Remote Guide for Airsampaling

Remote Control Software User Guide

P/N 9-14510 (EN) • REV 02 • ISS 20JUL12

Copyright © 2012 UTC Fire & Security. All rights reserved.

Manufacturer Kidde Products Limited Unit 2 Blair Way Dawdon City: Seaham, County Durham SR7 7PP United Kingdom Telephone: +44 (0)191-513 6100 Fax: +44 (0)191-513 6102

Contact information For contact information, see www.airsensetechnology.com.

Remote Control Software User Guide i

Content

Important information ii

Chapter 1 General information 1 Introduction 2 PC requirements 2 Installing the Remote Control Software 3 Connecting devices to an RS-232 serial port 4 Starting Remote Control Software 6 File menu 8

Chapter 2 Status and informational displays 11 View menu 12 Remote menu 28

Chapter 3 Configuring options 31 Introduction 32 Device settings 32 Communication settings 54 Global reset 54 Language 55

Appendix A Device address table 57 Device address table 58

Appendix B List of programmable functions 61 Introduction 62

Appendix C The ClassiFire system 69 About ClassiFire 70 Detector levels 70 Sensitivity levels 72 ClassiFire operation 72

Index 87

ii Remote Control Software User Guide

Important information

Limitation of liability This manual is to be used by qualified and factory-trained personnel, knowledgeable of NFPA standards and all applicable codes in effect.

This publication describes the installation, configuration, and operation of the Remote Control Software.

Kidde Products Ltd. assumes no responsibility for the application of any systems other than those addressed in this manual. The technical data contained herein is limited strictly for informational purposes only. Kidde Products Ltd. believes this data to be accurate, but it is published and presented without any guarantee or warranty whatsoever, and is subject to changes without notice. Kidde Products Ltd. disclaims any liability for any use that may be made of the data and information contained herein by any and all other parties. Kidde Products Ltd. is not responsible for any installation, design, commissioning or service of the equipment or system.

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, in no event will Kidde Products Ltd. be liable for any lost profits or business opportunities, loss of use, business interruption, loss of data, or any other indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages under any theory of liability, whether based in contract, tort, negligence, product liability, or otherwise. Because some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages the preceding limitation may not apply to you. In any event the total liability of Kidde Products Ltd. shall not exceed the purchase price of the product. The foregoing limitation will apply to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, regardless of whether Kidde Products Ltd. has been advised of the possibility of such damages and regardless of whether any remedy fails of its essential purpose.

Installation in accordance with this manual, applicable codes, and the instructions of the authority having jurisdiction is mandatory.

While every precaution has been taken during the preparation of this manual to ensure the accuracy of its contents, Kidde Products Ltd. assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions.

Remote Control Software User Guide iii

Advisory messages Advisory messages alert you to conditions or practices that can cause unwanted results. The advisory messages used in this document are shown and described below.

WARNING: Warning messages advise you of hazards that could result in injury or loss of life. They tell you which actions to take or to avoid in order to prevent the injury or loss of life.

Caution: Caution messages advise you of possible equipment damage. They tell you which actions to take or to avoid in order to prevent the damage.

Note: Note messages advise you of the possible loss of time or effort. They describe how to avoid the loss. Notes are also used to point out important information that you should read.

iv Remote Control Software User Guide

Remote Control Software User Guide 1

Chapter 1 General information

Summary

This chapter provides information about system requirements, installation procedures, starting the Remote Control Software, and menu functions.

Content

Introduction 2 PC requirements 2 Installing the Remote Control Software 3 Connecting devices to an RS-232 serial port 4 Starting Remote Control Software 6 File menu 8

Chapter 1: General information

2 Remote Control Software User Guide

Introduction

The Remote Control Software lets you configure programmable functions and review the status of an aspirating smoke detection system from a desktop computer or PC. This software can be used with both stand-alone and networked devices.

