Training
Emergency Warning Systems - Principle of Operation
For many of us, the first time we learn about an emergency, is when we hear the telltale signs of an emergency warning system in operation.
A emergency warning system is a life safety system installed to safeguard occupants from illness or injury by warning them of a fire or emergency and to safeguard occupants during the orderly evacuation of a building in an emergency. They assist in these two functions by;
- providing mass notification of an emergency; and
- providing a method to communicate with and direct building occupants in the event of an emergency.
Portable Fire Extinguishers - Principle of Operation
A portable fire extinguisher by definition is an item of equipment for the purpose of extinguishing a fire. The reality is however that a portable fire extinguisher is effective only for the type and size of a fire that it is rated for.
Portable fire extinguishers are generally provided as "first attack" units in fire fighting and should be used only in early stages of fire before the fire grows to a stage that is beyond the capacity of the extinguisher. There are broadly six types of fire extinguisher; Water, Foam, Wet Chemical, Dry Chemical Powder, Vaporising Liquid and Carbon Dioxide. The selection of an extinguisher must be made with the class of fire in mind.
VESDA Smoke Detector Maintenance
A VESDA is a brand of aspirating smoke detector designed and manufactured by Xtralis. From a maintenance perspective, an aspirating smoke detector (also known as an ASD) needs to be maintained differently than the common point type smoke detector.
While this article specifically considers the VESDA, there are other brands of aspirating smoke detector available that these general principes apply.
Fire Hydrant Systems - Principle of Operation
In a building, a fire hydrant system is a safety measure or emergency equipment required in some buildings that comprises a series of components that when assembled together provide a source of water to assist fire authorities in a fire.
Putting it another way, a fire hydrant system is a water supply with a sufficient pressure and flow delivered through pipes throughout a building to strategically located network of valves for fire-fighting purposes.
Defect rectification and reporting
Australian Standard AS1851:2005 A2 provides for the first time a framework for defect reporting for fire protection systems and equipment that has not been previously defined.
The criteria for defect rectification and reporting appears in Section 1 - Scope & General, with specific criteria detailed in Clause 1.15.4 - Defect rectification and reporting.
When the Standard was originally written, the definition of both a 'Critical Defect' and 'Non-critical Defect' was omitted from the definitions found in the Standard. Subsequently in Amendment 1 and Amendment 2, the definitions or examples were established.
