Restaurants serve as dynamic social spaces where people gather to enjoy meals, celebrate occasions, or simply take a break from daily routines. They range from small, family-run establishments to large, high-end dining venues, each offering unique culinary experiences.
Beyond just providing food and drink, restaurants play a vital role in the hospitality industry, contributing significantly to local economies and employment. Their function extends to creating comfortable, welcoming environments where quality service and safety are paramount.
Due to the combination of open flames, cooking equipment, and high footfall, maintaining a safe environment is essential – not only to protect staff and customers but also to ensure business continuity. This makes effective fire detection and alarm systems a critical aspect of restaurant design and management.
Risks
There are a number of fire risks associated with restaurants. Some of these include:
- Cooking Equipment
- Deep fryers, ovens, grills and open flames present a constant fire hazard due to high heat and flammable cooking oils.
- Electrical Faults
- Faulty wiring, overloaded circuits or damaged appliances can spark electrical fires, especially in busy kitchen environments.
- Grease Build-up
- Grease accumulation in extractor fans, hoods and ductwork is highly flammable and can ignite if not cleaned regularly.
- Flammable Materials
- Items like paper towels, packaging, cleaning chemicals and cooking oils can fuel fires if stored or handled improperly.
- Human Error
- Unattended cooking, improper use of equipment or poor staff training can lead to accidents that escalate into fires.
Challenges
There are also a variety of challenges that are presented when designing a fire detection solution for restaurants. Some of these include:
- Heat and Steam Interference
- Kitchens generate high levels of heat, smoke and steam during normal operation, which can trigger false alarms if detectors aren’t carefully selected and placed.
- Grease and Dirt Build-up
- Grease and airborne particles can accumulate on detectors, reducing their effectiveness and requiring more frequent maintenance.
- Zoned Requirements
- Restaurants often have multiple areas with different fire detection needs – kitchens, dining areas, storage rooms and restrooms – requiring a tailored, zoned approach.
- Aesthetic Considerations
- In front-of-house areas, detection devices must be discreet and blend with the décor without compromising safety or functionality.
- Business Continuity
- Minimising disruption is crucial. Fire systems must allow for swift detection and response while avoiding unnecessary evacuations that could impact service and revenue.
Morley IAS-Plus
The Morley-IAS Plus is a versatile, intelligent fire alarm control panel designed for use in a wide range of commercial environments, including restaurants. It supports addressable fire detection systems, allowing each device, such as smoke detectors, heat detectors and manual call points, to be individually identified and monitored. This enables precise detection, faster response times and easier fault diagnosis.
The panel offers flexible configuration options, intuitive user interfaces and robust networking capabilities, making it suitable for both standalone and integrated systems. Its reliability and adaptability make it a strong choice for the demanding and varied needs of restaurant fire safety.
Approvals
Morley-IAS Plus fire alarm control panels are fully compliant with EN54-2, EN54-4, and EN54-13 standards, meeting strict fire safety regulations.
System Sensor Advanced Protocol
The System Sensor Advanced Protocol is a powerful communication system that enhances the speed and reliability of fire detection. It enables the control panel to process more data from connected devices, allowing for quicker identification of potential fire events while helping to minimise false alarms.
The protocol also supports a larger number of devices per loop, making it highly scalable and flexible, ideal for busy environments like restaurants where both performance and expandability are essential.
Colour Coordinated System Conditions
The Morley-IAS Plus features an intelligent display that uses a dynamic colour-coded interface to clearly indicate system status. By changing colour based on the condition of the system, such as normal operation, fault or alarm, it offers an immediate visual reference for users. This intuitive approach improves situational awareness and enables faster, more confident responses to critical events.
System Sensor Addressable Fire Detection
Typical Wiring Diagram
Design Considerations
Panel Placement
The Morley-IAS Plus control panel is typically installed in a staff-accessible, low-traffic area near a main entrance or management office. This ensures it’s easy to reach in an emergency, while keeping it protected from accidental damage or tampering. Placement near a fire exit or main access point also supports quick identification and response by attending fire services, helping streamline evacuation and system control during critical situations.
Detector Placement
In restaurant environments, detectors should be strategically placed to ensure early and reliable fire detection while complementing the venue’s design. A mix of System Sensor addressable detectors are available, including optical smoke detectors for detecting fine smoke particles, heat detectors for identifying rapid temperature increases and multi-sensor detectors that combine both technologies for enhanced accuracy.
These detectors can be installed with or without integrated sounder bases, offering flexibility in both acoustic coverage and aesthetic impact. And can be mounted on flat or slanted surfaces.
Call Point Placement
Manual call points should be placed at key exit routes and high-traffic areas within the restaurant to ensure they are easily accessible in the event of a fire. Typically installed near doors, corridors and kitchen exits, these devices allow staff or customers to raise an alarm quickly if a fire is discovered before the automatic system activates.
Their placement is guided by regulatory standards to ensure no one has to travel too far to reach one in an emergency. In a busy restaurant setting, where rapid response is crucial, manual call points play a vital role in initiating evacuation and alerting others to danger without delay.
Handpicked Solutions for Restaurants
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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