In the realm of fire safety, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) plays an important role in establishing standards that ensure the effectiveness and reliability of fire alarm and signaling systems. One such critical standard is NFPA 72, known as the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code. This comprehensive document introduces guidelines for the installation, maintenance, and performance of fire alarm systems, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding lives and property.....

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Smoke detectors play an essential role in fire safety, alerting us to potential threats and giving us valuable time to evacuate in case of a fire. To ensure the reliability and effectiveness of these life-saving devices, industry standards are continually updated and improved. One such standard is UL 268, which governs the performance of smoke detectors in the United States. In this article we will delve into UL 268 7th edition, exploring its significance, key changes, and the impact it has on fire safety.....

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Smart vape sensor are detection devices designed to detect and discourage the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) or vaping devices for cannabis/marijuana, drugs or other chemical compounds. These detectors have gained popularity in recent years, creating issues in areas where vaping is prohibited or where it is important to maintain air quality, such as schools, healthcare facilities, public buildings, factories, offices and other workplaces. Here are some key aspects of vape detectors.....

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When it comes to home safety, few devices are as essential as smoke alarms. These life-saving devices can provide early warnings of fires, giving you and your loved ones precious moments to evacuate and escape harm. However, not all smoke alarms are created equal. With advancements in technology and various types of smoke alarms available on the market, it's important to understand the differences between them to make an informed choice for your home's protection.....

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Wireless sirens are an innovative solution for alerting people about potential threats or emergencies in a convenient and efficient manner. These devices are becoming increasingly popular for both residential and commercial use, as they offer many benefits compared to traditional wired sirens.....

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Wireless fire alarms are a modern solution for protecting buildings from the dangers of fires. These alarms work by using wireless signals to communicate with each other, rather than being physically connected by wires. This technology has many benefits, including increased flexibility, easier installation, and lower maintenance costs.....

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While many are still grasping onto the idea of UL 217 8^th edition smoke alarm requirement for the North America market, a newer 9^th edition safety standard has already been released for single station & multiple station smoke alarm in October 2022.....

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Security systems are awarded compliance EN50131 certificates in Europe for its reliability that are referred to as grades. The security alarm devices are tested for by a third-party laboratory compliance with all types of rules, laws and requirements. When all the criteria are passed, then it can achieve the certification. Here we will discuss the variations between grades, its testing procedure and how the approval ensures product quality.....

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Modernized industrial production, processing, transport and storage can create various explosive matters, liquid and gas in the surrounding environment. These products can pose public safety issues. Many Explosion incidents in industrial facilities in recent years highlight the lack of understanding of regulations with regards to these dangerous matters.....

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Carbon Monoxide Alarm UL 2034 4^th Edition : Why It Is Important 

The newest carbon monoxide alarm UL2034 4^th edition standard is deemed effective by May 2021. This is the latest revision since 2015 3^rd edition, as recommended by US Consumer Product Safety Commission. All CO alarms on the retail markets should incorporate these new standard changes, approved by a third-party testing lab such as UL or Intertek.....

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UL217 8^th Edition: What and Why Is It Important

UL have rolled out the newest safety requirement for all smoke alarms that will be in effect starting June 2022 for all manufacturers, distributors and retailers. This has been planned for several years because of the fire variance characteristics between the different homes. As per UL study, newer homes are often equipped with synthetic material, lighter construction and layouts that can ignite easily. These materials include Polyurethane foam (PU foam). Another rationale was cooking nuisance caused by the steam or BBQ which cause the owners to disable the alarm voluntarily. Above 2 factors contribute to the development of this new standard.....

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Seniors are at a great risk for falls due to medication and health deterioration. While falling does not pose a serious risk for most healthy adults, simple falls for elderly can cause bone fractures and other injuries, as well as affecting mental wellbeing. To prevent these misfortunes from happening, most of the residents in nursing homes in the 90s were restrained. However, thanks to innovation of monitoring alarms, that number has dropped to 1% in 2011.....

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The European standard of EN54-29 defines the requirement, performance criteria & test methods of multi-sensor fire detectors. This combination alarm requirement was first published in 2015, which aims to maintain quality detectors on the market that is capable of response to wide ranges of fire & high stability.

In general, this standard is a mix of EN54-5 and EN54-7 for heat detector & smoke detector respectively.....

