Skip navigation


Alarms & Evac Systems
Wormald can provide an Alarm & Evac system to suit your needs. Below you can find product and technical infomation on our systems.  Fire System Enquiries

Installation

One of the great truths in fire protection is that the earlier a fire can be detected, the greater the chance of both putting it out and of minimising the damage it can cause.

Wormald designs, manufactures and installs fire alarm systems which range from simple manual evacuation systems to large systems providing the facilities required for modern building fire safety.

Note: For domestic smoke alarms, see:

 Smoke Alarms 

The current Wormald Evacuation System and Detection Systems are:

 Vigilant QE90 (EWIS)
 Vigilant F3200 (Conventional-Collective)
 MX Fire Indicator Panel (Analogue Addressable)

Wormald commercial detection systems fall into two broad categories:

Both of these systems are comprised of detector units - which may be application specific - and a fire alarm panel (or control panel) which is usually located in the main access to the building and indicates to the fire service the area or zone where the alarm has been tripped.

How Alarm Systems Work

Conventional-collective

Conventional-collective systems are generally the most cost effective option and are normally seen in such areas as strata title buildings, smaller commercial offices and industrial sites. They are essentially simple switches that are either "on" or "off". They cannot distinguish between a real fire and the various non-fire phenomena that can trigger an alarm such as tobacco smoke, dust and steam. Up to forty detectors can be installed on the one circuit and, whilst they can indicate an area or zone where an alarm has been triggered, they cannot indicate a specific location in that zone.

Analogue addressable

Analouge addressable detector systems are in constant two-way communication with the control panel which can be likened to the "brain" of the system. They are continuously monitoring the protected area for changes in temperature patterns or air clarity. Any abnormal rise in temperature or evidence of smoke is communicated to the fire panel which - after analysing the signals - then makes the decision to trigger the alarm and shows which detector is indicating a fire in a specific part of the building.

Components Of An Alarm System

Detector Units

As for the detector units themselves, these come in a wide variety of models depending on the risk to be protected. Thermal detectors require either a rapid rate of rise in temperature or the ambient temperature passing a set level to set them off. Smoke detectors are operated by photo-optic mechanisms where there is likely to be visible particles given off or by ionisation where combustion can take place with no real visible smoke - such as with large quantities of paper. Some industrial applications, particularly in petrochemical installations, may require the use of infrared or ultra-violet detectors which detect those light wavelengths in the flames given off by particular substances. Detector units can be any of the following:

  • Heat
  • Rate of temperature rise
  • Smoke
  • Flame
  • Hazardous gases
  • Air sampling (V.E.S.D.A)

Various levels of detector sensitivity can be utilised and, if necessary, coupled with confirmation signals as safeguards.

Fire Alarm Panel

The 'brain' of detection systems is the Fire Alarm Panel. Not only does it receive and process alarm signals from the detectors, it can sound the alarms in the building, initiate early warning systems, notify the Fire Service and building management, close fire doors and start up smoke handling and ventilation devices as well as shut down building systems. Some - as with the F4000 panel installed by Wormald - can also be connected to personal computers and printers so that, for example, on university or hospital campuses, emergency services can be issued with printed maps showing the location of the fire. The fire alarm panel can control any of the following:

  • Automatic fire detection
  • Control of air conditioning
  • Staged evacuation
  • Automatic fire extinguishant release
  • Remote communications links & interface with building management systems
  • Gas detection

A variety of signalling and display systems are available, ranging from mimic diagrams to fully computerised visual displays in fire service control rooms.

For more information about fire systems and solutions please use our Fire Systems Enquiries form to have a Wormald representative contact you.