Networked detector and command module configurations can be modified from a single location using Remote Control Software running on a desktop computer or PC. Remote Control Software lets you configure the following aspects of detectors and command modules:

• Device settings • Communication settings • Global reset of devices • Status displays

Remote Control Software also allows you to display the following types of status information for the networked detectors and command module:

• Communication bus • Diagnostics • Chart recordings • Event logs • ClassiFire histogram

PC requirements

Minimum computer requirements for the Remote Control Software are listed below. System requirements vary between operating systems. Refer to the appropriate section.

For computers with Microsoft Windows XP, or Windows 7 installed:

• PC with 300 MHz or higher processor clock speed recommended; 233 MHz minimum required (single or dual processor system)

• 128 MB of memory (RAM) or higher recommended (64 MB minimum supported; may limit performance and some features)

For computers with Microsoft Windows 2000 installed:

• 133 MHz or higher Pentium-compatible CPU

• A minimum of 64 MB of RAM



For computers with Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, 95, 98 and ME installed:

• 90 MHz or higher Pentium-compatible CPU

• A minimum of 32 MB of RAM

Installing the Remote Control Software

To install Remote Control Software:

1. Download the program to the PC.

2. Using Windows Explorer, navigate to the directory where the file “remote.exe” is located.

3. Double-click “setup.exe” to start the installation.

4. Accept the license agreement to continue the installation



5. Confirm that the path-name displayed is the desired destination location for the software. To specify a different location, place the mouse pointer inside the Path field and directly type an alternate location.

6. Personalize the Remote Control Software using the Set Installation Details screen. Enter the user’s name in the Name field. Enter the company name in the Company field.

7. When the details are correct, click OK to continue. If Remote Control Software is already installed, then a prompt will be displayed asking to overwrite the directory. Clicking Yes will upgrade Remote Control Software to the version of the installation.

8. When installation is complete, the following form displays. Click Finish to continue.

Connecting devices to an RS-232 serial port

Connect the PC to a detector or command module with an RS-232 serial port cable with two female 9-pin “D” connectors wired as shown in Figure 1 on page 5. If required, you use a USB to serial RS-232 adapter cable to connect to the PC USB port.

Caution: Boot up the computer before connecting the serial cable to the detector, as otherwise it may “recognize” the detector as an added serial mouse or other peripheral equipment.



Figure 1: RS-232 serial port connection

(1) 9 pin female “D” connector (2) 9 pin female “D” connector

In a network of detectors connected to a common command module, the Remote Control Software allows centralized access to interrogate or program any detector or the command module in the network loop from a common location. You do not need to remove and reconnect the RS-232 cable to different detectors.

When connecting to an individual detector in a network loop rather than to the command module, Remote Control Software generates a “Comms fault” at the command module. This is normal because the detector’s RS-485 communications are overridden by the RS-232 communications.



Starting Remote Control Software

1. Click Start > Programs > Remote Control Software or double-click the Remote Control Software icon on the desktop. The dialog box shown below is displayed.

The default serial port and the default transmit and receive buffer sizes should not usually need amending unless there are problems communicating with the detector.

2. Check “CTS enabled” (clear to send) if you are communicating with a command module; leave it cleared if you are communicating with a detector without a command module.

3. Click OK.

The Remote Control Software window opens. Figure 2 below shows each of the toolbar buttons located on the toolbar in the Remote Control Software window.

Figure 2: Remote Control Software window



Table 1: Toolbar buttons

Item Name Description

(1) Open File Displays the Open dialog box, which provides a drop-down box of file types that you can load:

• Chart (*.rcw) - Allows a previously-saved chart recording file to be loaded and viewed.

• DOS Chart (*.rec) - Retained for purposes of backwards-compatibility with chart recording files saved by the earlier DOS version of this program only.

• Detector settings (*.dfs) - Allows a previously-saved set of detector programmable functions to be opened and edited as required.

• PSU settings (*.pfs) - Not currently supported, but is included for future expansion purposes.

• Command module settings (*.cfs) - Allows a previously-saved set of command module programmable functions to be opened and edited as required.

