Lesson 1Environmental and installation considerations: mounting heights, obstructions, false-alarm causes (dust, drafts, humidity, cooking, steam)Learn how the surroundings and fitting choices impact detector work and false alarms. You'll look at fitting heights, spacing near blockages, air flow and dust effects, dampness and steam problems, and ways to cut down unwanted triggers.
Mounting heights for common detectorsClearances from beams and obstructionsEffects of dust, insects, and contaminationDrafts, HVAC outlets, and air movementHumidity, steam, and cooking aerosolsLesson 2Notification and alarm signalling: sounders, strobes, voice evacuation systems, audibility/alerting criteriaSee how fire alarm systems warn people inside and emergency services. This part looks at sounders, strobes, voice systems, sound clearness rules, alert patterns, and standards for signalling.
Types of sounders and horn circuitsStrobes and visual notification rulesVoice evacuation system basicsAudibility and intelligibility criteriaTemporal patterns and coding formatsLesson 3Overview of system architecture: detectors, manual call points, control panels, sounders, interfacesGet a full picture of commercial fire alarm setup and how parts work as a team. This reviews detectors, break-glass points, control gear, alert devices, power units, and linking modules.
Role of the fire alarm control panelAutomatic detectors and field devicesManual call points and pull stationsNotification appliances and circuitsInterface and relay modules in systemsLesson 4Documentation and labeling: as-built drawings, device schedules, panel logs, zone maps, cable identification standardsGrasp the paperwork and labels needed for proper upkeep and meeting rules. This covers site drawings, device lists, zone charts, cable tags, panel records, and updating after changes.
As-built drawings and revisionsDevice schedules and address listsZone maps and annunciator layoutsCable tags and identification schemesPanel logs and maintenance recordsLesson 5Power supplies and supervision: primary power, mains failure transfer, standby batteries, battery testing and replacement criteriaFind out how commercial fire alarms get power, stay watched, and keep going when mains cut. This looks at main power, auto switchover, battery capacity, test ways, and swap rules for steady work.
Primary power sources and ratingsAutomatic mains failure transferBattery capacity and sizing rulesBattery testing methods and intervalsBattery replacement criteria and recordsLesson 6Detection zoning and area coverage: zoning concepts, detector spacing calculations, protected volumesLearn how buildings split into alert zones and how coverage works out. You'll cover zone aims, safety and asset zones, detector spacing, ceiling height impact, and checking covered areas from drawings.
Zoning objectives and legal limitsLife safety versus property zonesDetector spacing rules and tablesCeiling height and configuration effectsCalculating protected volumes from plansLesson 7Signal interfaces and integration: fire panels with building management systems, sprinkler interfaces, HVAC shutdown, emergency liftsSee how fire panels connect with building systems to handle dangers and aid escape. Topics include sprinkler watch, air system stop, lift recall, door unlock, and links with management systems.
Sprinkler flow and valve supervisionHVAC shutdown and smoke controlElevator recall and emergency liftsDoor release and access control linksIntegration with building managementLesson 8Types of detectors: ionization, photoelectric, multi-criteria, aspirating, beam, heat and comparative usesStudy key detector types for commercial setups and when to use each. Compare ionisation, photoelectric, multi-type, air-sampling, beam, and heat detectors, looking at how they react and where they fit.
Ionization smoke detector behaviorPhotoelectric smoke detector usesMulti-criteria and intelligent detectorsAspirating and high sensitivity systemsBeam and heat detectors in large spacesLesson 9Wiring topologies and circuit supervision: conventional vs addressable loops, end-of-line devices, short/open fault detectionLook at wiring setups in commercial fire alarms and circuit monitoring. Compare traditional and smart loops, end-of-line roles, and spotting short or open faults.
Class B and Class A circuit conceptsConventional versus addressable loopsEnd-of-line resistors and devicesShort circuit and open fault detectionGround fault monitoring and response
