ESP BS5839 User manual

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BS5839 PART 1: 2017
A GUIDE TO FIRE ALARM
SYSTEMS DESIGN
AUTHORISED DISTRIBUTOR
Birmingham Call: 0121 359 5387
Cannock Call: 01543 271362

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WELCOME
This guide has been developed to highlight the key
points of the latest version of the standard:
BS5839 Fire detection and fire alarm systems for
buildings – Part 1 2017: Code of practice for design,
installation, commissioning and maintenance of
systems in non-domestic premises.
The guide should not be used as a substitute for the
standard.
This guide will be of particular interest for those
designers and installers that need simple guidance
to the selection, spacing and location of fire devices.
L1 L2L3L4
P1 P2
CATEGORIES
Fire Alarm and Fire Detection systems are categorised
in the following way:
P- AFD* designed to primarily
protect property
P1 - AFD installed throughout
all areas
P2 - AFD Installed only in
defined areas
L - AFD designed to primarily
protect human life
L1 - AFD installed throughout
all areas
L2 - AFD Installed in defined
areas in addition to L3
L3 - AFD installed in escape
routes and rooms opening
onto these routes
L4 - AFD installed in escape
routes comprising circulation
areas and spaces such as
corridors and stairways
L5 - A non-prescriptive system
in which the protected
area(s) is designed to satisfy
a specific fire risk objective
(other than that of L1 to L4)
M - System designed to be operated
manually (no AFD)
*AFD = Automatic Fire Detection

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The minimum static response of heat devices should not be less than 29°C
above the average ambient temperature, or less than 4°C above the highest
temperature the device can be expected to experience.
HEAT DETECTORS
FIRE DETECTOR COVERAGE & POSITIONING
Smoke detection devices have an individual coverage of 7.5m radius. However
these radii must overlap to ensure there are no ‘blind spots’. Therefore the
individual coverage can be represented by a square measuring 10.6 x 10.6m
giving an actual area coverage of 112m² per device.
Heat detection devices have an individual coverage of 5.3m radius. However
these radii must overlap to ensure there are no ‘blind spots’. Therefore the
individual coverage can be represented by a square measuring 7.5 x 7.5m giving
an actual area coverage of 56.3m² per device.
SMOKE DETECTORS
It should be noted that large smoke particles will have a similar particle size to
small particle contaminates including some types of dust and aerosols. As such
care should be taken when siting smoke detectors to limit subjection to this
phenomenon.
PARTICLE SIZE
SMOKE DUST
PARTICLE NO
Smoke Detectors
as per manufacturer
10.6m x 10.6m = 112m
2
10.6m
7.5m
5.3m
7.5m
5.3m
3.8m
Heat Detectors
as per manufacturer
7.5m x 7.5m = 56.3m2
Time of day
Average ambient temperature
<29°C
<4°C
XXMaximum
temperature
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Temperature

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In corridors less than 2m wide the horizontal spacing of detectors may be
increased, the areas of coverage need not overlap as in the case of a room. Any
corridor over 2m wide is deemed a room and device spacing should follow the
standard for rooms (see page 5).
Detectors must not be sited less than 1m from air inlets or air conditioning units.
A device should not be mounted within 500mm of any obstruction. If the top
of a solid partition is less than 300mm from the ceiling then treat it as a wall.
Similarly, ceiling obstructions such as beams should be treated as walls if deeper
than 10% of the ceiling height.
Smoke Detectors
7.5m MAX 15m MAX
2m
Heat Detectors
5.3m 10.6m
2m
<1m
Air vent / Air con
>1m
Partition
<300mm
<500mm
Beam
>10%
ceiling
height
<500mm

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Never mount devices closer than twice the depth of light fittings.
Voids less than 800mm in height need not have independent coverage, unless
fire or smoke is able to spread from one area to another through the void or risk
assessment shows AFD (Automatic Fire Detection) to be necessary.
For ceilings that feature an apex: as long as the height of the apex from the
rest of the ceiling is less than 150mm for heat detectors or less than 600mm
for smoke detectors then these can be treated the same as flat ceilings. For
higher apexes, a device should be installed at the highest point. The distance to
adjacent devices can be increased by 1% per degree of angle of the roof up to a
maximum of 25%.
Detector Type
Ceiling Height (m)
General Limits Maximum
Heat RoR 9.0 10.5
Heat Fixed 7.5 12.5
Point Smoke Detector 10.5 12.5
Aspirating Smoke Detection Class C with 5 holes 15 18
Aspirating Smoke Detection Class C with 15 holes 25 28
Aspirating Smoke Detection Class B with 5 holes 40 43
Optical Beam Normal Sensitivity 25 28
Optical Beam Enhanced Sensitivity 40* 43
*Supplemented detection recommended unless risk of stratification is minimal.
SMOKE DETECTORS
100mm
<200mm
(500mm for detectors)
Light fitting
>800mm
Apex < 150mm
Heat Detector
Standard Spacing Extended Spacing
Apex < 600mm
Smoke Detector
Apex > 150mm
Heat Detector
Apex > 600mm
Smoke Detector

