Integrating Fire Alarm Systems With Other Building Automation and Controls Systems.
Integrating Fire Alarm Systems With Other Building
Automation and Controls Systems.
(37574 K)
Bushby, S. T.
Fire Protection Engineering, No. 11, 5-11, Summer 2001.
Keywords:
fire alarm systems; BACnet; building automation;
building control systems; communication protocol;
cybernetic buildings; fire detection systems;
intelligent buildings
Abstract:
There are many economic and operational reasons to
integrate fire systems with other building automation
systems. Integration of this kind requires communication
standards and careful design practices. BACnet is an
internationally recognized communication protocol
standard specifically designed for integrating building
automation and control systems. Thousands of BACnet
systems can be found around the world and its popularity
is growing. Newly proposed additions to BACnet make it
very well suited for integrating fire systems with other
building automation systems. Even with communication
standards there are other design issues that need to be
addressed in order to assure the integrity of fire
systems when they are integrated with other building
systems. Best design practices, testing procedures and
building codes need to be modernized to accommodate
integrated building systems.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899