BYKHY Articles 78–80: Sprinkler, Gas and Smoke Control

The fire alarm system is not the only fire safety system in a building: sprinklers, gaseous suppression, smoke control and pressurisation respond to the same fire. Articles 78, 79 and 80 of the Turkish Regulation on Fire Protection of Buildings (BYKHY) set how these systems connect to the alarm panel, which signals are shown separately and who controls whom. This article turns the three clauses, together with 75/7, 75/8, 87/10 and 89/13–15, into a cause-and-effect table.

Sprinkler alarm stations (78 and 75/7)

Where a building has both sprinklers and automatic detection, the sprinkler alarm stations and flow switches are connected to the fire alarm system. Sprinkler alarms are monitored on a separate zonal panel, or as separate zone alarm indicators on the fire panel. Monitoring switches on isolating valves, and other sprinkler fault contacts, are also continuously supervised by the alarm system (78/1).

Article 75/7 looks at the same thing from the detection side: with sprinklers, a flow switch is fitted on each zone, its contacts become alarm system inputs, and a sprinkler operating counts as automatic detection. Sprinklered areas are treated as fitted with automatic heat detectors, so rate-of-rise detectors are not mandatory there.

In practice there are two kinds of signal and they must not be mixed up. An alarm signal (flow switch, alarm valve pressure switch) reports a fire. A fault or supervisory signal (an isolating valve closed or partly closed, other fault contacts) reports that the system is not ready. Article 78 requires the second kind to be supervised continuously too; a valve left shut is a condition the panel must show. For when sprinklers are required, see which buildings require sprinklers in Turkey.

Gaseous system alarm and fault outputs (79 and 75/8)

Where a gaseous suppression system is installed and the building also has a detection and alarm system, the suppression system's alarm and fault outputs are connected to the fire alarm system and monitored with separate zone indicators (79/1). Article 75/8 widens the scope: the operation of any automatic or manual gaseous, dry chemical powder or similar fixed system is detected automatically by the fire alarm system, through contact outputs from the suppression system wired as alarm inputs.

Next to Article 79, the Guide adds operating conditions for gaseous systems (p. 130): they are installed where water-based systems are unsuitable, with a gas chosen for the room; the gas is discharged within the time set in the relevant standards; audible and visual warning is active during that process; where people may be present, a warning system lets them leave before discharge; signs keep people out while gas remains; and the system is installed by competent people to the standards and kept working through regular maintenance. Discharge time, concentration and delay are not in the Regulation; they belong to the relevant suppression standard.

Smoke control and pressurisation (80, 87/10, 89/13–15)

Where smoke control and pressurisation systems are installed, their fault and change-of-position signals are monitored and controlled on a separate zonal panel or as separate zone status and fault indicators on the fire panel. Manual controls may be on a separate control panel, or combined with these monitoring panels inside the fire alarm system (80/1).

Part Six completes the start-up logic:

• 87/10: the smoke control system may be started by remote manual control or automatically by the fire alarm system.
• 89/13: a detector is fitted at the pressurisation fan's outdoor air intake; if it detects smoke the fan stops automatically.
• 89/14: the pressurisation system is started automatically by the fire alarm system.
• 89/15: an on-off switch allows the fan to be started and stopped by hand.

Note how 89/13 and 89/14 work together: the alarm starts the fan, but smoke at the intake stops it, because blowing smoke into the stair defeats the purpose. The intake detector's signal should therefore show separately at the panel. Which stairs need pressurisation is covered in the stair pressurisation thresholds article; smoke vent sizing in the smoke vent area calculator.

Cause-and-effect table

Putting the three articles and their companions in one table, inputs to and outputs from the alarm panel match up as follows. The table is compiled from the Regulation; a project-specific cause-and-effect matrix is built on top of it.

The other control functions driven from the panel (door holders, locked doors, lifts, emergency lighting, external notification) are in Article 82, covered in the Articles 82–83 article.

The Guide's integration diagram

In Figure 82 (p. 134) the Guide shows the link between the alarm system and other systems through two module types. A contact monitoring module collects open/closed information, for example from sprinklers, pressurisation, smoke dampers, local suppression, gas shut-off, the alarm system and earthquake early warning. A relay control module issues commands, for example to solenoid valves, smoke dampers, the voice alarm system, lift controls, local suppression, electrical panel controls and pressurisation. The Guide states that the alarm system must work together with the emergency control system and be installed in line with TS EN 54-14, and lists the systems to be controlled: lifts, shaft and stair pressurisation, comfort ventilation and smoke exhaust, fire door holders, audible alarm and voice evacuation, access control, alternative suppression systems, explosive gas distribution, and data exchange with building automation.

Design checklist

• Is each sprinkler zone's flow switch and alarm station wired to the panel with its own indicator? (75/7, 78)
• Are isolating valve monitor switches supervised? (78)
• Are discharge and fault outputs of gaseous and powder systems shown on separate indicators? (75/8, 79)
• Are smoke control and pressurisation fault and position signals monitored, and where is manual control? (80)
• Does pressurisation start on alarm, stop on smoke at the intake, and have a manual switch? (89/13–15)
• Is the cause-and-effect matrix written down and tested at commissioning? (84/2)

When detection is mandatory is covered in the Article 75 and Annex 7 article.

Frequently Asked Questions

Must sprinkler flow switches be connected to the fire alarm panel?

Yes, where the building has both sprinklers and automatic detection. Article 78 requires alarm stations and flow switches to be connected to the alarm system and Article 75/7 requires a flow switch on each zone. Sprinkler alarms are shown on separate zone indicators.

Should a closed isolating valve show at the panel?

Article 78 requires monitoring switches on isolating valves, and other sprinkler fault contacts, to be continuously supervised by the fire alarm system. A closed valve should appear at the panel as a fault or supervisory condition.

Is the pressurisation fan started by the fire alarm?

Under Article 89/14 the pressurisation system is started automatically by the fire alarm system. If the detector at the fan's outdoor intake sees smoke the fan stops automatically (89/13), and a manual on-off switch is provided (89/15).

Does the Turkish regulation set a delay for gaseous discharge?

No. Article 79 only requires alarm and fault outputs to be monitored separately, and 75/8 requires discharge to be detected by the alarm system. The Guide mentions a pre-discharge warning and entry warnings; time and concentration are in the suppression standard.

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