Title: EN54-23 Visual Alarm Devices & Application – BS:5839/IS:3218 Presented by: Ray Puttock Date: Friday, 21 March 2014

Why EN54-23?

No real guidelines in existing standards in terms of light intensity

Ongoing commitment for the hard of hearing which represents 1 in 7 of all people

Address H&S issues in loud environments

Current “beacons” inconsistent and inadequate for purpose – Joules, Watts and Candela????

Various attempts by manufacturers based on “commercial” considerations

Limitations of loop capability for high intensity and “power hungry” devices

EN54-23 Design Considerations

Start with Risk Assessment(s)

Deaf & hard of hearing – Toilets &

Bedrooms

Supplemental to audible

alarms

Staff restricted

alarm systems

Broadcast Studios

Hospitals

Consider external factors such as:

Levels of ambient light

Reflectivity of surfaces

Field of view and line of site

The use of tinted eye protection

EN54-23

The Standard for Visual Alarm Devices (VADs) for Fire Systems came into effect from December 2013.

3 Classes of Device

C – Ceiling Mounted.

W – Wall Mounted.

O – Open Class

Manufacturers are required to state the coverage volume to achieve a minimum of 0.4 lumens/m² (lux).

Rate of flash should be between 0.5Hz and 2Hz and only red or white is acceptable

Note: using a red filter reduces light output by up to 80%!

EN54-23 – Ceiling Mounted VAD’s

Suitable for broad coverage in regular shaped rooms. Ceiling VADs must state the height of the ceiling at which they are designed to operate.

This can be three metres, six metres or nine metres. The VAD in this case needs to radiate light in a cylinder below the mounting point.

The specification code could read C-6-6; that is, mounted at a ceiling height of six metres, the VAD will cover cylinder six metres in diameter.

EN54-23 – Wall Mounted VAD’s

These will be effective in a wide range of applications and will probably the most commonly used.

The minimum height is 2.4 metres, followed by the width of a square room. Therefore, the specification code with a VAD suitable for a wall application could read W-2.4-6; that is, mounted at a height of 2.4 metres the VAD will cover a room six metres square.

The VAD will be required to cover the volume below its mounting height. Any light going upwards will be wasted as far as this categorisation is concerned.

EN54-23 – Open Class VADs

Can be used for different light distribution patterns that do not fall within the restrictions of the wall or ceiling.

The shape of the pattern and its coverage volume must be determined and stated by the manufacturer; however the minimum luminance is still required.

Open Class VADs will be more specialist and it’s likely that their adoption and use will be limited as wall & ceiling mounted are easier to calculate.

Specification Formats

• Ceiling device format = C-XX-YY

• Wall device format = W-XX-YY

• Open Class Device = O-XX-YY

(XX = Height device is mounted YY = Volume of area light will cover)

Ceiling and Wall devices have minimum characteristics that must be met but “Open Class” devices can be entirely specified by the manufacturer.

Ceiling Mounted

C-3-15 classification Sounder Beacon

High powered LED Existing connections

Addressable

Ceiling Mounted

C-3-15 classification single device in a 10m x

10m room

10m x 10m

Ceiling Mounted VAD These produce a cylinder of light. To provide the necessary coverage in a 10m x 10m area a larger “cylinder” is required or more VAD’s installed to cover the entire area.

10mx10m

10m x 10m

C-3-15 (1 required) C-3-7.5 (4 required) C-3-5 (9 required)

10m x 10m 10m x 10m

Wall Mounted

W-2.4-12 classification Sounder Beacon

High powered LED Existing connections

Addressable

Wall Mounted

W-2.4-12 classification

Single device in a 12m x 12m room

2.4 metres

12m x 12m

Open Class VAD

Coverage can be limited, odd and

inconsistent

Open Class VAD

Odd Shapes? – Ceiling Mounted VADs

Rooms are subdivided into a number of squares to calculate VADs required

Odd Shapes? – Wall Mounted VADs

Rooms are subdivided into a number of squares to calculate VADs required – Opposite wall mounting locations chosen so occupants can see at least one VAD

Corridors

Installation Considerations

A “hard wired” VAD will typically require 40-45 mA

Loop power capacity is usually 2 Amps

Good practice says that loops should be 80%

populated, in practice?????

Using 80% as a guide it might be possible to install 4

or 5 per loop maximum – A new loop? Circa 25

maximum

Battery standby calculations may need to be revised

Localised or distributed power supplies may be needed

to avoid voltage drop

Additional loop cards or larger capacity CIE might be

required

Additional loop cabling

What About a Wireless Solution

EN54-23 compliant products available

Compliance with standard can be achieved quickly, without disruption, once Risk Assessment has been completed

Cable routes/containment/capacity etc. not an issue

Fire Compartmentation preserved

New products – Backward compatibility with existing systems without changing wireless base

Current, non EN54-23 compliant, product range will remain as “visual indicators”

Cost effective with vast savings over equivalent wired design/schemes – A Hybrid approach with existing house system

What About a Wireless Solution

High current requirements do not affect battery life significantly and meet EN54 -25 (3 years minimum)

No complicated loop power calculations required (each device is self powered) – Does not affect panel standby batteries

Any number of wireless VADs can be added subject to address availability – Loop modules/Interface units can be used on wired loops where addresses are available but loop power low

White LED only- red drastically reduces light output

No costly loop card and additional cabling required to provide power to drive devices

No additional PSU’s required

Existing visual indicators can be replaced dynamically with compliant VADs in minutes

Max 126 wireless devices per wireless

loop (can be any combination)

Max 126 devices per

wired loop but subject to loop power

capacity

Up to 5 Radio Loop Modules per wired

loop

Up to 4 loops per CIE

Up to 8 CIE’s per wireless network –

4,032 devices

Up to 64 CIE’s per wired network

Typical Hybrid Scheme

Existing

Fire Panel

Up to 126 wireless devices per wireless loop

I/O

I/O

Wireless

Fire

Panel

Review

EN54-23 came into force from December 2013

Risk assessment approach required to ascertain where these might be required

Wall or ceiling mounted seen as best solutions

Hard wired systems may need extensive modification to comply

Service & Maintenance – As per BS5839:1, Clause 45 & 46/IS:3218

More Help? – FIA & LPCB COP

Questions