Multi-storey car parks have been providing dedicated spaces for people to park their cars since the early 20th century. Multi-storey car parks can be built above or below ground to optimise the space that is available.
Many multi-storey car parks are independent buildings intended specifically for providing space to park cars. However, in more recent years, car parks are included as part of larger buildings such as shopping centers or malls, residential buildings such as flats or apartments, office blocks and many more.
Like most buildings, multi-storey car parks have some unique fire risks and, therefore, in order to protect people, cars and surrounding buildings, they are required to have suitable and reliable fire detection measures in place.
Risks and Challenges
There are a variety of unique fire risks and challenges associated with car parks. These include:
- Large Open Spaces
- Open spaces present some unique challenges for smoke detection. High ceilings can cause smoke stratification, and voluminous areas can delay the time it takes smoke to reach detectors.
- High Airflow
- Multi-storey car parks that are above ground level usually have open sides. This means wind can travel through them creating irregular air movement. Underground parking, however, requires active ventilation to remove exhaust fumes and circulate air, also making air flow unpredictable.
- False Alarms
- Dust, dirt and other debris can all cause false alarms. If appropriate detection technology isn’t used, nuisance alarms will occur frequently and affect the reliability of the fire alarm system. Exhaust fumes also create an increased risk of false alarms.
- Ceiling Cavities
- Multi-storey car parking structures support a lot of weight. Therefore, they often require reinforced ceilings to support the weight of the building. Reinforced ceilings often have lots of cavities which, unless a detector is installed in each cavity, can leave some areas without coverage.
FyreLine EN54 Fixed
Linear heat detection offers the perfect solution for protecting both above ground and underground multi-storey car parks from fire. Linear heat detectors use heat sensing cable to detect rises in temperature. This means it is not affected by airflow or contaminants in the air and can provide fast and reliable detection for this type of application.
The EN54 Fire detection and fire alarm systems is a mandatory standard that specifies requirements for detection components and alarm systems and allows the free movement of construction products between countries of the European Union. According to the Construction Products Regulation, it is mandatory that fire detection and fire alarm equipment is certified under the EN54 standard by an authorised certification body.
This means that, if the car park to be protected is governed by the European Commision, the fire alarm system chosen to protect the facility must be EN54 approved and bear the CE mark to show that the product fulfills the European Union safety and performance requirements.
Approvals
EN54-28 is the European Standard for non-resettable line-type heat detectors that consist of a sensing element that uses electrical sensor cable. It specifies the requirements and performance criteria and the corresponding test methods. This European Standard also covers non-resettable line-type heat detectors intended for use in the local protection of plant and equipment.
Please note: to comply with EN54-28, the FyreLine EN54 Fixed Controller, FyreLine EN54 Fixed EOL and FyreLine EN54 Fixed LSZH LHD Cable must be used as a complete system.
All products in the FyreLine EN54 Fixed range are approved for use within the European Economic Area (EEA) and comply with the EU’s New Approach Directives and show the CE mark to indicate that they fulfill the requirements of relevant European product directives, meet all the requirements of the relevant recognised European harmonised performance and safety standards, and are fit for purpose and will not endanger lives or property.
FyreLine EN54 Fixed Linear Heat Detection systems provide a fixed heat detection solution that is approved to the European standard for non-resettable line-type heat detectors; BS EN54-28:2016.
Its heat sensing cable is made up of two cores that are coated in a heat sensitive polymer before being twisted together and placed in an outer sheath. Once the heat sensitive polymer surrounding the inner cores reaches its rated temperature, it melts, causing the cores to come into contact with each other. The resulting short circuit triggers an event at the controller.
Once an event has been triggered the FyreLine EN54 Controller calculates the distance along the cable to where the event was triggered. This allows the user to quickly locate and deal with any potential threats.
FyreLine EN54 Fixed Linear Heat Detection systems are made up of three components: FyreLine EN54 Fixed LSZH LHD Cable, FyreLine EN54 Fixed Controller and FyreLine EN54 Fixed End Of Line (EOL); all of which must be used for the system to meet the EN54 standard.
Typical Wiring Diagram
Handpicked Products for a European Car Park Application
The FyreLine EN54 Fixed Controller is a dual zone module capable of monitoring up to two zones of FyreLine EN54 Fixed Linear Heat Detection (LHD) Cable. It monitors the cable for overheat conditions and automatically calculates and displays the distance along the cable to the alarm point when an event is triggered. Each zone of the FyreLine EN54 Fixed controller can operate either independently of each other, or in interlock mode.
The ProFyre range of power supplies employ state-of-the-art switch mode power technology to provide a continuous and reliable source of 24V DC power to meet the technical and legislative requirements of the professional fire detection and alarm industry/installer.
FyreLine EN54 Fixed Linear Heat Detection Cable is a non-resettable line-type heat detector. It uses fixed temperature detection technology to provide a simple method of sensing changes in temperature. With a temperature rating of either 78°C or 88°C, FyreLine EN54 heat sensing cable is suitable for a wide range of applications and environments.
The FyreLine EN54 Fixed End of Line is designed to effectively terminate up to two zones of FyreLine EN54 Fixed Linear Heat Detection Cable in a secure, weatherproof enclosure. It has built-in switches to simulate fault or alarm conditions to allow the system to be fully tested in situ. It is particularly useful for when the system is used in interlock mode to prevent false alarms. In this mode, two fixed LHD cables are run side-by-side and an alarm is only activated on the fire alarm control panel when both cables trigger.
Linear Heat Detection Cable Mounting Clips & Accessories
The L-Clip can be used to support FyreLine EN54 Fixed Linear Heat Detection Cable below or above the risk. They are most commonly used on flat mounting surfaces and are available in zintec or stainless steel.
Cable ties are used to secure the FyreLine linear heat cable to the bracketry.
The junction box is a quick and efficient method of interconnecting and joining lengths of FyreLine Linear Heat Sensing Cable. It can also be used as an in-line junction box for the incoming leader cable.
Why Choose Eurofyre?
- Complete System Supplier
- Eurofyre manufactures and supplies all aspects of fire detection including linear heat detection and its associated products and can provide expert advice and consultation.
- Demonstration and Training
- We offer demonstrations and expert training on a range of systems, including FyreLine linear heat detection systems, in our very own sophisticated training facility.
- After-Sales Support
- Eurofyre offers both on-site and telephone support to assist you in ensuring that your system is fully functional and operating at maximum efficiency. Our after-sales care and support are second to none.
For more information about EN54 Fixed Linear Heat Detection, or to discuss any of the other products that Eurofyre has to offer, please feel free to get in touch either by phone on +44 (0) 1329 835 024, by email to [email protected] or via the online enquiry form situated on our contact page.
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