Schools are institutions designed to educate children and young people, providing a structured environment for academic learning, personal development and social interaction. They typically encompass primary and secondary education, with some also offering further education. Schools are vital spaces where students acquire knowledge, engage in extracurricular activities and form social connections, helping to shape their future roles in society.
Schools often house large numbers of people, including vulnerable groups such as young children. Therefore, early fire detection is crucial to ensure a timely evacuation in case of fire. The complex layout of many school buildings, which may include multiple floors and various facilities like labs and sports halls, can pose challenges for quick evacuation. Additionally, high occupancy during peak times increases the risk, making it essential that fire detection systems are reliable and regularly maintained to ensure they function effectively in an emergency.
What are the Risks?
Like most establishments, there is a number of fire risks associated with schools, these can include:
- Electrical Faults
- Schools often have extensive electrical systems powering lighting, computers, lab equipment and other devices. Faulty wiring, overloaded circuits or malfunctioning equipment can lead to electrical fires.
- Flammable Materials
- Schools store a variety of flammable materials, such as chemicals in science labs, cleaning supplies, and paper in libraries or classrooms. Improper storage or handling of these materials can increase fire risks.
- Kitchen and Cooking Areas
- In schools with cafeterias or home economics classrooms, cooking equipment like ovens, stoves and deep fryers pose fire hazards, particularly if not properly monitored or maintained.
- Arson
- Unfortunately, schools can be targets for intentional fires, especially when left unattended after school hours. Arson poses a significant fire risk in educational institutions.
- Heating and Ventilation Systems
- Faulty or poorly maintained heating systems, including boilers, radiators and ventilation units, can overheat or malfunction, potentially causing a fire, especially during colder months when heating systems are in heavy use.
What are the Challenges?
Designing an effective fire detection system for schools presents several unique challenges:
- Large and Complex Layouts
- Schools often have multi-story buildings and a variety of spaces like classrooms, laboratories, sports halls and cafeterias. Ensuring comprehensive fire detection coverage across all areas can be difficult due to the complexity and size of the buildings.
- High Occupancy Levels
- Schools house large numbers of students, staff and visitors, especially during peak hours. Designing a system that provides early detection and clear alarms to safely evacuate large groups is crucial.
- Vulnerable Occupants
- Schools serve diverse populations, including young children and individuals with special needs, who may require more time and assistance to evacuate. The fire detection system must ensure swift and easy-to-understand alarms and instructions, factoring in these needs.
- Noise and False Alarms
- Schools can be noisy environments, and frequent false alarms can disrupt learning and lead to complacency. Designing a system that minimises false alarms while being effective in detecting actual fires is a key challenge.
- Schools contain different environments with varying fire risks, such as science labs, kitchens and art rooms. A fire detection system must be tailored to account for these diverse spaces, balancing sensitivity to potential hazards without triggering unnecessary alarms.
Morley-IAS Plus
The Morley-IAS Plus system is an advanced fire detection and alarm control solution that is highly suited for schools. Its modular and scalable design allows it to be customised to fit both small and large educational institutions. Schools can add more zones and devices as their needs grow, ensuring comprehensive fire detection coverage across diverse environments such as classrooms, kitchens and laboratories.
The system supports a wide range of detection technologies, including smoke, heat and multi-sensor detectors, making it adaptable to areas with varying fire risks. Its intuitive, user-friendly interface is easy for non-technical school staff to operate, ensuring quick and effective responses during emergencies. Additionally, it offers networkable control panels, enabling centralised monitoring for larger campuses.
The Morley-IAS Plus system also integrates with Wi-Fyre Xenos to provide wireless fire detection, ideal for areas where wiring is difficult. This combination offers flexible, reliable fire safety coverage, extending protection to all school areas while maintaining central monitoring and control.
With customisable alarm settings, the Morley-IAS Plus system minimises disruptions from false alarms while ensuring early detection. These features make it a reliable, flexible, and practical fire detection solution for schools.
Approvals
System Sensor Advanced Protocol
The Morley-IAS Plus fire alarm control panel integrates seamlessly with existing MIAS/System Sensor Protocol devices while incorporating the powerful Advanced Protocol, delivering benefits such as increased capacity, greater efficiency and enhanced safety.
Colour Coordinated System Conditions
The Morley-IAS Plus features an intelligent display that changes colour to clearly communicate the status of the system. This unique interface provides a quick visual outline of critical events to expedite a response and deliver 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 teachers or other members of staff.
Call Point Placement
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 of the school during emergencies.
Detector Placement
Fire detectors are strategically placed on ceilings or high walls in critical areas such as classrooms, corridors and high-risk zones such as kitchens and science laboratories. Some detectors include sounder bases for direct alarms, which are particularly useful in noisy environments.
Handpicked Products for Schools
A typical fire detection system made up of Morley-IAS Plus and System Sensor will include the following:
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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