FIRE DETECTION PROTOCOLS
OPENING UP THE DEBATE ON FIRE DETECTION PROTOCOLS
As all the details of the protocol are disclosed to associated partners, it is referred to as an ‘open’ protocol. An open protocol system avoids many of the potential pitfalls of being tied to a single manufacturer. The benefits offered by open protocol systems include: ● Choice – An open protocol system makes products interchangeable across a wide range of manufacturers and offers freedom of choice in terms of product, installer and maintainer. The customer is free to choose between different companies to service the system. ● Expertise – Different suppliers could be used for the components according to their specific area of expertise. Open protocol manufacturers can concentrate their core specialist skills and maintain flexibility in an integrated systems approach. ● No Restrictions – Upgrades, maintenance or replacement of products can be undertaken by any competent installer. ● Availability – Compatible products are available from a greater range of suppliers. ● Competition – Multiple providers create greater price competition and drive providers to keep customers because they give the best value and service. ● Innovation – Open protocol offers customers greater choice as it drives manufacturers to innovate and create better products that people select because of their performance. One criticism sometimes directed at open protocol is that combining products from different manufacturers inevitably means that the system
forwards and backwards compatibility between products, simplifying extensions of systems or replacement of detectors to accommodate changes of building use and making upgrades logistically easier because work can be carried out in phases over time.
Key Considerations There are pros and cons for both closed and open protocol and the decision as to which type of fire detection system to be installed needs to be made on a case-by-case basis. There are, however, some key questions that should be asked and the following checklist is a useful starting point when beginning the process of purchasing a new fire detection system, whether open or closed protocol: ● Is the manufacturer a well-established company? ● What after-sales service is offered by the manufacturer? ● How long will the product range be supported? ● What is the manufacturer’s upgrade policy? ● Will the manufacturer maintain product backwards and forwards compatibility? ● Can the system maintenance be carried out by any competent third party? If yes, what knowledge, protocols, equipment, software passwords etc are required? ● What is the cost of maintenance for the life of the system? ● What is the cost of replacement parts (such as detectors) for the life of the system? ● What are the labour rates for service and call outs and the rates for software upgrades?
A criticism sometimes directed at open protocol is that combining products from different manufacturers inevitably means that the system will not work as well as one where all the components are sourced from a single manufacturer. This is a false assumption as the certification and testing for all the components of the fire detection system remains the same.
Paul Pope is Business Innovation Manager at Apollo Detectors For further information, go to www.apollo-fire.co.uk 34
will not work as well as one where all the components are sourced from a single manufacturer. However, this is a false assumption as the certification and testing for all the components of the fire detection system remains the same. To use a sporting analogy, most Formula 1 racing cars are a combination of components from various specialist high technology manufacturers and are extremely successful. In this highly competitive sport it is an advantage to use the best in-class specialist manufacturers that can concentrate on their own skill areas. This is also true in the fire detection industry. Basing fire system development on partnering rather than excluding other manufacturers encourages longevity. Manufacturers may come in or occasionally drop out of the partnership, but products compatible with the shared, open protocol will always remain. The digital protocol that Apollo detectors use, for example, has been available since 1980, and has since been extended twice to ensure that Apollo technology is always the latest and most up to date in the industry. Although the protocol has been extended, it still ensures
Conclusion The objective of this checklist is to make decision makers consider the total cost of ownership (TCO) rather than just the purchase price when making a financial comparison between fire detection systems. The TCO includes all of the additional costs required to support and maintain the system purchased for its lifetime. The protocol of a fire detection system must be considered at the purchasing stage in order to help determine the total lifetime costs. Even where one option seems to offer an initial cost saving, it is the whole life cost of the fire system – and how easy it will be to maintain to a standard that meets both current and future requirements – that must be the priority of the fire safety professional. Apollo acknowledges the importance of life safety and system integrity and recommends the routine replacement of detectors after ten years. Apollo’s Product Lifetime Guarantee supports the recommended working life of a detector and provides a warranty on all products, which for detectors is ten APF years and for CO detectors is five years. ASIA PACIFIC FIRE