• Event log (*.evt) - Allows you to save all to disk for later recall or to print at any time.

• Language text (*.ilt) - Applies only to units with integral LCD display only, which must be connected to the PC. Allows the language used for the menu and programming displays to be changed, where a verified translation file has been produced for that language by the manufacturer.

• Logos (*.lgo) - Applies only to the command module, and allows the default graphic symbol to be replaced with a user-defined graphic such as a company logo. Such a graphic can be created by the user and saved as a 128 x 64 monochrome (1-bit) graphic and saved with an “.lgo” file extension, e.g., “Graphic.lgo.”

(2) Chart Recording

Opens the Chart Recorder Viewer window. Chart Recording provides a graphical display of detector output and either the alarm threshold level or the flow rate depending on which option is selected (see “Chart recording” on page 17 for details).

A chart recording from a detector which has already been saved to disk can be loaded and viewed here without the need to connect the detector to a PC.

(3) ClassiFire Histogram Viewer

Opens the Real Time ClassiFire Viewer which shows the internal working of the detector. Unlike chart recording, the histogram updates in real time and shows the response of the detector to smoke tests (see “Histogram viewer” on page 24 for details).

(4) Event Log Opens a record of the last 200 deviations from the normal state of the currently-selected detector. These states record alarms, faults, and function changes.

(5) Diagnostic Opens the Diagnostics dialog box which provides detector diagnostics for all detectors (see “Diagnostics” on page 13 for details).



Item Name Description

(6) Bus Viewer Opens a screen that displays communications information to and from the connected detector or the command module. When an event occurs (such as an alarm, fault, or function change), the relevant communications information appears on the screen.

The display also includes the Bus Error Rate and the Show Fast Poll feature, which optionally shows the continual communication data stream in the detector network (see “Bus viewer” on page 12 for details).

(7) Device Setting Opens the Main Programmable Function Selector. From this window you configure the following device settings:

• Front Panel

• Alarm Action

• Alarm levels and delays

• Pager (Command Module Only)

• MatrixScan (Command Module Only)

• Bar Setup (Command Module Only)

• Time and Date

• Power Monitoring

• Referencing

• Miscellaneous

• Device Information

• Day/Night Switching

• Flow Monitoring

(8) Isolate Isolates the detector on the bus.

(9) De-Isolate Takes the detector out of the isolated condition.

(10) Global Reset Cancels any latched alarms or faults and resets LCD display messages to the normal operating status on all detectors on the network loop. If you press this button, and the fault or alarm condition recurs, then the alarm or fault condition is still present.

(11) Help Opens the Help window which explains how to use or customize the Help feature and displays the version number of Remote Control Software.

File menu

Clicking the File menu shows the following commands.

Open: Prompts you for a filename. Selecting the filename loads the file from disk. The title bar is changed to display the name of the file currently being displayed.

The following file types can be opened:



Table 2: File types that can be opened

Type Extension

Chart (*.rcw)

DOS chart (*.rec)

Site (*.cfg)

Event log (*.evt)

Language text (*.ilt)

Logo (*.lgo)

Offline function edit: Allows editing of a set of function settings previously saved to disk.

Save function settings: Saves the function settings of all loop devices to disk.

Restore function settings: Restores the function settings of all loop devices from a previously saved set on disk.

Exit: Exits from Remote Control Software back to Windows. If the current chart recording has not been saved, a dialog box is brought up asking whether the file should be saved before exiting.




Chapter 2 Status and informational displays

Summary

This chapter provides information about Remote Control Software status and informational displays.

Content

View menu 12 Bus viewer 12 Diagnostics 13 Diagnostics dialog box controls 15 Chart recording 17 Chart recorder key features 18 Chart recorder scroll bars 19 Event log 21 Histogram viewer 24

Remote menu 28

Chapter 2: Status and informational displays


View menu

Clicking View opens the View menu as shown in Figure 3 below.

Figure 3: View menu

Bus viewer Clicking Bus Viewer on the View menu has the same effect as clicking the Bus Viewer toolbar button (shown below).

