Fire Alarm Manual Call Points

Fire Alarm Manual Call Points

Most Commercial and Industrial Fire Alarm Systems installed haveing Call Point units or Manual call point (MCP) or Manual Pull station as part of the system. I also commissioned one/two addressable fire detection system where maximum is Manual call station/pull station and very less Detectors. These units are often the most visual indication of a fire alarm system and are instantly recognizable.

Manual Call Points (MCPs) are referred to or referenced by different names in various regions worldwide like Break Glass Units (BGs), Pull Stations, Push Buttons, Alarm Points, etc.

When should a Manual Call Point be used? In the event of a fire in a building; or if there is no automatic detection activated by the installed heat & smoke detection or any other detectors; or if you discover the fire personally and if there is an emergency condition – you need to activate the Manual Call Point to trigger the Fire Detection And Alarm System (FDAS) in the building so that the system initiates the necessary notification devices and sends signals to many other third party systems (Voice Evacuation, Emergency Lighting, Smoke Control, Lifts, etc.) in the building.

Introduction to Call Points

In order to comply with BS EN 54-11 (The European / British Standard referring to manual call points) fire alarm call points should be Red.  Most call points are operated by breaking a frangible glass element which operates a micro-switch inside the call point (although some modern call points do now have plastic resettable elements). There are a variety of different call point manufacturers and types of call points, however within a single building it is good practice to use call points similar in appearance to avoid confusion. Call Points are available for Conventional / Non-addressable Fire Alarm Systems, Analogue Addressable Fire Alarm Systems, Wireless Fire Alarm System and Two-Wire Fire Alarm Systems.  There are also specialist call points available for different applications such as weatherproof / waterproof / Explosion proof call points and call points operated by a key switch instead of an element. We will discuss one by one in another post.

Where to Position Call Points?

BS5839 recommends that call points should be located on all final exits, all storey exits i.e. entrances to stairwells and also consideration should be taken to locating call point units near to any high risks or special hazards (e.g. in Kitchens or Spray Booths etc.).

Call points should be distributed in a building so that no one need travel any more than 45 meters to reach their nearest call point.  This distance is measured against the actual route a person would follow taking into account locations of walls, partitions and fixings.  For high risk areas and special hazards as mentioned above a person should have to travel no more than 25 meters to reach their nearest manual call point taking into account fixtures and fittings.

In food preparation areas it is advisable to install call points with a plastic element rather than the glass element as the possibility of broken glass in these areas must be avoided.

For fully manned shops or certain other premises such as banks and bars for example where the possibility of malicious operation is high, the public may not have access to manual call points, but the staff have been provided concealed manual call points.  The use of concealed call points is always decided in consultation with fire authorities and is subject to a variation from BS5839.

The mounting height of call points should be 1.4 meters +/-0.2m above the floor level and call points should project by 15mm from the wall (i.e. not completely flush), this allows the call point to be seen from the side.  Where disabled people are expected to operate call points, it can be agreed with consultation to install the call points at a lower height.  The agreed height should be documented on the fire alarm certificates.

Manual Call Points should be located on escape routes and, in particular, at all storey exits and all exits to open air (whether or not the exits are specified fire exits), so that it is impossible to leave the storey or the building without passing a manual call point.

Call Points whether they are conventional or addressable come is two types; flush and surface mounted.  So what is the diffence between the two?

Flush Mounted Call Points

Flush mounted call points are designed to be mounted on a wall where the cables to the call point are concealed within the fabric of the wall.  These call points are supplied without a backbox.  The flush mounted call points give a very neat looking installation when positioned correctly in place.  A flush mounted call point would generally be used in the construction of new buildings and extensive refurbishments.

Surface Mounted Call Points

Surface Mounted Call Points are designed to be positioned directly onto a wall using a backbox.  The backbox allows space behind the call point unit to terminate the cables.  These types of call points are generally used in industrial applications where the finished look is not as important as in public areas.

Siting of Manual Call Points

A manual call point is often the most recognizable component of a fire alarm system.  It is usually the most visible part of the system and the look of the call point is iconic and synonomous with fire safety.

