A fire alarm system’s purpose is for the protection of property but, more importantly, life! A fire alarm system consists of many components, the majority providing either detection or alarm functionality. One of these components being the fire alarm sounder.
The fire alarm sounder was always assumed to be one of the best methods for alerting occupants of a fire scenario. But is it? Over recent years the sounder with integrated beacon has been the favored solution as they offer both audible and visual alarm indication.
Creating fire strategies
Pre 2014, they tended only to be used in noisy environments. It was the harmonization of EN 54-23 where Visual Alarm Devices (VADs) changed the game. It shone a light on people with hearing difficulties and placed them at the forefront of thinking when creating fire strategies and fire system designs.
Sounders were predominantly used in a fire alarm system to alert building occupants
But what is VAD? and how can they offer the best possible protection to people with hard of hearing or people in a noisy (>85dBa) environment? Here Protec will discuss all these questions and focus on what products are the best fit for the purpose. Until 2014, sounders were predominantly used in a fire alarm system to alert building occupants. Fire alarm beacons were supplementary to the sounders, only used in specific locations.
Fire alarm sounder
The areas that would commonly have beacons were noisy environments, and it would be down to building control or risk assessments to add beacons to other places. These locations tend to be loud working areas where wearing ear defenders makes it challenging to hear a fire alarm sounder’s alerting of a fire.
Other instances which became a concern was if a person with a hearing impairment was left alone in a building, would they hear a fire alarm evacuation? So in these instances, it was best to have a second line of alert in the form of a visual aid, either a visual alarm device or visual alarm indicator. The alarm device, in this instance, would have to be in the form of a highly identifiable light source that could grab attention in seconds in even the noisiest of environments and is where the VAD steps in.
Visual Alarm Devices
Visual Alarm Devices are high output LED beacons that alert deaf or hard of hearing people
In 2014 the EU harmonized the EN 54-23 standard, which specified the number of factors a VAD would have to meet, making them a requirement of fire alarm systems. Designers now have to consider people with hearing difficulties which could be left unattended. They also need to consider other areas where sound may not be the best form of an alert seen in recommendations, such as HTM03-05.
Visual Alarm Devices are high output LED beacons that alert deaf or hard of hearing people of a fire when left alone in a building. They work by emitting flashing pulses of bright white or red light when the fire alarm is activated. These Visual Alarm Devices offer intense attention-grabbing light like being flashed by a camera, making them unavoidable in a fire scenario.
Smaller light output
Another form of indication is VID’s (Visual Indication Devices). These are the old red flashing beacons with a smaller light output used to notify a fire. Due to these devices not meeting the light output or colored light specified by EN 54-23. The use of VID’s are only permitted as a supplementary device and cannot feature as a primary form of an alarm, unlike a VAD.
Protec manufactures a range of VADs in both addressable and conventional forms
Protec manufactures a range of VADs in both addressable and conventional forms, but what exactly do Protec VADs offer? Since the definition of the VAD in EN 54-23, it has highlighted places where anyone with hearing difficulties may be present or left unattended require VADs (or a suitable alternative) to alert hard of hearing people of a fire.
Automatic smoke detector
Meaning that bedrooms and toilets found in shared accommodation, such as student apartments, HMOs or hotels, all have to come equipped with VADs. All these types of rooms require an automatic smoke detector but also an additional VAD installed. In this instance, the best solution is opting for a combined unit. The Protec 6000PLUS range of sensors offers just that, with smoke, heat and multi-sensor detectors all coming with integrated VAD variants.
All 6000PLUS sensor VADs come complete with high intensity LED located on the sensor head. The optimal dispersion of light is spread across the room, giving the best possible notification of an alarm from a visual device. 6000PLUS sensor VADs also offer an all in one solution to fire protection, incorporating a VAD and sensor into one unit while still being loop-powered.
Wall-Mounted solutions
A VAD is favorable as the intense white light emitted from a VAD is enough to draw attention
Therefore, no ancillary 24 V is required. It negates the need for separate wall-mounted solutions involving extra installation, requiring additional equipment, material, and, more importantly, time and money.
Sometimes an audible alarm isn’t always the best solution and can cause more problems than initially thought. For example, loud sounders in places such as hospitals, care homes or animal shelters can create unwanted alarm and distress to its occupants. In these situations, one needs to alert only the relevant people without causing any unwanted anxiety. A VAD is favorable as the intense white light emitted from a VAD is enough to draw attention to the staff, who then put the correct evacuation procedure into action.
Excellent visual notification
The 6000 range offers single VAD units that don’t emit any audible sound, meaning they are the perfect solution for areas where sound might cause distress to the occupants. Both wall and ceiling variants in either red or white finish mean they can fit unobtrusively into the aesthetics of any room.
Visual Alarm Devices are all about offering the best amount of light to alert people
Visual Alarm Devices are all about offering the best amount of light to alert people. By directing the light, one can focus the light on the areas that matter and offer the best chance of drawing attention where needed, which the VAD is all about! Protec’s range of VADs all position the LED to offer the very best light spread. Seen in their wall-mounted range of visual alarm devices by angling the LED, it directs the light downwards and outwards, optimizing the light’s path making an excellent visual notification of a fire scenario.
Correct light spread
All of the addressable sounder VADs they produce are manufactured in the UK to meet EN 54 Parts 3, 17 & 23. It solidifies that the user is safe in knowing Protec’s product will offer the approved protection required no matter which country they reside in. The various sections of EN 54 requirements ensure that the VADs Protec manufacture are to the correct requirements regarding light output, flash rate and consistent illumination over 0.4 lux at any one point.
In addition to the brightness of the VAD, the light spread also comes into the mix. Each VAD has to meet the correct light spread, ensuring the VAD offers the proper light dispersion. Protec’s VAD range all offer a maximum mounting height of up to 3 meters producing a cylindrical light spread of up to 7.5 meters in diameter and projects the light 7.5 meters from the device. It ensures the VAD’s are fit for a vast majority of environments. This impressive light spread means the Protec range of VADS meet both the ‘C’ (Ceiling) and ‘W’ (Wall) category’s, outlined by EN 54-23.