This displays the Bus Viewer dialog box (see Figure 4).

Figure 4: Bus Viewer dialog box

The Bus Viewer dialog box displays communications to and from the connected detectors or command module. When an even occurs (such as an alarm, fault or function change), the relevant communication message appears in the display.

The Bus Viewer dialog box has the following columns of information.



Table 3: Bus Viewer dialog box data

Column name Function

Destination Address The address of the device reporting the information. Addresses are assigned by loop number and device address number.

Source Device The source device of the information

Xor Message Xor check number. This information is used by Technical Support personnel for troubleshooting purposes.

Message The total message sent or received. This information is used by Technical Support personnel for troubleshooting purposes.

The Bus Viewer dialog box also contains the controls described in Table 4.

Table 4: Bus Viewer dialog box items

Item Function

Show fast poll If checked, the Bus Viewer dialog box shows the continual communication data stream in the detector network.

Bus error rate This is the only user-accessible data. The Bus error rate normally reads 0%. If the figure is above 2%, there may be a problem with cabling or wiring. The Bus error rate screen is a diagnostic viewer of the data bus of a network and can be used to aid diagnosis of a communication problem by sending the information to the manufacturer for analysis.

Save Saves the data in the message column to a text file, which may be sent by e-mail.

Clear Removes all existing messages from the message window.

Print Sends the data to the system printer so it can be mailed or faxed.

Diagnostics Clicking Diagnostics on the View menu has the same effect as clicking the Diagnostics toolbar button shown below.

This initially scans the network for detectors. Once all addresses are scanned, the Diagnostics dialog box, shown in Figure 5 on page 14, opens. If you connect a PC with Remote Control Software installed to any detector in a network, it will bring up all the detectors on the network (see Figure 5).



Figure 5: Diagnostics dialog box

If there are fewer than 127 detectors on the loop, the scan can be cancelled after the scan display shows the address after the last detector address in the loop. For example: For two detectors with addresses 001 and 002, the scan could be canceled when the display reads “Detector 003.”

The Diagnostics dialog box displays columns of information about each device:

Table 5: Diagnostics dialog box items

Item Function

Address The detector address as set on the detector’s internal DIP switch

Device The device type (detector or command module)

Version The revision number of the device’s internal software

Status The diagnostic status of the device. In the example shown in Figure 5 above, the status of the detector units is “Untested,” which indicates that they have not been tested.

Detector text Only applies to detectors fitted with an LCD display, and is the text string set by the Device text option in the Device information tab of the Programmable functions screen (see Appendix B “List of programmable functions” on page 61 for details). In the example shown in Figure 5 above, the detectors have been left at the default setting.

Click the row containing a specific device to select it. Figure 6 on page 15 shows that detector address 001 has been selected.



Figure 6: Sample selected detector device

Diagnostics dialog box controls As shown in Figure 6, the Diagnostics dialog box has buttons, which are discussed in this section.

Scan

This button scans the entire network for attached devices. The following status bar is presented while scanning takes place:

Figure 7: Diagnostics scan status bar

If there are fewer than 127 detectors on the loop, the scan can be cancelled after the scan display shows the address after the last detector address in the loop. For example: for two detectors with addresses 001 and 002, the scan could be canceled when the display reads “Detector 003” by clicking Cancel.

Diagnostics

When Diagnostics is clicked, the software will begin to carry out a series of diagnostic tests covering all aspects of the detector function. A status bar as shown in Figure 8 will detail the tests being carried out. The aspirating fan of the unit may vary in speed during the tests, but this is a normal function of the software. When the diagnostics are complete, the Status indicator in the main



Diagnostics window will either change from “Untested” to “OK” if no problems are found, or will detail any fault found.

Figure 8: Running diagnostics status bar

Read

The Read button provides real-time information on the selected detector’s laser chamber output as a percentage of full-scale output (not a direct measure of smoke obscuration) and the flow for each aspirating pipe (see Figure 8 above).

