Office spaces are typically designed for administrative, managerial or clerical work and often include open-plan areas, individual offices, meeting rooms and common areas like kitchens or break rooms. The primary use of these spaces is to facilitate efficient and productive work environments. They are usually equipped with computers, office furniture, and various electrical devices, all contributing to a functional workspace.
Fire detection in office spaces is crucial due to the high occupancy levels and the presence of electrical equipment, which can pose significant fire risks.
What are the Risks?
Offices present a number of fire risks, these can include:
- Electrical Faults
- Overloaded circuits, faulty wiring, and malfunctioning electrical equipment can spark fires, especially in environments with a high density of electronic devices, such as office spaces.
- Flammable Materials
- The presence of combustible materials, such as paper, cardboard, and certain chemicals, increases the risk of fire spreading quickly once ignited.
- Human Error
- Accidental mishandling of equipment, improper disposal of smoking materials, or leaving cooking appliances unattended can all lead to fire outbreaks.
- Heating Equipment
- Space heaters, boilers, and other heating devices can overheat or malfunction, leading to potential fire hazards, especially if placed near flammable materials.
- Neglected Maintenance
- Failure to maintain and regularly inspect fire safety systems, such as smoke detectors, fire alarms and sprinkler systems, can lead to ineffective responses in the event of a fire, increasing the risk of damage and injury.
What are the Challenges?
There are also a variety of challenges when it comes to designing a suitable fire detection solution for offices. Some of these include:
- Detection Sensitivity
- Offices often have various sources of dust and fumes, such as from printers or kitchen areas. Balancing the sensitivity of detectors in these environments is crucial to avoid frequent false alarms that can disrupt work while still ensuring prompt fire detection.
- Environmental Factors
- Office buildings may have areas with varying conditions, such as server rooms with cooling systems, kitchens with steam or open-plan areas with air conditioning. These environmental factors can impact the performance of smoke or heat detectors, making it challenging to ensure reliable detection.
- Open-Plan Layouts
- Modern offices often feature large, open spaces. Ensuring effective fire detection coverage in these areas without missing potential risk zones or triggering false alarms in one area due to activities in another can be difficult.
- Integration with Office Systems
- Fire detection systems in offices need to integrate seamlessly with other building systems like HVAC, security and communication systems. Ensuring all these systems work together smoothly, especially in emergency situations, is a significant design challenge.
- Maintenance and Accessibility
- Office buildings often have areas that are difficult to access for maintenance, such as high ceilings or densely packed server rooms. Ensuring that fire detection systems remain accessible and regularly maintained without disrupting office activities is essential for ongoing reliability.
Morley-IAS Plus
Using a Morley IAS Plus fire alarm panel with System Sensor devices creates a fire detection system that meets all the needs of office environments, tackling challenges such as varying workspace conditions, diverse occupant behaviours, seamless aesthetic integration, ease of maintenance, and minimising false alarms.
With advanced detection technology, including optical, heat, and multi-sensor detectors, the system is tailored for different office areas, effectively reducing the risk of false alarms.
Its discreet design and ability to support both wired and wireless devices ensure smooth integration with office decor, while user-friendly maintenance features allow for regular servicing with minimal disruption to office activities.
Sophisticated algorithms and multi-criteria detection technology further enhance reliability, ensuring consistent performance and compliance with safety standards.
Approvals
System Sensor Advanced Protocol
The Morley-IAS Plus fire alarm control panel expertly combines familiarity with innovation. It seamlessly integrates with existing MIAS/System Sensor Protocol devices while introducing the powerful Advanced Protocol. This cutting-edge technology offers numerous advantages, including enhanced capacity, improved efficiency, and heightened safety.
Colour Coordinated System Conditions
The Morley-IAS Plus features an intelligent display that dynamically changes colour to communicate system status as clearly as possible. This intuitive interface provides a quick visual overview of critical events to facilitate faster response and improved situational awareness.
