Important Installer Information

Before commencing with the system installation, it is important to undertake a detailed review of the system design to ensure that the design intent and specification relating to the installation and commissioning process is fully understood.

Where the system has been designed by FireAngel, the following documentation will be provided:

• System design drawings – including wiring layouts and interconnection schematics.
• System overview – outlining system performance requirements, roles and responsibilities, and details of any compliance documentation (e.g. BS 5839-6 installation and commissioning certificates).
• Schedule of variations – highlighting any intentional, agreed deviations from BS 5839-6 requirements.
• Design certification – supplied in both BS 5839-6 and BAFE DS301 formats.

When installing detectors, the following requirements and recommendations from BS 5839-6 must be observed:

• Bedroom coverage – smoke detectors must be installed within 3m of each bedroom doorway. This ensures that sound levels of 85 dB(A) are achieved at the bedroom door.
• Coverage radius (smoke detectors) – no point within the protected area should be more than 7.5m from the centre of a smoke detector.
• Coverage radius (heat detectors) – no point within the protected area should be more than 5.3m from the centre of a heat detector.
• Proximity to walls – detectors must be sited at least 300mm horizontally from any wall.
• Proximity to light fittings – detectors must be at least 300mm horizontally from any light fitting. Where only lighting pendants are present, allowance should be made for possible future installation of lamp shades or fittings.
• Ceiling height positioning (smoke detectors) – must be installed within 600 mm of the highest point of the ceiling.
• Ceiling height positioning (heat detectors) – must be installed within 150 mm of the highest point of the ceiling.
• Structural beams –
• Where beams are greater than 10% of the floor-to-ceiling height, detectors should be sited on either side of the beam, or (if the beam is less than 600mm deep) on the underside.
• Where beams are less than 10% of the floor-to-ceiling height, detectors must be mounted either more than twice the beam depth away, or at least 500mm, whichever is less.
• Air movement considerations – detectors should be installed at least 1m away from air conditioning vents.
• Heat sources – detectors should be installed at least 1m away from heaters.
• Accessibility – detectors should be positioned where they can be reasonably accessed for maintenance, without compromising the siting requirements of BS 5839-6.

Where FireAngel has designed the system, the design will have considered measures to minimise false alarms. However, there may be site specific risks that were not known at the design stage. During installation, additional care should be taken to reduce false alarms by:

• Avoiding sources of steam – do not site smoke detectors close to room openings where steam is likely to occur (e.g. poorly ventilated bathrooms, shower rooms, or certain kitchens).
• Cooking areas – in open-plan kitchen, dining, and living spaces, avoid siting smoke detectors close to cooking facilities.
• Bathrooms and shower rooms – fire detectors should not be installed inside bathrooms or shower rooms.

It is important that all fire alarms are interconnected so that when one detector activates the alarm in each device activates throughout the dwelling.
You can interlink your fire alarms by either cabling or wirelessly using radio modules or a mixture of these methods.

To comply with the recommendations of Building Regulations in all parts of the UK controls for testing, silence and resetting the fire alarms need to be accessible.

The test and silence button that is integrated within each of the fire alarms when mounted on the ceiling is not deemed accessible and therefore it is recommended that a low-level controller is installed.

Low-level controllers are easy to install as they are connected wirelessly to a radio module that can be installed within the closest fire alarm to the low-level controller. The low-level controller does not require mains power as it incorporates a long life 10-year sealed battery which powers the device.

It is important that the correct warning labels are applied to the circuits at the electrical distribution board.

BS 5839-6 details specific wording is provided to prevent inadvertent isolation of power to the fire alarms.

You will find circuit warning labels that comply with BS 5839-6 within the box of each fire alarm for you to use.

Ensure that where cables including cables within containment pass through walls, floors and ceiling penetrations are sealed so that to maintain the fire resistance at the wall floor and ceiling.

The installation must be tested, inspected and certificated in accordance with BS 7671.

Smoke detectors and heat detectors must be tested using test apparatus, this is a requirement of BS 5839-6.

The reliance on operating the user test button to operate fire alarms is not compliant with BS 5839-6 as it does not determine whether smoke can enter the detector chamber or an actual heat source will activate the detector and initiate the fire alarm.

A fully compliant template BS 5839-6 Installation & Commissioning Certificate is available for download and use.

This is an easy to populate and sign digital certificate.
The issuing of this certificate is a requirement of BS 5839-6 and Building Regulation Guidance within the UK.

To comply with BS 5839-6 it is essential that the occupier of the dwelling understands the operation of the system, action to take in the event of a fire alarm, how to avoid false alarms along with procedures for system testing and maintenance.

By installing the occupier QR code label at a visible location within the dwelling, the user has access to all the documented user information detailed in BS 5839-6 that is the responsibility of the system installer to provide.

You will find the User QR code label within the box of each FireAngel grade D1 and grade D2 smoke and heat alarms.