Depending on the amount of inlet pipes the detector has, the corresponding amount of flow rates will be displayed with the remaining blocks being blank.

Flow readings are only taken from a pipe when the relevant pipe’s flow sensor is disabled (See Appendix B “List of programmable functions” on page 61 for details.)

In normal operation, the flow rate values range from 55 to 70%. Regardless of the pipe layout used, the flow reading is set to this level during initial power-up. Figure 9 shows sample results.

Figure 9: Laser chamber output

Relays

WARNING: The detector must be isolated at the fire panel before carrying out this test. It should not function. The manufacturer cannot take responsibility for problems caused by running the relay test where the unit has not been isolated from the fire panel. An unintentional output to a fire panel could activate fire alarms and fire suppression systems, resulting in personal injury or death.

If it is necessary to check the connection through to the fire panel, ensure that sprinklers, gas drops, automatic fire brigade call-outs, etc., are disabled before running the test.



The Relays button allows the detector alarm and fault relays and LEDs to be tested for correct functionality. This test activates any alarms or extinguishing apparatus controlled by the fire panel to which the detector is connected.

After clicking the Relays button, the Relay test dialog box appears (see Figure 10).

Figure 10: Relay test dialog box

Checking any of these check boxes will activate the relevant detector relay. Depending on the detector used, some of the relays might not be part of the default configuration and therefore require the add-on relay card. The relevant alarm or fault indication will be sent to a connected command module and through an attached APIC card to a connected addressable fire panel. To exit the test, click the Close button. If latching alarms or faults are set, the detector will need to be reset to clear the alarm or fault condition.

Save As, Print, Close, and Help

Click Save As, Print, and Close to save or print the contents of the Diagnostics dialog box (see Figure 5 on page 14) or close the Diagnostics dialog box.

Click Help to access Help.

Chart recording Clicking Chart Recording on the View menu has the same effect as clicking the Chart Recording toolbar button shown below.

This opens the Chart Recorder Viewer window shown in Figure 11.



Figure 11: Chart Recorder Viewer window

Although it is continually updated in the detector, the chart recording on the PC represents a snapshot of the detector’s status at the time the chart was downloaded.

Chart recorder key features Key features of the Chart Recorder Viewer window are called out in Figure 11 above:

Table 6: Chart recorder key features

Item Description

(1) Chart Summary screen

• Detector number to which the chart applies

• Time and date of the beginning and end of the recording – scale of each division on the chart

• Color-coded key for the information displayed

The distance between vertical lines on the chart shown in Figure 11 represents a time interval based on the user-selected recording rate.

The chart displays the variation over time of the detector alarm level and laser chamber output (detector level).

(2) Chart Information pop-up: Displays chart information for the time period at which the mouse pointer is pointing. Moving the mouse pointer (3) to the left reads earlier data and vice versa. At the time period indicated in Figure 11, the alarm level is 32% and the detector output level is 10.5%.

(3) Mouse pointer: Points to the time period for the data reported in the Chart Information pop-up.

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)



Item Description

(4)(5) Detector Output and Alarm Level: The detector output (4) is stable, while the alarm level (5) is rising. This indicates that the ambient smoke level is low and steady.

The expected output level of the detector in absolutely clean air is in the range of 9 to 11%.

Caution: Readings below 9% may indicate that the detector is becoming contaminated by dust and should be serviced. Very low readings indicate a problem with the detector.

Readings above the “clean air” range are common in normal working environments, and the alarm level will adjust itself to the normal ambient level of pollution in the protected area.

The falling alarm trace coupled with a steady output indicates that the detector is undergoing the 24-hour learning period following a FastLearn. When the detector output level trace meets or climbs above the alarm level, a fire alarm is generated.

The chart recording can be used to gauge the appropriateness of the ClassiFire alarm factor to the protected area. (See Appendix C “The ClassiFire system” on page 69 for further details.) Where the background pollution level is steady (such as an electronics cleanroom), the installer may choose a low alarm factor. If, however, the chart recording shows large variations in background level, which often approach the alarm level, the installer may decide to set a higher alarm factor to avoid nuisance alarms (See “Alarm levels and delays tab” on page 41 for details on how to set the alarm factor).