System Sensor Addressable Fire Detection
Typical Wiring Diagram
Design Considerations
Panel Placement
The Morley IAS Fire Alarm panel can be installed in a reception or central area, where it can be accessed easily by office or reception staff or maintenance personnel.
Call Point Placement
In offices, fire alarm call points are strategically placed near exits, corridors, and escape routes, ensuring no one is more than 30 metres away. This placement allows for rapid alarm activation and quick evacuation during emergencies, enhancing overall safety.
Detector Placement
In offices, fire detectors are strategically placed on ceilings or high walls in critical areas such as open-plan spaces, corridors, and high-risk zones like kitchens and server rooms. Some detectors include sounder bases for direct alarms, particularly useful in noisy environments. This careful placement and variety ensure early detection, rapid alarm activation, and efficient evacuation, significantly enhancing overall office safety.
Handpicked Products for Offices
Addressable Control Panel
The Morley-IAS Plus Control Panel combines advanced technology with user-friendly features for maximum security and efficiency. This panel includes Honeywell’s innovative Advanced protocol which ensures fast, reliable detection of fire threats. Detailed information is provided to installers, allowing for streamlined troubleshooting and system maintenance.
Addressable Detectors
System Sensor’s Addressable Optical Smoke Detectors feature redesigned chambers for better responsiveness, minimising false alarms from dust and insects, and use advanced processing and algorithms to enhance detection accuracy and speed.
System Sensor’s Addressable Heat Detectors provide swift response using low mass thermistors and microprocessors. They offer fixed temperature detection or rate-of-rise detection with configurable settings, all in a sleek, modern enclosure.
System Sensor’s Addressable Multi-Sensor Detectors merge thermal and photoelectric detection for advanced fire immunity. They adapt to various conditions, housed in a modern enclosure with a 360° LED indicator for clear visibility.
Addressable Manual Call Point
System Sensor Addressable Manual Call Points offer user-friendly, tamper-proof design, ease of installation, and high reliability, thanks to quality components and intelligent features.
Addressable Sounders
The System Sensor Addressable Base Sounder is a premium loop-powered device for emergency alerts. It uses the B501AP base for flexible installation and syncs with SS intelligent detectors, producing powerful, customisable audible warnings for diverse applications.
System Sensor Addressable Sounders alert occupants through loop-powered design. They attach to the B501AP base with ease, with control options via onboard switches or fire panels for adaptable, audible warnings in emergencies.
Addressable Interfaces
System Sensor Addressable Single Input Modules provide supervision of one input circuit. It offers both latched and analogue supervision. There are three separate latched states: normal; open circuit; and combined alarm/short. The analogue supervision continuously monitors the supervised circuit, returning a signal proportional to the circuit resistance.
The System Sensor Addressable Single Output Module optionally supervises the wiring to the load devices and, upon command from the control panel, switches an external power supply to operate these devices.
System Sensor Addressable Dual Input Modules are dual channel modules used for the monitoring of normally open contact fire alarm and supervisory devices.
The System Sensor Addressable Mains Rated Output Module is a loop-powered device specifically designed to control an unsupervised double-pole output. This output module is capable of managing 240VAC loads. It consists of a bistable output relay that can latch in either the On or Off state upon receiving a command from the control panel.
Why Choose Eurofyre?
- Honeywell Fire Platinum Partner
- Eurofyre is a Honeywell Fire Platinum Partner. This means we can offer regional or industry-specific solution expertise that includes implementation and advanced customer support for models for Honeywell products along with the most competitive pricing.
- Complete System Supplier
- Eurofyre supplies all aspects of fire detection and its associated safety products, including addressable fire detection systems, and can provide expert advice and consultation.
- Demonstration and Training
- We offer demonstrations and expert training on a range of systems, including Morley-IAS and System Sensor, 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 Morley-IAS Plus and System Sensor 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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