SWA feeding fire panel

[kenny maccuish]

Hi guys I have just done an Eicr and 1of my findings was that the fire alarm panel was fed by SWA and I am wondering if that needs replaced with fp200 or similar?
Thanks in advance
Kenny

 

[James]

Not normally required, battery backup on fire alarm should deal with Loss of supply due to fire for long enough to do its job.

 

[littlespark]

Normally fire alarm panels are fed in regular t&e from wherever… to a standard fused outlet. Normal flex from there into the panel.
fp200 coming out to the zones though

 

[Lister1987]

5839-1 is explicit in that ALL parts of the system should be in a fire resistant cabling, including the feed from DB to FCU on that alarm panel itself. FP400 to replace the SWA. I'll hook out relevant parts when I get a sec

 

[timhoward]

I agree with @Lister1987 in as much as if it were installed today the supply should be a dedicated circuit in fire resistant cabling. (Section 25 of BS5389)
But plenty of things were allowed on fire alarms back in the day including this, and 4 core for detectors and sounders, and detector circuits/call points were even allowed to be regular T+E once. I believe 2002 was the significant year for the regs tightening up.

The thing is, I don't think this is codable on an EICR as anything other than a note.
After all, it isn't electrically unsafe and in any case as I understand things BS5389 isn't retrospective either.
Is there any justification within BS7671 for coding it?

 

[Lister1987]

You could use 560.10 but as you say, it complied at time of install, was it ever modified after install? Just got visions of the system being done to 2 versions of 5839.
I'd compile a list of required actions to bring it to current code, advise it was likely to code when installed, discharge the duty of care and leave it to the client to decide what to do.

 

[telectrix]

the fact that the fire alarm is fed in SWA is irrelevant to your EICR as long as the SWA complies with BS7671. i.e it'ssuitable for the load; it is installed in accordance with BS7671 (glanded properly etc.). Your EICR has no relationship to BS5839.

 

[westward10]

You need to specify the type of swa as it may be compliant.

 

[pc1966]

You need to specify the type of swa as it may be compliant.

Do you mean from a LSZH point of view or a high temp survival point of view?

Edit: Just searched and indeed there is fire resistant SWA around:

BS 7846 SWA Armoured Fire Resistant Power LSHF Cable

www.fscables.com

Learn something new every day!

 

[westward10]

the fact that the fire alarm is fed in SWA is irrelevant to your EICR as long as the SWA complies with BS7671. i.e it'ssuitable for the load; it is installed in accordance with BS7671 (glanded properly etc.). Your EICR has no relationship to BS5839.

BS7671 makes reference to supplies for safety systems hence it is relevant.