Chart recorder scroll bars The scroll bars at the bottom of the Chart Recorder Viewer window allow you to scroll backwards and forwards through the chart recording to see areas of the chart which are off-screen.

The actual time duration captured in a full chart recording depends on the recording rate chosen, a smaller time period between divisions resulting in a more detailed chart of shorter overall time span. When the overall chart period is exceeded, the earlier readings are discarded.

The chart recorder can hold 2000 samples with 10 samples to a division.

For example, a chart recording with a 10-second per division recording rate would cover a maximum time period of about 5 hours, 15 minutes.

A 20-minute recording rate would capture a period of 2 days, 19 hours.

Chart recorder menus

This section discusses the commands in the Chart Recorder Viewer menu.



File menu

Commands on the chart recorder File menu are shown in Figure 12 and described in Table 7.

Figure 12: File menu commands

Table 7: Commands in the chart recorder File menu

File command Function

Open Opens a previously-saved chart recording

Save Saves the current chart to disk.

Save As Saves a previously-saved chart recording. Note that this chart cannot be edited by Remote Control Software.

Send Opens the PC’s default e-mail application and attaches the chart recording to an e-mail file.

Print Prints the currently-open chart to the default printer.

Printer setup Sets the printer orientation, paper size, print margins, and printer.

Exit Exits from the File command option.

Edit menu

The Edit menu and commands are shown in Figure 13.

Figure 13: Edit menu commands

Copy: Saves a copy of the entire chart recording to the Windows clipboard for pasting into other applications.

View menu

The View menu and commands are shown in Figure 14 on page 21.



Figure 14: View menu commands

Refresh: Clicking Refresh or pressing function key F5 updates the chart. Note that the chart recording is a snapshot only, which does not automatically update.

If the chart recording is set to record alarm level, only “Detector 1” will be shown for all aspirating smoke detectors.

Selecting one of these will display the individual chart recording for the selected detector, the detector level trace being the same for all four but the airflow trace reflecting the currently selected flow sensor.

Help menu

The Help menu commands are shown in Figure 15 and Table 8.

Figure 15: Help menu commands

Table 8: Help menu commands

Help command Function

Contents Opens the main Help window (has the same function as clicking the Help button on the Remote Control Software toolbar).

Using Help Explains how to use or customize the Help feature.

About Provides the version number of the Remote Control Software.

Event log

Event log command

Clicking Event Log on the Remote Control Software View menu has the same effect as clicking the Event Log toolbar button.

This opens the Event Log dialog box (see Figure 16).



Figure 16: Event Log dialog box

The Event Log is a record of detector events such as faults, alarms and function changes. It is stored inside an operating detector and is updated whenever an event occurs. The event log is nonvolatile, which means that it is retained when the detector is turned off.

In the Event Log screen, use the detector drop-down menu to select a detector for which to view the event log.

You can load and view an event log from a detector which has already been saved to disk without the need to connect the detector to the PC. The events are in reverse order of occurrence, with the most recent at the top. It is not necessary to quit the event log viewer and reselect a detector from the main screen.

The buttons at the bottom of the screen serve the functions shown below.

Table 9: Event Log control buttons

Event Log button Function

Reload Loads a saved event log file

Open Opens a previously-saved event log. The PC does not have to be connected to a detector to do this.

Save As Saves the event log for the currently-selected detector to the PC hard drive. Enter a name for the file and click Save As .

Print Prints the currently-open event log (whether from a connected detector or a previously saved file) to the PC’s default printer. Only events displayed on the screen will be printed.

Filter Opens the Event Filter dialog box (see Figure 17).

Close Closes the Event Log dialog box.



Event Log button Function

Help Provides context-sensitive help for the Event Log dialog box.