All manual call points which make up a fire alarm system, should comply to BS EN54-11 and be single action type A versions.

When carrying out a fire alarm system design the manual call point should be sited as follows:-

• On all storey exits and all exits to open air irrespective of whether they are designated fire exits or not.
• Nobody should have to travel more than 45 metres within the building to reach a manual call point, except if the exit routes are undefined in which case the direct line distance should not exceed 30 metres.
• The above distances should be reduced to 25 and 16 metres respectively, if there are persons with limited mobility or there is a likelihood of rapid fire development.
• A manual call point should be positioned in all areas of high fire risk, such as kitchens for example.
• Where phased evacuations are planned, a manual call point needs to be sited on all exits from a particular zone.
• Manual Call Points should be positioned 1.4 metres + or - 200mm above the floor.
• Manual Call Points with protective hinged covers for whatever reason should be listed as a variation from the recommendations of BS5839 on the fire alarm system certification.

How to Activate a Manual Call Point? There are different types of manual call points.
1. Break Glass Unit – Break the glass, and then the signal will be sent to the system
2. Pull Station – Pull the lever, and then the signal will be sent to the system
3. Break Glass with Double Action cover – Lift the cover and break the Glass
4. Pull Station with double action cover – Lift the cover and pull the lever
5. Push Button type – Push the button, and the signal will be sent to the system

There are many different types; most often, when installed for FDAS, they are installed in red housing or casing for easy identification; however, in some jurisdictions, these can be other colours for architectural aesthetical purposes. It is always important to check with the authority having jurisdiction and to ensure the MCPs are readily recognisable, easily identified and signed as per the local guidelines and regulations.

Example of where to site manual call points:-

Please Note:- In order to comply with the requirements of building regulations approved document M, which requires electrical switches including manual call points to be mounted at between 1 meter + or - 200mm on wheelchair access routes, these should be listed as a variation on the certificates as BS requires manual call points to be mounted at 1.4 meters high + or - 200mm.

Call Point Key Guide

Many modern fire alarm call points in the UK are actually manufactured by one company.  This company is KAC.  This means that the call point keys produced by KAC can be used on several of the modern call points supplied by the UK's leading manual call point suppliers.

Hochiki, Honeywell, Notifire, Apollo, Apollo XP95, Apollo Discovery, Apollo Explorer, Electro Detectors and many other manufacturers use the KAC type call point.  This means that the same KAC call point key can be used on call points supplied by these companies. 

In the 2012 edition of NFPA 72®, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, Chapter 14 specifies that manual fire alarm boxes should be tested annually. “Operate manual fire alarm boxes per the manufacturer’s published instructions,” the code says. “Test both key-operated pre-signal and general alarm manual fire alarm boxes.” Many of the discussion group comments focused on what the manufacturer’s instructions would require. 

One typical manufacturer of manual fire alarm boxes states the following in its installation and operating Instructions: “Operation—To activate a single-action pull station, simply pull down the handle. To activate dual-action stations, push in, then pull down the handle.” Notice that the instructions make repeated reference to pulling down the handle. This manufacturer offers two styles of manual fire alarm boxes, single-action and double-action, and provides the operating instructions for each. Owner representatives or service technicians in the field who believe that they may test the manual fire alarm box by using a key—whether an actual key or Allen wrench—without actually pulling down the handle as described above must understand that such action does not constitute a code-compliant test.

As per UAE Fire and Life Safety Code:

🔥 The manual call points shall be used only for fire alarm initiation. In addition, all manual call points within an occupancy shall be of similar design.

🔥 Distribution of the manual call points should be such that the travel distance should not be more than 61m to reach the nearest manual call point.

🔥 These figures are to be reduced to 25m and 16m in limited mobility areas and where processes of the area result in a likelihood of rapid-fire development.

🔥 A Manual Call Point shall be installed within 1.5 m from the exit door opening.

🔥 The manual call points shall be installed generally at the height of 1.2 m, above floor level, and in plain, accessible, well-lit, and free-hindrances places.

If you would like to discuss further with us on MCPs and FDAS, don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our technical experts.