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AS3786 Australia Standard for Smoke Alarm: What is Required

AS3786 edition 2014 is the mandatory standard for smoke alarm in Australia, specifying the requirements of applicable detection devices using scattered light or ionization principles.....

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ULC S531 3^rd edition is an new Canadian standard update, equivalent to UL 217 smoke alarm in US. The new edition is effective on January 1 of 2018. It has been drafted and issued in 2014 by Health Canada. Certification agencies such as UL & Intertek can specify & approve compliant products on the market.....

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For smart home product enthusiasts, there are several considerations for building a smart automation IoT solution.....

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With 2021 setting off the stage for boom in Smart applications & products due to 5G connectivity, the connected ecosystem is expected to reach upwards of 10 billion+ IoT deployment worldwide. It has been dubbed by researchers & scholars as the fourth industrial revolution.....

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In general, fire alarm system can be categorized into the following:

• Automatic or manual
• Conventional or addressable
• Wired or wireless
• Distributed/decentralized or centralized
• Open or closed protocols

The main components of a fire alarm system include.....

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Zigbee

Zigbee is a common open standard for wireless connection between devices at close range. In plain language, it helps smart devices to connect with each other at home, like WiFi & Bluetooth. However, it is more intelligent & safer. It utilizes signal repeater (also known as booster) to extend the range, similar to Z-wave protocol. It can communicate bilaterally, meaning the devices can send and receive signals. Great energy efficiency also makes a device able to last for years on a single battery.....

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LPWAN, or lower power wide area network, has the characteristics of wide coverage, low power consumption, low data transmission & low transmission speed. It is drastically different from the commonly seen Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Z-wave protocols. All these are used extensively in smart home, AIoT, connected cars, Industrial IoT & other 5G applications.....

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End-of-Line Resistor (or EOL) is a resistor that completes the zone circuit in a fire alarm system. Common resistances include 1KΩ、2.2KΩ、4.7KΩ、5.6KΩ、6.8KΩ, which can vary depending on the brand.....

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To determine what type of detector is appropriate for use, we need to understand the fire that is likely to occur. Then we also need to identify how nuisance & false alarm may happen to avoid unnecessary evacuations.....

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Heat detectors are typically used in settings where smoke detectors are not applicable. For instance, in the kitchen or shower, a smoke detector may cause false alert. Rate of rise heat detectors are useful to notice potential fires in early stages.....

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Smoke detectors in the household is important for alerting occupants of fire hazards and saving lives. In order to conform and certify to EN14604 standard, smoke detectors need to pass a series of tests by third-party compliance laboratory to obtain the industry standard. Such certification is also a testament of the detector’s quality & reliability.....

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With a variety of carbon monoxide detector (also CO alarm) products on the market, the European Union has standardized how the device should function to ensure its meets the minimum life safety requirement.....

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With the proliferation of modern electronic appliances, fire safety has never been more important. Sudden short circuit or accidents could all cause fire to occur, so it is essential to have appropriate fire protection that can prevent and mitigate the associated damage. As part of a complete fire alarm system, EN54-7 Smoke detector should be used for protecting buildings & lives.....

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Beam detector, also known as optical line detector, is a smoke sensor device that is often used in high ceiling buildings, warehouse or open area for fire protection. EN54-12 standard states that all products on the market in Europe should meet the requirement listed below (not exhaustive).....

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Smoke Detectors for residential protection in European Union have the mandatory requirement of meeting EN14604 standard. After third party testing approval for CE certificate, the device then can be installed for fire safety purposes. Below we list the 6 main requirements it must meet.....

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What are Waterproof LED Flash Buzzer: Why IP68 Is Important
Waterproof piezo buzzers are made of special construction to prevent the ingress of water from entering the device. Most products with IP65 are water-resistant, while IP67 or IP68 ratings are sometimes considered truly waterproof.....

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In general, there are 2 types of optical beam detectors available on the market nowadays: Reflective & Standalone.....

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Fire siren is a notification device that forms part of a larger fire alarm & security system. It can operate as audible and/or visual signals to alert the occupants nearby of impending danger.....

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The newest UL 268 7^th Edition is for smoke detector used in security system and has over 250 changes from its previous revision. This is the biggest change to smoke alarms since 1976.....

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The latest 8^th edition of UL 217 for residential smoke alarm device made many significant changes to the previous existing standard. 

