New generation fire alarm systems

New generation fire alarm systems are not altogether new in 1986. The British Fire Protection System Association (BFPSA) has had a Technical Working Group discussing them since 1981, the first commercial system was launched in the UK four years ago and the number of available systems is now considerable (see list of systems and suppliers below). As yet, however, there are no definitive standards or codes of practice for their use, and this can make life difficult for the facilities manager who has to specify and operate an alarm system. He is likely to have little more than sales literature for information. To help rectify this situation this first article explains what a new generation system is, what advantages it has, and presents a costed example. A second article will offer advice on how to choose a system together with feedback from users who are already operating new generation equipment.