Fire alarm zoning

[monkeyhanger]

Hello, any opinions on this,
we need to replace a fire alarm panel in a building, cafe/kitchens/office/staff toilets/disabled toilet/storage rooms are on the ground floor (approx 600m2, the 60m max search distance from the main entrance is well within limits). There are 2x toilets located upstairs for public use, the stairwell is not enclosed- the stairs go directly up from the main cafe room. There are no other rooms or areas upstairs.

All of the ground floor is on zone 1, however it is split into 3x fire compartments.

[There is a detector on the landing leading to the toilets and one inside the toilets / lobby, on zone 2.]

As the stairs to the toilets lead directly off the main room (e.g. no door etc) should these detectors not be on the same zone as the ground floor? Or do they have to be because it's another storey?

I've completed FIA 1, 4 & 5 but I think it raised more questions with me than it answered!

 

[tazz]

Rule of thumb is 20 detectors per zone max or 2,00sqms, but the more zones you use the better info given to locate the fire.
Staircases are classed as zones on their own covering all floors. Would be good to see a planned drawing so i could give you more advice, but would say from your post kitchen 1, cafe area Toilets 2, offices & storage 3, staircase 4, first floor 5.

 

[monkeyhanger]

Thanks for advice, we aren't designing the system from new though- and I would have to justify a full new system if we were to split everything up.

The zone doesnt exceed 20 detectors, is there actually a non compliance with having all of the ground floor on one zone?

The landing and lobby leading to the 2x toilets are on zone 2. The bottom of the stairs is zone 1.

(also, I assume you meant 2000 m2 max in your post).

 

[tazz]

Having all of ground floor is not a failure (aslong as 20 detector rule is ok)
Technically the staircase is zone 1 and first floor toilets are zone 2...so thats ok.
So the system zoning will be fine, just idea to give more info on ground floor...this is where somtimes an addressable system becomes more cost effective as 1 loop gives over 40 zones, and therfore more info.