One of the main requirements is to prevent false alarm resulting from cooking nuisance. Often this non-fire event will cause the user to turn off the alarm and thus disabled its true intended function.....

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Once in a while, we’ll often hear about tragic incidents of people suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning, especially during winter times. This is also much more common In big metropolitan cities where high-rises and apartments are a norm. This is because high concentration of these toxic gases could often accumulate and reach dangerous levels in enclosed space.....

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Since the first standard introduction in 1988, fire injuries and deaths have reduced dramatically over the decades. However, each year there are still about cumulative 10,000 deaths and injuries in the country as a result of fire.....

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With the explosion of Internet of Things (IoT), many wireless standards are becoming available with many different applications. Here we list and compare some of the main legacy and new protocols that are shaping our technology landscape today.....

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Siren is an important part of the alarm system to warn and notify others of dangers, whether it is fire, intrusion or other accidents. Below we list some of the factors that can affect the siren sound’s loudness.....

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In fire alarm system, manual call point (MCP or pull station) is an important device that sends input to the system and notify impending danger. When implementing manual call point, it is important to consider below.....

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While smoke alarm has been around for many years, it is only in recent years has technology advancement made wireless integration possible.....

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LED Incapacitator, or light emitting diode Incapacitator, is a device that emits intermittent colors of various wavelengths that temporarily stuns the target visually and psychologically, causing sensory overload and mental fatigue.....

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Carbon Monoxide alarm detector, or CO Alarm, is an essential detection device for all households. It is enforced by many law agencies around the world as a mandatory device.....

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Manual call point is a small square plastic enclosure that you see in every building, but paid very little attention to it. Manual call point (or referred to as MCP, call point or fire point) is an activation device that triggers the fire alarm by sending out signal to sirens for alert.....

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While technologies continue to improve and new solutions come out every year to safeguard our family and assets, significant amount of burglary still occurs. According to FBI uniform crime reporting statistics, although there has been decline in theft and burglary in the recent years, there are still millions of homes being broken into, resulting in aggregated losses valued at over $3 billion.....

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Residential burglar alarm systems are often smaller in coverage and number of devices than commercial ones. The main objective of an effective burglar alarm system is to detect environmental or physical changes, determine whether the event poses immediate threat and respond accordingly by sending out signals to designated parties.....

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Fire is a serious matter, and it is very important that the false alarm can be reduced. On average, about 10% to 33% of the cases of fire reporting are false alarm. These false alarm end up draining public resources and it is the taxpayers that end up footing the bill.....

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Fire alarms are considered and proven from time to time as one of the most important device you can have for a building. Not only are they required by law for commercial buildings, they are also very beneficial for private residences.....

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Fire protection differs in approaches, depending on the type of fire. Thus, it is essential to first classify the fire by determining the scenario. In general, fire could be classified into the following.....

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With many smoke detector alarms available on the market, the most traditional type is the hard-wire smoke alarms. They are the most basic type and runs on your home’s main power supply (110V or 220V).....

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While 3 types of smoke detectors are most commonly use, there are more varieties available in the market, each suited for different purposes.

The 6 smoke detector types can be broken down by its functions: optical, ionization, aspiration, beam, video and combination. Below we explain the main differences between each of them.....

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A smoke detector (or smoke alarm) is an electronic device for sensing smoke from fire in commercial or residential settings. When presence of smoke is detected, the smoke detector sends signal via wire or radio signal to main control panel (in commercial building) and generates audible alert itself to warn surrounding occupants of impending danger.

Smoke alarms come in a variety of sizes and shapes but are generally categorized into 3 types: photoelectric, ionization, combination.....

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Fire Alarm system is a system of devices connected by wire or wirelessly to detect and indicate individuals of fire hazards in the area. Here we will discuss the two main types of alarm system available on the market.....

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Sound pressure level (SPL) is a regularly used for measuring the sound intensity of an electrical signal. Audible sound is pressure in air that can be detected by human ear, in the range of 20Hz to 20kHz. However, human hearing is most attuned to sound frequency between 1kHz to 4kHz.....

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What and Why is IP Rating Important for Security and Fire Alarm Devices

IP rating, also known as International Protection Marking or Ingress Protection Marking, is an internationally recognized standard to define protection from foreign objects. For fire alarm and security devices, each part varies in their requirement according to its placement. Outdoor objects such as sirens, PIR detector often need to be water-resistant, while indoor smoke detectors are more lax.....

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