visual alarm devices - fpa a

Visual Alarm Devices

Presented prepared by Chris Orr

All slides are Copyright of FPA Australia


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• The new standard AS7240.23 is based on EN54-23/ISO 7240.23

• New Clause 3.22 (b) (xvi)&(xvii) introduces the requirements for VADs

Areas designated for persons with hearing impairment

Areas of high ambient noise

Where reverberation time exceeds 1.50s

Where hearing protection is warn

Where audible warning is not provided

Where speech intelligibility cannot be achieved



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• Whatever the position of the individual in relation to the VAD, he/she must see the flash off surfaces (Direct/Indirect)

• Visual Alarm Device performance has been previously poorly specified.

• The use of Joules, Watts and Candela to specify a VADs performance does not take into account the effectiveness of the visual signal over a given area.



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• AS7240.23 does not measure the brightness of the beacon but the illuminance off a surface (Lux=lumens/m²)

• Based on research the minimum required illumination off a surface to attract attention is 0.4 LUX.

• This provides an easy way to specify performance –Accessible Areas??

• The old approach of “If I can see it, it must be OK” no longer applies



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• VADs are rated for volume of coverage that provides the required illumination on all surfaces.

• The rating of a VAD provides a defined area of coverage for the specific VAD making the design process much easier and with a know illumination outcome.

• Two types of beacon are acceptable as a visual alarm device: Xenon & LED

• Rotating types are not allowable under the Standard.



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• Three categories of devices are defined,

ceiling mounted,

wall mounted, and

an open category.

• Consult the manufacturer’s data

• At a given mounting height, the coverage area of a VAD is defined by the diameter (ceiling mount) or width (wall mount) of the coverage, given in metres.


Visual Alarm DevicesCeiling Mount Devices C-x-y

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x – The maximum mounting height

(3, 6 or 9 m)

y – The diameter is the cylindrical

volume covered.

Eg: C-3-15 corresponds to a ceiling-mounted device giving a coverage cylindrical diameter of 15 m, when mounted at 3 m height.

To convert the coverage diameter y to the width of a square room = y / 1.414 m (15m = 10.6m)


Visual Alarm DevicesWall Mounted Devices W-x-y

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x – The maximum mounting height

(Minimum value of 2.4m)

y – The width of the Square volume

covered at a height x

Eg: W-2.4-7.5 corresponds to a wall-mounted device giving a coverage cuboid volume of 2.4 m x 7.5 m x 7.5 m, when mounted at a height of 2.4 m.


Visual Alarm DevicesO – Open Class Device

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• Coverage volume is specified by

the manufacturer

• Open class devices do not conform to either

the Wall or Ceiling category.

• Manufacturer’s specification will include: -

the mounting position

the mounting orientation

the minimum and maximum mounting height

the shape, dimensions and orientation of the coverage volume (0.4 lux)

Example: Corridor VAD


Visual Alarm DevicesExternal factors

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• Ambient light level

Will artificial light and natural light be a factor (time of day, etc)

• Reflective surfaces

Are walls or other surfaces matt or shiny, etc.?

• Field of view

Is the light visible from the VAD ‘directly’ or ‘indirectly’ e.g. light reflected from an adjacent surface would be indirect

• Use of tinted eye protection

Is the VAD to be used in an industrial environment, where personal protective equipment (PPE) may be in use, etc.?


Visual Alarm DevicesCoverage Distance Multiplication Factors

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• Multiplication factors should only be used after careful consideration of the application, including prevailing ambient light level and the need to rely on indirect, rather than direct illumination.

• Multiplication factors applied to the coverage distance for VADs may increase, or decrease the specified coverage volume stated by the manufacturer.

Courtesy of Coopers Fulleon



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• Consult the VAD manufacturer’s data sheets for the application

• Manufacturer’s provide design guides and/or software APPS

• Correction Amendment: Clause 3.22 (xvi) delete

“ They shall have the temporal pattern described in ISO 8201 imposed on the evacuate signals”

Baseline Data

Presented by Chris Orr


Baseline Data

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• Baseline data has always been implied in the design standards but rarely adequately treated.

• Baseline data has been misunderstood and/or misused in the application of AS1851.

• So much so FP001 is about to issue an amendment to clarify the use of baseline data within the inspection and test regimes.

• The deficiency has been in the design standards in not adequately treating the need for and how we obtain the necessary data.


