The new addition to the ISO 7240 series of international product standards, part 14, was released last week, bringing together various fire detection and alarm systems into one standard for their design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance that can be easily adopted internationally.
The product of many years of revision and consultation with experts worldwide, ISO 7240-14 focuses on the earliest possible fire detection in and around buildings, for the protection of life, property, and the environment. It closely follows the European series of standards, EN54.
Fire detection and alarm systems have often been plagued by poor system design, installation, and maintenance, leading to loss of performance and reliability. The new standard should go some way towards ensuring these tasks are properly performed by experienced, qualified personnel.
Peter Parsons, chairman of ISO technical committee ISO/TC 21, subcommittee SC 3, which developed the standard, said part 14 was the missing piece of the puzzle.
For the first time, we have a series of standards dealing with both the equipment and its configuration and installation. This will help ensure that fire detection and alarm systems give building occupants early warning of fire. The earlier we can detect a fire, the more chance we have of reducing human and material losses. This standard will help save the lives of building occupants.
Parsons added the new standard will provide a “life-safety system solution that can be widely adopted,” as it is particularly suited to emerging economies, many of which lack standards for fire detection systems and continue to suffer an unacceptably high death toll from building fires.
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