Smart Buildings Systems for Architects, Owners and Builders

They include but are not limited to the following:

n Pull stations, in which a person sees a fire and pulls the fire alarm

n Thermal detectors, which sense a rise in temperature or the high tem-

perature of a fire

n Smoke detectors, which sense vapors of small particles of carbon matter

generated by burning, including in-duct smoke detectors

n Flame detectors, which sense radiation and visible light from a fire

n Sprinkler water–flow sensors

n Fire-gas detectors, which sense gases such as carbon dioxide and

carbon monoxide

n Air-sampling fire detectors, which are the most sensitive type of detec-

tion available, and are used in high-value and critical environments

such as churches, clean rooms, hospitals, museums and communications

or network equipment rooms; this system typically uses tubes to contin-

ually draw air samples to a highly sensitive detector, and can detect a

precombustion stage of a fire prior to any visible smoke or flame

Suppression Systems

Fire suppression systems include the following:

n Wet sprinkler systems, which may comprise various switches and flow-

detection equipment that is monitored and managed

n Dry sprinkler systems, which may include pressure switches that are

monitored and managed

n Fire suppression systems may also include monitoring and supervision

equipment

Notification Devices

Once a fire is detected a building’s occupants must be notified to evacuate the
building. Fire notification devices use audio, visual, or a combination signaling
to notify occupants. These devices are typically DC-powered so that they can
operate on backup batteries and they must also adhere to product compliance

108 Smart Building Systems for Architects, Owners, and Builders