What The Regs Say?
BS9251 Domestic and Residential Sprinklers is being revised..
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FloWatch give a brief overview of the introduction of Fire Sprinkler Monitoring coming out in late 2020 through the revision of BS9251:2014
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What's changing?
BS9251:2014 is being replaced with BS9251:2020.
This British Standard gives recommendations for the design, installation, components, water supplies and backflow protection, commissioning, maintenance and testing of fire sprinkler systems installed for life safety purposes with additional benefits for property protection.
This British Standard also gives recommendations for sprinkler protection of domestic and residential premises where the building height is either more than four storeys or 18 m and above, whichever is the lower. The recommendations of this British Standard are also applicable to any addition, extension, repair or other modification to a residential sprinkler system
Why do I need to Monitor the Fire Sprinkler System?
Section 5.15 of BS9251:2020 (Draft) currently states:
"Except for category 1 systems, all valves which control the flow of water to the system should be electrically monitored for the open position."
Section 5.11.4.1 of BS9251:2020 (Draft) currently states:
"An alarm to indicate low water levels should be provided for a stored water supply"
Annex A of BS9251:2020 (Draft) sets out the Requirements for Monitoring of a Domestic and Residential Fire Sprinkler System. Annex A.2 States:
"The aim of monitoring sprinkler systems is the continuous supervision of the main functions of the system, i.e. those whose failure might impair the correct automatic operation of the system in case of fire, and the raising of a supervisory alarm to allow corrective measures to be taken. All devices used for monitoring should have at least IP 54 protection as specified in BS EN 60529 and be connected to a common supervisory alarm device. All signalling and alarm cabling should be fully supervised and should be given in the event of short or open circuit."
The Solution
FloWatch are specialist manufacturers of Fire Sprinkler Monitoring and Alarm Systems. The FloWatch 9251 Sprinkler Monitoring system monitors the following elements of the system:
> Monitored Isolation Valves and will raise an audible and visual alarm in the event of an isolation valve being in the not fully open position
> Flow Switches for Activation of the Sprinkler System. FloWatch 9251 Sprinkler Monitoring system is fully addressable so each flow switch can be easily identified. This can also be interfaced with an automatic fire alarm and detection system if required under the fire strategy of the building
> Low Level Tank Switches for low water content in a storage tank
> Booster set for fault or Loss of Power.
Features of the system include:
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24 Hour battery Back Up
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Fully Addressable
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Built in GSM Sim Card to remote monitoring of system and email notification
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Easy Installation and Set Up
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Outputs to Fire Alarm and BMS Systems
Frequently asked questions
Can I Connect Flow Switches to the FloWatch Monitoring System?
Yes. The FloWatch system can monitor 132 inputs. The type of input can be varied easily on the setup software between a flow switch or monitored isolation valve. Each Input is fully addressable so can be given a name and location which will be shown on the Master Panel in the event of an activation or fault. If a Flow Switch is selected as the input then when activated the "Flow Alarm" LED on the front of the master panel will turn red, an audible alarm will be raised at the master panel and a description and location of the event will be displayed on the LED screen.
What power supply is required?
230V Single Phase supply to Main Panel. The Expansion Units do not require separate power supplies as these take their power over the network from the master unit.
How Many Isolation Valves / Flow Switches can be monitored?
4 Inputs, either Flow Switches or Monitored Isolation Valves can be monitored on the Master Panel as a Stand Alone Unit.
Does the Flowatch 9251 Expansion Module require a power supply?
No - It is powered via the MODbus network cabling (it takes its power from the Master Unit).
Can I Install this on a commercial sprinkler system?
The Flowatch 9251 has not been designed to be used in a commercial sprinkler system in accordance with EN10285. It has been designed to be used for systems installed to BS9251.