Other Engineering Answers

What advice would you offer local authority in terms of their future policy on provision of smoke alarm, with particular reference to BS 5839-6. What grade category is currently installed? Outline minimum grade category shown in Table 1 for older properties, possibly no longer in good condition. As this part (c) is 60% of marks, a formal mini report of around 250 words is envisaged for full answer

a. Define the term Smoke Alarm (as distinct to a smoke detector)
b. A member of your staff, who lives in a four bedroom, two storey house with 3 generations of their family, were to asked for advice regarding smoke alarms, what advice would you give
1. the type of devices that they should purchase, particurlaly in terms of standards, principle of operation and power supply
2. the number of alarms that should be installed and where they should be sited. What is the minimum grade category for this house, and why might this not protect all persons in the event of a fire
c. A local authority has experienced a number of deaths inolder two storey local authority dwellings in which battery operated smoke alarms had been installed by the local authority, as landlord. On inspection its found that in most cases, batteries had been removed from the smoke alarms.
1. comment on reason why the batteries might have been removed

Consideration should be given to factors that include the likely nature of a fire, environmental consideration and fire safety objectives

1. Summarize the measures necessary when the rate reaches each of the two critical points described in BS 5839-1 section 3
2. If the system does exceed the higher of the two rates described, what drastic effects does this have on the status of the system as warned in the BS
3. Summarize the advice in Table 5 of BS 5839-1
4. Which type of detector is mainly immune to common false alarm problems, yet still can detect fire very quickly. How do they achieve this performance

Give a brief outline of the method of operation (not just what they do) of each of the following types of detectors

1. electronic fixed temperature rate of raise heat detector
2. isonisation chamber smoke detector
3. optical smoke detector
4. carbon monoxide fire detector
5. infra red flame detector
6. ultra violet flame detector

b. Choose any four of the above devices and give at-least two examples in which,

1. detector would be suitable for fire detection
2. unsuitable for installation

Explain the circumstances in which a staff alarm might be considered and the arrangements that you would incorporate within a staff alarm facility to ensure an adequate degree of safety for occupants of a multi-storey office building. see 19.2.2 of BS 5839-1

A fire quite often follows a change to an industrial process. Give an example of such a change that could result in self heating occuring

Discuss the properties of glass with respect to transmitted heat and the implications for glazing on escape routes

What is the inverse square law and how does it relate to fire safety? Outline a factor other than the spread of heat where the inverse square law also impacts on fire safety in premises.