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Vertical shafts like lifts and stairways should have a device mounted within
1.5m of any opening.
Enclosed stairways should have a detector on each main landing.
The sensing element of a heat detection device (thermistor) should not be less
than 25mm below ceiling, and not greater than 150mm below ceiling.
The sensing element of a smoke detection device (photoelectric smoke
chamber) should not be less than 25mm below ceiling, and not greater than
600mm below ceiling.
Smoke Detectors
Optical Chamber
25mm
600mm
Heat Detectors
Thermistor
25mm
150mm
(Sub landing)
Lift ShaftLift Shaft
1.5m

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A person searching a zone for a fire should not have to travel more than 60m
from the entrance of a zone to identify the source of a fire. Particular attention
is required when sighting the detectors LED to minimise the search.
SEARCH DISTANCE
The centre of the element of the manual call point should be positioned 1.4m
(+/-200mm) from floor level (unless a wheelchair user is likely to be the first
person to raise the alarm, when this is applicable it should be noted on any
certification). All manual call points should be fitted with a protective cover,
which is moved to gain access to the frangible element.
MANUAL CALL POINTS (MCP)
A person should not have to travel more than 45m along an escape route
to reach a manual call point (25m if disabled person to operate, or rapid fire
development is likely). Manual call points should be sited at all stairwells and
exits from the building.
Less than 300m2can be covered by a single zone. When the total floor area
exceeds 300m2, each floor would require a zone (or zones if the floor area
exceeds 2000m2 ). Stairwells, liftwells or similar should be separate zones.
Zones should not cross floors.
SECOND
FIRST
GROUND
ZONE 3
ZONE 2
ZONE 1
1.4m +/- 200mm
60m MAX
45m MAX

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SOUNDERS
The minimum sound level of a sounder device should be 65dB(A) or 5dB(A)
above a background noise which is louder than 60dB(A) (if lasting more than
30 seconds) and at a frequency of between 500Hz and 1000Hz. The maximum
sound level should not be greater than 120dB(A) at any normally accessible
point. Sounder volume may be reduced to 60dB(A) in stairways, enclosures up to
60m and specific points of limited extent.
Sounder device cabling should be arranged so that in the event of a fault at least
one sounder will remain operational during a fire condition.
For areas where people are sleeping, sounder devices should produce a minimum
of 75dB(A) at the bed-head with all doors shut.
Decibel loss occurs through doors. Approximately -20dB(A) through a normal
door, and approximately -30dB(A) through a fire door.
65dB(A) @ 500Hz to 1000Hz
Background Noise
+5dB(A) @ 500Hz to 1000Hz
Fire Door
-30dB-20dB

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Visual indication devices (VIDs), such as strobes, can be ceiling or wall mounted.
For wall mounting they should always be mounted 2.1m above floor level. Visual
alarm devices should conform to BS EN 54-23.
Unless MICC cable is used, all cabling should be mechanically protected from
floor level up to a height of 2m.
EN54-23 specifies that the VAD produces an illumination of 0.4 lux on surfaces
perpendicular to the direction of the light emitted from the device. They are
not designed to wake people that are asleep and can be red or white light.
VADs are classified into three categories based on their application:
W- Wall-mounted
C- Ceiling-mounted
O- Open Category
Wall and Ceiling mounting categories are specified at specific installation heights
and particular patterns of coverage - see diagrams. For W and C categories,
the shape of the volume covered is fixed by the standard. The dimensions of
this coverage volume are specified by the manufacturer. For all categories, the
volume covered can be used to determine VAD spacing within the building. Open
category allows manufacturers to specify the coverage shape and volume and
does not put any restriction on mounting height.
Wall-mounted VADs cover a cuboid
volume with a square floor area. The
coverage volume is presented as a
code in the form of W-X-Y, where W is
Wall-mounted, X is the max mounting
height (m) and Y is the width and
length (m) of the coverage floor area.
The min mounting height is 2.4 m.
E.g. : W-2.4-12 means it should be
mounted at 2.4m from the floor and
will cover an area of up to 12 by 12m.
Ceiling-mounted VADs cover a
cylindrical area. The coverage volume
is presented as a code in the form
C-X-Y, where C is Ceiling-mounted, X
is the max mounting height (m) and
Y is the diameter (m) of the coverage
volume’s floor area. The max mounting
height can only be specified as 3, 6 or
9m.
E.g. : C-3-15 means it can be mounted
up to 3m from the floor and will cover a
cylindrical area of least 15m diameter.
Wall-Mounted - Coverage Volume Ceiling-Mounted - Coverage Volume
VISUAL INDICATION DEVICES VISUAL ALARM DEVICE CATEGORIES
>2.1m
2m
T
T
Y
Y
X
X

