Ongoing development is a key contributor in finding effective ways to protect against the threat of fire. As part of its ongoing commitment to its ‘Smarter Protection Matters’ philosophy, Siemens has announced the launch of IP8, the latest version of Cerberus PRO, the company’s comprehensive EN54-13 approved fire-alarm system.
Higher power
One of the central features of the new IP8 version is the introduction of a 1.5A per line high-power driver which, importantly, allows more devices to be installed on a single loop, increasing flexibility and improving efficiency. Compared to the previous capacity for the number of EN54-23 devices possible, the new IP8 loop cards can accommodate more than double. While the majority of addressable systems are wired as a loop, some may have spurs. The Cerberus PRO system can also support this, up to a maximum of 40 spurs per loop. The Siemens development team responsible for IP8 have worked hard to optimise efficiencies which, despite the increase in power, has resulted in smaller batteries and housings.
Disturbance-free testing
Another feature of the Cerberus PRO IP8 system is the disturbance-free function testing (DFT) capabilities. Through remote services, maintenance can be simplified and business interruption minimised with monitoring and periodic testing of devices undertaken off-site. This is across devices on the system, from detectors and voice messaging to sounders and beacons. Silent load testing and activation of the devices which are unnoticeable to occupants also help to further reduce any impact on day-to-day operations, particularly in busy public and commercial buildings.
Many of the checks can be performed automatically without the need for any human intervention. For example, detectors, sounders and beacons can be configured to conduct disturbance-free function tests every 24 hours, emitting a very low level of sound and light inaudible and invisible to the human senses. If a fault is identified, an event is sent to the control panel which is visible through the Cerberus PRO cloud apps. This regular testing also ensures that on-site service visits can be planned with more information available in advance, allowing any specific issues to be addressed with prior knowledge.
Off-site configuration
There are benefits to remote services even before regular maintenance checks are required. Through its cloud connectivity capability, Cerberus PRO can actually be configured off-site. Device, zone section and area information can all be programmed from a remote location, as can evacuation and control zones. The necessary cause (detectors, call points, pressure switches etc) and effect (vent opening, closure of dampers etc) can also be tested and proven remotely, all via a single panel.
False alarms
Siemens has continued to offer its Guarantee Against False Alarms with the Cerberus PRO system. False (or unwanted) alarms continue to be a significant issue in the fire industry, representing a significant drain on fire-service resources and resulting in an estimated annual cost of over £1billion in the UK.1 There is also the loss of public confidence in system performance, which can have a detrimental impact on achieving effective evacuation in the event of a real fire incident.
Unlike other solutions, which often focus on reducing false alarms by replacing smoke detection with heat detection or adding delays to the system, Siemens Cerberus PRO ASA detectors use a patented detection-chamber design, dual-optical sensing technology and Advanced Signal Analysis (ASA) to optimise response. This virtually eliminates false alarms from the deceptive phenomena which regularly cause them such as dust, steam, aerosols, cooking and exhaust fumes. This means that EN54-approved smoke detectors can be installed in many applications in which heat detectors would normally be used.
Open protocol
Cerberus PRO is an open-protocol system, i.e. the language which is used to allow different components (detectors, sounders, call points, control modules etc) to communicate with the fire-alarm control panel allows other systems such as building management systems (BMS), CCTV and access control to be easily integrated.
New projects plus system upgrades
The benefits of Cerberus PRO and the additional potential afforded by the IP8 innovations means it is already being recognised as the optimum solution for a wide range of applications. In addition to new installations, the capacity the higher power offers to reduce the number of control panels on a fire-alarm system is also expected to see a significant increase in the use of the Cerberus PRO IP8 panel to upgrade older third-party manufacturer installations.
For more information, go to www.siemens.com
Notes
- Source – Fire Industry Association (FIA)