Figure 17: Event Filter dialog box

Event Filter dialog box

The Event Filter dialog box contains check boxes which allow you to limit the amount of information displayed in the event log. Table 10 shows the specifications of each event filter.

Table 10: Event filters

Filter Function

Alarms Alarms triggered at the detector

Faults Faults triggered at the detector

Resets Global resets made at the detector

Isolates Occurrences of a detector being isolated during the testing process so that alarms are not generated during the test.

Tests Tests administered at the detector

Demonstration Mode The detector is in Demonstration Mode.

Access Code Entries Access code entries entered by a user for a detector

Function Changes Function changes made to the detector’s software configuration

Function Downloads Function downloads that have occurred

Between Dates A time period during which filters are enabled

Power ups A detector has been powered up.



Filter Function

FastLearn start/ end

FastLearn periods have started or ended for a detector.

Flow setups Flow limit and thresholds have been reset (such as when a detector is powered up with Auto FastLearn enabled).

Day/Night switches A day or night switch period has started or ended.

All Filter all categories. Choose All if only a few categories need to be disabled.

None Do not filter any categories. A check in the None check box clears all categories. Instead of enabling and disabling individual categories of event, choose None and then select the categories you want to be enabled.

The following buttons are located at the bottom of the Event Filter dialog box.

Table 11: Event Filter dialog box buttons

Button Function

OK Confirms your selections.

Cancel Exits without applying the filter.

Help Provides context-sensitive help for the Event Filter dialog box.

Note: The Event Filter function only applies to the information displayed on the screen or sent to a printer. It does not affect a saved file, which will contain all the information in the log.

Histogram viewer Clicking the Histogram Viewer command on the View menu has the same effect as clicking the Histogram Viewer toolbar button.

This opens the Real Time ClassiFire Viewer window (see Figure 18).



Figure 18: Sample histogram with alarm factor “0”

Unlike the chart recorder display, the histogram updates in real time, showing the response of the detector to smoke tests. The smoke histogram is shown to the left of the labeled fire flags. In a relatively clean or stable area, the histogram should be narrow, consisting of only a few bars as shown in Figure 18 above.

The histogram is in two parts:

• A blue “fast” histogram shows the current smoke distribution. The blue histogram covers a period of the last 15 minutes, and is responsible for generating fire alarms.

• A yellow “slow” histogram. The yellow histogram reacts far more slowly than the blue histogram, and is responsible for the positioning of the fire alarm flags, based on the long-term variation in smoke density and the chosen ClassiFire alarm factor.

As smoke is introduced, the fast histogram, shown in blue, will begin to move to the right of the screen, and the detector output level shown at the bottom of the screen will begin to increase. When the histogram crosses one of the alarm flags, the detector will generate that alarm.

In the example shown in Figure 18 above, the PreAlarm, Fire 1, and AUX alarm flags are close together due to the chosen alarm factor of 0 (very high sensitivity). The Fire 2 alarm flag is based on absolute sensitivity rather than detector output, and is at a considerable distance from the main alarm flags.

Figure 19 shows a sample histogram screen where flags are farther apart because the alarm factor is set to 1.



Figure 19: Sample histogram with alarm factor “1”

The information shown at the top center of the screen is as follows:

Table 12: Histogram elements

Element Function

Sensitivity This is the absolute level of smoke in % obscuration per meter that the detector needs to see to generate the Fire 1 alarm.

Mean The arithmetic mean of the current smoke distribution histogram in terms of detector output.

Variance The arithmetic variance (width) of the current smoke distribution histogram in terms of detector output.

FastLearn When the detector is running in FastLearn mode, this will show the number of minutes remaining until the end of the 15-minute FastLearn period. At the end of this period, it will show the legend OFF, as in the above example.

Day/night Displays day or night.

At the top right of the screen is a drop-down box for selecting the detector to view. This means that it is not necessary to quit the histogram viewer and reselect a detector from the main screen when connected to a detector network.

