Fire Alarm Detection in High-ceiling Rooms

Abstract

For life extension of nuclear power plants, new codes must often be applied. For fire alarm systems, these codes can result in the addition of fire detectors in locations where none had previously been required. In rooms with ceilings at typical heights, designing detection is generally not problematic. It can, however, be more challenging to design fire alarm detection in spaces with high ceilings. In these environments, fire alarm systems should be designed considering the effects that high ceilings can have on the dynamics of a fire. If not, they can be ineffective, and result in significant cost for the installation and maintenance of a system that does not meet its design objectives.