The Fike Twinflex Plus Control Panels are available in 2, 4 or 8 zone depending on the size and requirement of the building it is being installed. These control panels are ideal solutions to comply with BS 5839 Part 1:2002 and BS 5839 Part 6: 2004 Code of Practice.

British Standards

BS 5839-1:2002 Code of practice for system design, installation, commissioning and maintenance in and around buildings, other than dwellings.

The need for a fire alarm system and its coverage will be determined by a fire risk assessment but a fire alarm system is required in virtually all buildings.

BS 5839-6:2004 Code of Practice for the design, installation and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in dwellings. 

New dwelling houses, flats and maisonettes must install an automatic fire detection system in order to satisfy building regulations and BS 5839 Part 6: 2004. This code of practice applies to dwellings and dwelling units designed to accommodate a single family and houses in multiple occupations (HMO's) that comprise a number of self-contained units designed to accommodate a single family. It does not apply to hostels, caravans, boats or communal areas of sheltered housing and blocks of flats and premises used solely as places of work.

Zoning

Within a small household it is not necessary to separate areas into zones but in larger households or buildings, it can aid in the indication of where the alarm originated. For houses of multiple occupations, it is vital that fire and rescue services are able to readily identify the location of the fire.

• If the total floor area of the building is less than 300m², the building needs only one zone, regardless of the number of storeys.

If the total floor area is greater than 300m²:

• Maximum area for a zone is 2000m².
• If a stairwell extends beyond one floor it should be a separate zone.
• If a zone covers more than one fire compartment then the zone boundaries should follow the compartment boundaries.
• Search distance in order to ascertain the position of the fire should not exceed 30m.
• If a building is divided between occupiers, zones must not be shared between them.

Control panels and zoning will only be required in dwellings where a Grade A, B or C but generally in all buildings. 

Using Fike 2 Zone Twinflex Control Panel in a Grade B & C dwelling

A fire risk assessment will assist in determining the correct grade and category for a fire alarm system. 

A Grade B dwelling, according to the BS 5839-6:2004 standards should install "a fire detection and fire alarm system comprising fire detectors (other than smoke alarms and heat alarms), fire alarm sounders and control and indicating equipment that either conforms to BS EN 54-2 (and power supply complying with BS EN 54-4) or Annex C of BS5839-6:2004." This grade is recommended for new and existing single family four (or more) storey dwellings and shared houses with no floor greater than 200m² in area.

A Grade C dwelling, according to the BS 5839-6:2004 standards should install "a system of fire detectors and alarm sounders (which may be combined in the form of smoke alarms) connected to a common power supply, comprising the normal mains and a standby supply, with central control equipment." This is the minimum recommendations for new or existing typical sheltered housing accommodation which are individual dwelling units only.

The level of protection is determined by the category of system, which for a single family four storey dwelling and sheltered housing is LD2. This category incorporates detectors in all circulation areas, such as hallways, that are used as part of an escape route from the dwelling and in all high fire risk areas such as kitchen and living room. Consideration needs to be given to the occupants of dwellings such as sheltered housing as any disability could delay their escape.

A dwelling that is 300m² or less may be assigned only one zone regardless of the amount of storeys the building has. However, more zones can be created in order to aid identification of a fire to fire and rescue services and provide a more comprehensive coverage.

Fike Twinflex Plus 2 zone fire alarm kit provides the installer with a 2 zone 2-wire fire alarm control panel, 6 x Multipoint detectors with sounder, 2 x manual call points and 1 x head removal tool.

Control and indicating equipment vary for Grades A, B and C in terms of design and standard. Grades B and C perform similar functions such as reception, indication, control and relaying signals originating from detectors or call points just in a simpler and less complex environment, making the Fike Twinflex Plus 2 zone control panel an ideal solution.

An LD2 category system would have smoke detectors fitted in hallways and staircases i.e. escape routes and at least one smoke detector between sleeping areas and high risk areas. The sound level needs to be taken into consideration when placing detectors as the level needs to be sufficient in all bedrooms. The speed of detection and type of fire need to be taken into account when selecting detectors for rooms like the kitchen or living room to avoid false alarms.

Fike Multipoint detectors with sounders have the ability to be a smoke, heat or combined detector with an integral 90dBA sounder. The mode of detection can be switched between ionisation or optical smoke detector, rate of rise or fixed temperature heat detector or a combination of smoke and heat detector. Detectors should be fitted on ceilings at least 300mm horizontally from any wall or light fitting and no point should be further than 7.5m from the nearest smoke detector, 5.3m from a heat detector. No bedroom door should be further than 3m from a smoke detector.

Fike manual call points provide an extra warning, which can be activated by someone discovering a fire before it is automatically detected but unable to alert other occupants. Manual call points should be fitted at 1.2m above finished floor level, at the entry to floor landings of staircases, at all exits to open air and should always be found within a maximum distance of 30m apart.