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Architectural Integration

The components of an alarm system are very similar to the control system and can be used to provide feedback, though the sensor type and placement for the control system would most likely require a greater number of sensors to enable the system to locate fires more exactly. Therefore the implementation of the sensory and control system would not be a significant alteration to current building practice. It is likely that the control system would need to demonstrate high degree reliability with some redundant back up and independent power to fulfil the regulatory requirements. It would be efficient to combine the control system with the building alarms and other fire related systems to ensure a combined response to the fire. Such a system should therefore aim to comply with the relevant sections BS EN 54, Fire detection and Fire alarm systems.

Buildings also have a designed ventilation system. This can be either active or passive ventilation system and their requirements are dictated by Part F of the Building Regulations, though the systems used must also comply with the energy requirements in Part L. This provides limitations on the sizing of fans and ventilation rates required for normal operation, which will provide the limitations on how the ventilation system can be used for smoke control. Natural ventilation systems are more difficult to implement a control system with as they rely on convectional methods that are less responsive than a mechanical system. The ventilation system does however provide an effective supply and extraction network, which can be considered at the design stage for utilisation by a control system, but this requires careful consideration of the components. The system is based on mechanical ventilation due to the control requirements.