ALARM ACTIVATION SYSTEM

Abstract

A fire alarm activation system 1 includes: a sensing device 2 configured to detect removal of a fire extinguisher 4, and a manual call point 3 in communication with the sensing device 2. Detection of a removal of the extinguisher by the sensing device 2 will trigger an alarm condition of the manual call point 3. The alarm condition of the manual call point 3 can also be triggered manually by a user.

Claims

1. A fire alarm activation system, comprising: a sensing device configured to detect removal of a fire extinguisher from a normal position, and a manual call point in communication with the sensing device, wherein detection of removal of the fire extinguisher by the sensing device will trigger an alarm condition of the manual call point, and wherein the manual call point is also for manual triggering of the alarm condition by a user.

2. A fire alarm activation system as claimed in claim 1, comprising the fire extinguisher.

3. A fire alarm activation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing device is configured to send a signal indicative of removal of the fire extinguisher to the manual call point to trigger the alarm condition.

4. A fire alarm activation system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the signal is for activating an operating element of the call point to trigger the alarm condition, wherein the operating element is also used for the manual triggering of the alarm condition.

5. A fire alarm activation system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the signal is for activating an operating circuit of the call point to trigger the alarm condition.

6. A fire alarm activation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing device is connected to a supervised input in the call point.

7. A fire alarm activation system as claimed in claim 1, comprising a fire alarm control panel, wherein the manual call point is configured to send a signal indicative of the alarm condition to the fire alarm control panel when the alarm condition has been triggered.

8. A fire alarm activation system as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a second manual call point and a second sensing device, the second manual call point being in communication with the second sensing device and the fire alarm control panel, and the second sensing device being configured to detect removal of a second fire extinguisher from a normal position.

9. A fire alarm activation system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the fire alarm control panel is configured to determine which manual call point is in an alarm condition.

10. A fire alarm activation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing device is configured to receive power from the manual call point.

11. A fire alarm activation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing device comprises a mechanical switch and/or an optical sensor for detecting the removal of the fire extinguisher.

12. A building comprising the fire alarm activation system of claim 1.

13. A method of activating a fire alarm using the fire alarm activation system as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising triggering an alarm condition of a manual call point by causing a sensing device to detect removal of an extinguisher.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein triggering the alarm condition includes removing the extinguisher from a normal position to cause the sensing device to trigger the alarm condition.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Certain preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0025] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a fire alarm activation system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] As shown in the FIGURE a fire alarm activation system 1 includes a sensing device 2, a manual call point 3, an extinguisher 4, and a fire alarm control panel 5.

[0027] The sensing device 2 is configured to detect removal of the extinguisher 4 from a normal position of the extinguisher.

[0028] The manual call point 3 is in communication with the sensing device 2 via connection 7, which is a wired connection. The sensing device 2 is connected to an input 6 in the manual call point 3, which is a supervised input in this example.

[0029] The manual call point 3 is in communication with the fire alarm control panel 5 via connection 8. The manual call point 3 is configured to send a signal to the fire alarm control panel 5 when an alarm condition of the manual call point 3 has been triggered. The fire alarm control panel is configured to activate an alarm in response to receiving the signal from the manual call point 3.

[0030] Although not shown in the FIGURE(s), the fire alarm activation system 1 may comprise a plurality of manual call points 3, a plurality of sensing devices 2, and/or a plurality of extinguishers 4. Each of the plurality of manual call points 3 is in communication with the fire alarm control panel 5. When at least one of the plurality of sensing devices 2 detects removal of one of the plurality of extinguishers 4 thus triggering an alarm condition in the associated manual call point 3, the fire alarm control panel 5 is configured to determine which of the plurality of manual call points 3 is in the alarm condition. The fire alarm control panel 5 may include a display for indicating which manual call point 3 has been triggered, which enables responders to quickly locate the possible fire.

[0031] In the event of a fire or a potential fire, the operation of the fire alarm activation system proceeds as follows. An operator may remove an extinguisher 4 from a normal position, which is a position of the extinguisher 4 when not in use. The sensing device 2 detects removal of the extinguisher 4 and sends a corresponding signal through connection 7 to the manual call point 3 via the supervised input 6. The signal causes the manual call point 3 to change from a normal condition in which the call point 3 is operating without giving an alarm or fault signal, to an alarm condition after an operating circuit or operating element thereof has been activated. The signal therefore acts to trigger the alarm condition of the manual call point 3. The manual call point 3 may also change from the normal condition to the alarm condition as a result of manual operation of the call point by an operator.

[0032] The manual call point 3 then sends a signal to the fire alarm control panel 5 via connection 8 indicating that the alarm condition of the manual call point 3 has been triggered. The fire alarm control panel 5 activates an alarm in response to receiving the signal from the manual call point 3. The alarm, which may be an audio and/or visual alarm, advises of the removal of the extinguisher 4 which thereby indicates the potential presence of a fire. In examples in which there is a plurality of manual call points 3, the fire alarm control panel 5 determines which manual call point 3 is in the alarm condition and displays a corresponding indication.

[0033] The system provided herein increases the likelihood of activation of a fire alarm since it is not reliant on the operator of the extinguisher 4 remembering to manually operate the manual call point 3. Additionally, since the sensing device 2 communicates the presence of a fire through a supervised input 6 of an existing manual call point 3 which is typically located near the extinguisher 4, there is a reduced need for additional devices in the loop and therefore a reduction in product and installation costs.

[0034] It will be understood that some features described herein, such as a frangible element, are required by regulation such as with reference to EN54-11, and of course all such features must be included for devices intended to be approved under those regulations. However, it should be appreciated that it is not essential to the function of the manual call point described herein, and in particular the function of the operating element and switches, for all such features to be present. Moreover, whilst all features defined in the relevant regulations are in effect essential for a commercial product, this is not the same as what is essential for implementing the present claims. Instead the claims themselves define what is essential in that regard, taking account of the teaching of the remainder of this disclosure.