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A conventional 2-wire fire alarm system is often the natural choice for smaller
applications or where budget constraints exist.
ESP’s MAGDUO 2-wire fire alarm system has long been known for its adaptability
and cost-effectiveness within a variety of applications, big or small … making it
one of the most flexible products on the market.
Building on those strengths and designed for ease of use and state-of-the-art
monitoring, the LPCB-Approved MAGDUO2 is the next generation in 2-wire fire
alarm reliability.
The Reliable Fire Protection System You Can Count On
This versatile fire alarm system incorporates ESP’s ASD Multipoint detector
using smoke and heat detection with optional built-in sounder, allowing the
whole system to be installed using only one pair of wires per zone. That means
easier, faster installations AND cost savings.
2-Wire Fire Alarm System
FIRE DETECTION & ALARM SYSTEMS
Fire resistant cabling is now required within the whole fire alarm system
including the main supply cables. The use of non-fire resisting cables, whether
mechanically protected by fire-resisting construction or not, will no longer
comply with BS5839.
To avoid mechanical damage and electromagnetic interference, fire alarm cables
should not be installed in the same conduit as the cables for other services.
Where fire alarm cables share common trunking, a compartment of the trunking,
separated from other compartments by a strong, rigid and continuous partition
reserved solely for fire cables should be implemented.
Two-Wire System Cabling
Addressable System Cabling
Conventional System Cabling
CABLING

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Each device connected to an addressable system has it’s own unique address.
When a fire is detected the devices address is identified by the panel,
pinpointing the exact location of the fire.
With a conventional system there is no way of pinpointing the exact location of
the device that has been activated by a fire, only the general zone.
For example if you have a three storey building each floor may be wired as a
zone, so in the event of a fire you would only be alerted that the fire was on
a particular floor, not the exact location or room. This could slow down the
extinguishing of any fire causing a greater risk to loss of life and damage.
Addressable systems are wired in a continuous loop rather than radial circuits
used for conventional systems. This means if the cable was to be severed on
an addressable system, signals can still be transmitted to devices from either
end of the loop.
Although conventional fire alarm system cost less to purchase, they are
generally more expensive to install.
This is due to each zone for detectors and call points having to be wired, on a
radial circuit back to the panel.
This benefit of an addressable system is that all devices can be connected to
the same continuous loop, reducing cabling and time.
Addressable fire panels have large benefits over conventional, due to the ability
to continually monitor each of the installed devices individually.
The panel can determine whether each device is functioning correctly and
also ascertain the amount of heat or smoke that the device is currently
sensing. This technology allows the panel to make ‘intelligent’ decisions as to
the appropriate action to take based on the information it receives from the
individual sensors. This prevent the occurrence of false alarms which can be
costly to a business.
Addressable Fire Systems Conventional Fire Systems
FIRE DETECTION & ALARM SYSTEMS FIRE DETECTION & ALARM SYSTEMS

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FIRE SYSTEM COMMISSIONING
Alongside ESP’s extensive range of fire protection
systems, a new commissioning service has now
been launched to ensure that an installed ESP
system operates correctly in accordance with the
recommendations of BS5839-1.
FREE SYSTEM DESIGN
ESP can offer a team of dedicated design engineers who are fully trained &
qualified in all of the relevant British Standards.
We are able to provide an in-depth solution to any challenge your building
may provide, this is done by visiting sites and studying site drawings.
All of our Computer Aided Design (CAD) is carried out in-house, this enables
us to amend our designs as the job progresses.

E&OE - Errors and omissions
excepted. ESPCAT01
Elite Security Products
Unit 7, Target Park,
Shawbank Road, Lakeside,
Redditch B98 8YN
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[email protected]
www.espuk.com
Scolmore Dubai
Lake Central Tower,
Office 1803, Business Bay,
Dubai, UAE
UAE Office: [phone]
Mob: [phone]
[email protected]
www.scolmoredubai.com
Elite Security Products Ireland
Unit 1B, Three Rock Road,
Sandyford Industrial Estate,
Dublin, Ireland
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[email protected]
www.espi.ie
Here at ESP we offer free training aimed at electrical contractors and wholesalers who would like to
add fire and security equipment to their product portfolio.
Most aspects of security will be covered including CCTV, Access Control and Essentials with a separate
training day dedicated entirely to Fire Protection products.
These training days are held in the new purpose built showroom at our Redditch offices, but we also
offer video conference courses when circumstances prevent physical attendees.
PRODUCT AWARENESS TRAINING DAYS