BS 5839-1:2013

Foreword
Section 1: General
1 Scope
2 Normative references
3 Terms and definitions
4 Need for a fire detection and fire alarm
   system and type of system
5 Categories of system
6 Exchange of information and definition of
   responsibilities
7 Variations from the recommendations of
   this standard
Section 2: Design considerations
8 Relationship between system Category and
   areas protected
9 Actuation of other fire protection systems or
   safety facilities
10 Systems in explosive gas or dust atmospheres
11 System components
12 Monitoring, integrity and reliability of circuits
   external to control equipment
13 Detection zones
14 Alarm zones
15 Communication with the fire and rescue service
16 Audible alarm signals
17 Visual alarm signals
18 Fire alarm warnings for people with impaired hearing
19 Staged fire alarms
20 Manual call points
21 Types of fire detector and their selection
22 Spacing and siting of automatic fire detectors
23 Control and indicating equipment
24 Networked systems
25 Power supplies
26 Cables, wiring and other interconnections
27 Radio-linked systems
28 Electromagnetic compatibility
29 Electrical safety
Section 3: Limitation of false alarms
30 Responsibility for limitation of false alarms
31 Categories of false alarms
32 Acceptable rate of false alarms
33 Causes of false alarms
34 Design process for limitation of false alarms
35 Measures to limit false alarms
Section 4: Installation
36 Responsibility of installer
37 Installation practices and workmanship
38 Inspection and testing of wiring
Section 5: Commissioning and handover
39 Commissioning
40 Documentation
41 Certification
42 Acceptance
43 Verification
Section 6: Maintenance
44 Routine testing
45 Inspection and servicing
46 Non-routine attention
Section 7: User's responsibilities
47 Premises management
48 Logbook
Annexes
Annex A (informative) - Choice of appropriate
        category of fire detection and fire
        alarm system
Annex B (informative) - Typical noise levels in
        buildings
Annex C (normative) - Control and transmission
        equipment for tactile alarm devices provided
        for people with impaired hearing systems
Annex D (normative) - Method for calculating
        standby battery capacity
Annex E (informative) - Schematic for design against
        false alarms
Annex F (informative) - Visual alarm device illumination
        characteristics
Annex G (informative) - Model format for system logbook
Annex H (informative) - Model certificates
Bibliography

Gives recommendations for the planning, design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in and around buildings, other than domestic premises.

This part of BS 5839 provides recommendations for the planning, design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in and around buildings, other than domestic premises. It does not recommend whether or not a fire detection and fire alarm system should be installed in any given premises. Recommendations for fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises are given in BS 5839-6.

The term fire detection and fire alarm systems, in the context of this part of BS 5839, includes systems that range from those comprising only one or two manual call points and sounders to complex networked systems that incorporate a large number of automatic fire detectors, manual call points and sounders, connected to numerous inter-communicating control and indicating panels.

The term also includes systems that are capable of providing signals to initiate the operation of other fire protection systems and equipment (such as fire extinguishing systems, smoke control systems or automatic door release equipment) or safety measures (such as shutdown of air handling systems, closing of oil or gas valves or grounding of lifts). It does not apply to the other systems and equipment themselves, or the ancillary circuits to interface with them. Recommendations for the planning, installation and servicing of facilities for operation of certain fire protection systems by the systems addressed within this part of BS 5839 are given in BS 7273.

This part of BS 5839 does not cover systems whose primary function is to extinguish or control fire, such as sprinkler or automatic extinguishing systems, even though they might have a secondary alarm function; it does, however, cover the use of a signal from an automatic extinguishing system as one initiating element of a fire alarm system (e.g. by use of a pressure or flow switch).

This part of BS 5839 does not cover voice alarm systems. Recommendations for voice alarm systems and voice enhanced sounders are given in BS 5839-8.

This part of BS 5839 does not cover systems combining fire alarm functions with other non-fire related functions. Recommendations for such integrated systems are given in DD CLC/TS 50398.

This part of BS 5839 does not cover the 999 (or 112) public emergency call system, or manually or mechanically operated sounders.

This part of BS 5839 does not cover audible or visual way-guidance systems which are designed to complement fire alarm systems.

Recommendations for fire detection and fire alarm systems in electronic data processing installations and similar critical electronic equipment rooms are given in BS 6266, which provides recommendations over and above those given in this part of BS 5839.

Recommendations for fire detection and fire alarm systems in hospitals are given in the NHS Estates publications HTM 05-03 Part B (in England and Wales) or SHTM 82 (in Scotland).

This part of BS 5839 applies to extensions and alterations to existing systems, at least in respect of the design, installation, commissioning and certification of the new work, albeit that the extended or altered system might not, overall, conform to the recommendations of this standard.