Think that you are in a hotel room resting until dinner. Suddenly you smell that something is burning. There is nothing wrong in the room. When you go outside, you realize that a carpet in corridor is burning. What should you do? Of course push the nearest manual call point of fire alarm system!
HOW CAN WE USE MANUAL CALL POINTS?
by İpek Yavuz KONAK
on 24 December 2017
Manual call points are one of the most important devices in fire alarm systems. While other detecting devices are automatically triggered according to their operating principle, manual call points are triggered manually by people.
There are two sides of the medallion about manual call points. Since they give fire alarm when a person pushes the button, it is open to false alarms created by ignorant people. On the other hand, if a real fire occurs and a responsible person nearby pushes the button, it may save lives. So manual call points should be used in fire alarm systems but some precautions should be made to prevent false alarms triggered by ignorant people.
If European Norms are taken as reference, features and performance criteria of manual alarm call points should be in compliance with EN 54-11. Manual call points should have CPR (Construction Products Regulation) certificate from a European Commission notified body.
Project notes about manual call points
According to EN 54-14 clause 6.5.4, manual call points should be used on escape routes, at doors to escape stairs, at each exit to open air and at places nearby special hazards. Manual call points should be easily accessible, seeable and diagnosable. If there is a possibility that handicapped people may be inside the building, additional precautions should be taken.
What should be the maximum distance between two manual call points?
According to EN 54-14 clause A.6.4.4, manual call points should be located that no one in the building need to walk more than 30 meters in order to reach manual call point. If there is a possibility that handicapped people may be inside the building, the distance can be decreased. Also manual call points should be mounted at a height of between 0,9 and 1,4 meters above the floor.
To conclude, manual call points are one of the most important devices in fire alarm systems. When a person notices a fire incident, manual call point enables that person to trigger fire alarm and may save lives. For this reason, manual call points should be included to fire alarm systems. Also project design of the fire alarm systems should be made according to EN 54-14.
Sources:
• Mavili Project Notes
• EN 54-14 Standards