Baseline Data

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• The new AS1670.1 Clause 1.7 mandates the establishment of baseline data

• New Definition 1.4.10 Baseline data – Data derived from the approved design and commissioning which serve as the basis for subsequent comparison with data derived from inspection, test and survey. (AS1851)

• Clause 1.7.1 General: …The system design shall include the details and documentation for both installation and commissioning of the system.


Baseline Data

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• Clause 1.7.2 Baseline data …. The design, installation and commissioning documentation shall be provided to facilitate the service and maintenance of the system for the period of its service life…... (AS1851)

• This clause now links the aspects of design, installation and commissioning.


Baseline Data

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The baseline data shall include but not limited to:

• Site identification

• Scope of system design

• Type of system

• As built drawings including wiring and component details

• Statement that equipment used complies to the relevant product standard

• System interface diagram/cause and effect sheet

• Monitoring details if applicable

• Power supply details including all quiescent and alarm load calculations

The standard is very specific as to what must be included as the minimum Baseline Data - Baseline Data reflects the design


Baseline DataImplications of mandating baseline data

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Clause 1.7.2 Baseline data …. The design, installation and commissioning documentation shall be provided to facilitate the service and maintenance of the system for the period of its service life…...

The baseline data links the performance of the life safety system to the performance of the building


Baseline DataImplications of mandating baseline data

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AS1670.1 2015 introduces 4 new appendix to define the documentation to be provided at the time of system certification.

Appendix E - System Designers statement

Appendix F - Standard form of installer’s statement for automatic fire detection and alarm systems

Appendix G - System commissioning statement

Appendix J - Commissioning


Designer’s Statement

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The design statement needs to identify:

• The Name and/or company providing the design.

• Location and name of the site, building and if applicable address.

• The system is an alteration to an existing system, a new system.

• Type of system: collective (conventional), addressable, analogue-addressable or any combinations.


Designer’s Statement

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The design statement needs to identify:

• The design criteria

AS 1670.1—2015,

Deemed to satisfy provisions of NCC,

Alternate Solution

including Fire Safety Engineering Report reference


Designer’s statement

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• We certify the equipment used within the design ….

• We have provided the following design documentation

• I/we confirm the design includes any changes required during the installation of the system and that the system meets the design standard required.


Installer’s Statement

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The Installer’s statement needs to identify:

• The Name and/or company providing the installation.





Installer’ Statement

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• The system design documentation was provided by -

Design Ref. No. _____.

• The design criteria is AS 1670.1—2015, Deemed to satisfy provisions of NCC, an Alternate Solution provided by engineer’s name/company; fire safety engineering report (FSER) reference ………………………...


Installer’s Statement

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We certify that—

(a)The system is installed to the design documentation including all amendments.

(b) The design documentation has been updated to include all installation detail including but not limited to zoning, device location, device type, transmission/circuit paths, location of all junction boxes, location of primary power source and location of all end of line devices (ELD).

(c) The cabling meets the requirements of AS 1670.1—2015.

Cable provider’s license number:


Commissioning Statement

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The Commissioning statement needs to identify:

• The Name and/or company providing the installation.






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• The design statement has been provided by Name and/orcompany/address.

• The installer’s statement has been provided by Name and/orcompany/address.

• The Design criteria is, AS 1670.1—2015, Deemed to satisfyprovisions of NCC, an Alternate Solution provided byengineer’s name/company; fire safety engineering report(FSER) reference ………...



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We certify that the installed system—

(a) meets the design standard specified;

(b) is correctly installed;

(c) meets the cause and effect matrix requirements;

(d) meets the system interface requirements;

(e) commissioning report is provided; and

(f) the baseline data is provided (refer Clause 1.7.2).


Baseline Data

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• The new requirements recognise the specific andindividual skill sets required to design, install andcommission a system.

• The appendices are deliberately informative becausesystem design and performance is specific to thebuilding type, size, layout and occupancy

• There is no generic commissioning routine, it must bedeveloped and documented to reflect the system designand functionality

• The format of these appendices is informative to allowan individual company to customise the commissioningdocumentation.


Baseline Data

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The appendices might be informative BUT the documentation required SHALL be provided.

Design ● Installation ● Commissioning

The COMMISSIONING format is informative BUT the requirement to commission IS MANDATORY


Baseline Data

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Thank you for your time

visual alarm devices - fpa a

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