accredited by BFP in case of fire. Each of the building’s floors are

considered not to be less than one zone for alarm annunciation purposes. A zone’s

maximum floor area is one thousand eight hundred sixty sqaure meters (1860 m2);

additional zoning will have to be provided if it exceeds that limit.

In accordance to Section 10.2.6.5 of this IRR, the area of the alarm zone is permitted

to coincide with the allowable area of the sprinkler zone given that the building is provided

with automatic sprinklers throughout.

 Section 10.2.6.5 discusses IRRs regarding automatic sprinklers and other

extinguishing equipment in line with NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler

Systems and NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-

Based Fire Protection Systems.

CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY

This chapter shows every method that may use in the design of the fire alarm

system. Also, it views the procedures of the study, the design and performance testing of

the system.

3.1 Methods to be Used

The main objective of this project is to design a fire alarm system for the

college of engineering. Thus, the researchers used meta-analysis method for combining

the results of different studies gathered from websites, downloaded videos, portable

document formats and other internet-based related that results with different existing

designs and to come up with the efficient and effective solution for the fire alarm system

of the college of engineering. The test regulation on installing the designs are according to

the Fire Code of the Philippines 2008.

3.2 Procedure of the Study

Define the Problem Literature Survey Design Calculation

Defects
Revision

Performance Testing Simulation Establishing Design

 Figure 3.1. The procedure of the Study Diagram

Figure 3.1 shows the flow chart on designing and constructing the fire alarm

system. The entire process starts with the defining the problem and determining the studies’

objectives. Reviewing and surveying some literature was conducted to get more ideas for

designing the fire alarm. To come up with the effective design, it must be calculated in

order to establish the design properly. The design is simulated using BIM, a software

application develop by Autodesk for drafting using computers. Along the simulation, there

may be an error to encounter along the way as a result, a revision may occur. After all the

simulations and revisions, analyzing the data gathered it may describe the researcher’s

objective succeed or fail. The end user of this study is the students of University of

Southeastern Philippines, College of Engineering (7.0864° N, 125.6155° E).

3.3 Design of the Fire Alarm System

The researcher’s use the software BIM in installing the specific design inside

the College of Engineering building. The design of the researchers was developed through

recommendations of other studies and consultation of adviser. In addition, the types and

dimensions of the materials were chosen from various sources of studies and also

following the standards of NFPA 13.