Integration of smoke control solutions  

This article was published in the September edition of Fire Risk Management.

Imagine...

Imagine a future where all services in a building communicate seamlessly by working together through one system. A management system, upon detecting smoke in a building alerts the fire brigade immediately. The CCTV system locates the fire and communicates pictures to the fire service. Sprinklers are activated in appropriate sequence, voice alarms guide people in the building to emergency doors, which are co-ordinated with lighting to aid evacuation.

 The system shuts down power in fire zones to prevent further hazard and allows fire fighters to monitor who is in the building and where. At the same time the windows are automatically opened to aid smoke dispersal as required and any mechanical smoke ventilation systems are activated. This image is no longer just a vision for the future but is easily achievable using existing technology and software.

A fully integrated system makes it possible for building services such as the fire alarm, security, CCTV, smoke control, passive ventilation and lighting systems to work together, with the overall operation of the building managed through one Human Machine Interface (HMI).

A HMI screen provides one point of control and visualisation for all services within a building, making monitoring, control and fault diagnosis much more straightforward.

So if a system such as this is available - one that could save valuable time and ultimately lives in the event of a fire - why do so few buildings have this intelligence?

Reality

You might assume the answer to that question is cost. In fact, such a system cuts installation and maintenance costs significantly. So what is the reason more buildings don't have this technology installed?

The reality is that contractors and engineers usually specialise in one field such as smoke control or air conditioning, so when a building management system (BMS) is being planned, it is often designed and installed by separate specialists in isolation. This means communication and integration between the different services is minimal.

When each package is developed in isolation it causes problems with communication when the systems are all connected at the conclusion of a project. The nature of this type of segregated installation requires each package to have its own associated hardware to make it function.

This creates waste, with a proliferation of essentially duplicate material which would be surplus to requirements if all of the services were integrated from project conception.
As a result, the overall system is more expensive, contrary to what you might expect.

Duplication

When packages are designed separately a controller is required for each of the building services such as smoke control, passive ventilation, lighting, fire alarm and door access. Often each controller will have a BMS unit located next to it which, due to the limited interface between the different components, takes a low level of information back to the main BMS panel.

It is not uncommon to see these controllers next to each other in a riser cupboard duplicated at multiple locations throughout the building. When you consider the additional hardware required for this kind of system it's easy to see why an intelligent building management system, where the circuit boards are networked together and are programmed to work with each other, is more cost effective.

Another key issue with intelligent building systems is the variety of communication protocols between the different components, which can cause problems when it comes to the different elements communicating with each other. When system services are designed in isolation and each specialist uses its own preferred communication platform, a closed protocol is created.

This means that different contractors do not have knowledge of other software and the components that those boards use. This causes problems, for example, with the fire alarm communicating effectively with power systems. Interface gateways can be used to correct this problem to allow various systems to talk to each other. However, this can be costly and there remain limitations to how well the different services work together.

Building management systems are currently being used in many buildings to co-ordinate a variety of different services to some extent. This usually extends to relaying status information through volt free contacts. However, the use of volt free contacts limits the development of any future work to the system or any wider integration as the information that can be exchanged is fixed.

A network system, based on open BMS protocols, enables a flexible approach with information available to all parts of the system. Feedback loops can be easily created leading to enhanced performance, reduced operating costs and a more user friendly system.

Complications for the fire brigade

On arrival at an incident the fire brigade can face a myriad of controls that are designed to assist them. The different displays can be complicated and hard to understand without substantial training. By combining control systems to a high level of automation it can reduce the burden on the fire brigade. The HMI can present diagrammatical information that is clear and easy to understand including live video footage of the fire area. It can also identify where people are located in a building. This enables the fire brigade to manage emergency situations more effectively and safely.

Where smoke control solutions are not integrated into the overall system the fire brigade is at an instant disadvantage as it tries to locate the fire, while trying to establish areas where power should be shut down to reduce further risk.

As they go through the separate control systems, time is wasted and lives are in danger. By integrating smoke control solutions and other services into a BMS, the fire brigade can use the HMI to shut all systems down quickly and easily - sparing several precious minutes.
 

Maintenance benefits of integrated systems

A fully integrated system with one HMI enables the user to have complete control over the building from one location. The single point of control makes monitoring and fault diagnosis more efficient and reduces maintenance costs.

Where separate contractors maintain individual systems, there is no one contractor looking after all of a building's services as a whole. This results in higher maintenance costs as the building requires different contractors to attend site to carry out a small amount of work on each service.

It is not uncommon for sections of the building's control systems to be omitted during the specification of the project. This problem is compounded during the tender process where it can be difficult for estimators to ensure that all aspects have been covered between the different specialists.

This problem can be removed where a system is combined onto a single platform and responsibility for maintenance is taken by a single contractor. This means that only one site visit is required for maintenance, which in turn lowers costs. When problems arise, only one contractor is required to attend site to find the root of the problem and undertake corrective work.

Collaboration to create a more efficient system

So if integrating all services into one system creates a more efficient and intelligent building that is cost effective, why aren't all BM systems fully integrated? The answer, as we touched on above, is simple. Collaboration is not encouraged because contractors are keen to maintain an edge over competitors, so there is no incentive to share information which could create a better overall output and generate safer conditions for a building's occupants and the fire service.

Also with very few contractors specialising in writing software for a fully integrated building management system, smoke control can often be left out of the integrated mix.

Specialists with the ability to take responsibility for multiple packages can design out duplication and deliver integrated systems that achieve cost savings in the construction and operation of buildings, while enhancing safety through a simpler communication method and a more responsive system.

Chris Jones is Commercial Director of the SCS Group, one of the UK's leading providers of building management, smoke control solutions and ventilation. For more information visit www.groupscs.co.uk