The figure shown in the Alarm Factor box is for display purposes only, and cannot be changed from this screen. Underneath the alarm factor display are the detector percentage outputs that need to be reached to generate each type of alarm. When the detector output level displayed at the bottom of the screen reaches one of these levels, the relevant alarm will be generated.



Real Time ClassiFire Viewer menus

The menus and commands at the top of the screen are as follows.

File menu commands

Print: Prints the currently-viewed histogram to the PC’s default printer

Print setup: Opens the Setup options for the print operation, including paper size and margins

Exit: Closes the histogram viewer

View menu commands

Sensitivity: Opens a box with % of obscuration per meter that the selected detector requires to generate the following conditions:

• Fire 1 • Prealarm • Aux • Detector

Alarm Timer: Clicking the Start button will start the timer. The timer will stop when the detector reaches its PreAlarm threshold.

Help: Displays the Remote Control Software Help commands.

Figure 20: Sample histogram with sensitivity



Remote menu

You can use Remote to automatically send a pager message when an alarm or fault occurs. To use this function, a Hayes‐compatible modem must be fitted to the PC with a dedicated telephone line.

Figure 21: Remote menu

Dial: Clicking Dial on the Remote menu directs you to your internal phone book. You can modify your phone book by adding, editing, or removing its entries as described in Table 13 below.

Table 13: Phone book entries

Option Description

Name The entry identifier.

Delete Deletes the entry from the phone book.

Dial Dials the selected entry.

Cancel Closes the Phone book dialog.

Edit Opens the New number dialog shown below. See Table 14 on page 29 for available options.

New Opens the New number dialog shown below. See Table 14 on page 29 for available options.



Table 14: Edit or New dialog

Option Description

Name The entry identifier.

Number The phone number of the call center.

Use pulse dialog Check this box if a pulse dialing is required, otherwise tone dialing is used.

OK Used to add a new number or save edits to an existing entry.

Cancel Closes the New number dialog without making any changes.

Hang up: Click on Hang up to end the phone connection and drop the line.




Chapter 3 Configuring options

Summary

This chapter provides information on how to configure settings on detectors and on the command module using Remote Control Software.

Content

Introduction 32 Device settings 32

Access code 32 Dialog box controls 33 Device information tab 33 Modifying device function settings 35 MatrixScan tab 35 Alarm actions tab 37 Time and date tab 40 Alarm levels and delays tab 41 Flow monitoring tab 46 Power monitoring tab 47 Front panel tab 48 Day/Night switching tab 49 Referencing tab 50 Miscellaneous tab 52

Communication settings 54 Global reset 54 Language 55

Chapter 3: Configuring options


Introduction

This chapter describes how to configure the following settings on detectors and on the command module using Remote Control Software commands found on the Options menu. These are:

• Device settings • Communication settings • Global Reset • Language

You access these commands via the Options menu (as shown in Figure 22).

Figure 22: Accessing function settings from the Options menu

Device settings

Clicking the Device Settings command on the Options menu option has the same effect as clicking the Device Settings toolbar button. This opens the Function Settings dialog box.

Access code Before you can modify any programmable functions, you must enter an access code (as shown in Figure 23).

Figure 23: Enter Access Code dialog box



Note: As a default, the access code is set to 0102, but may be changed to any four-digit code to render the devices secure from unauthorized access.

Enter the access code, and then click Ok. After you enter the access code, the program allows you to access to all devices with the same access code as long as the program is running. To prevent unauthorized access, close the program after you finished using it.

In the event of a forgotten password, power down the detector and remove the memory jumper marked “LK1”. Wait 30 seconds, place jumper back into proper position, and then power up the unit. This will reset the code to its default password, which is 0102.

Dialog box controls All tabs in the Function Settings dialog box have common controls at the bottom of the tab as shown in Figure 24.

Figure 24: Common controls for tabs in the Function Settings dialog box

Device information tab The content of the Device information tab varies slightly depending on whether a detector or a command module was selected. Figure 25 below shows the tab for a command module; Figure 26 on page 34 shows the tab for a detector.

Figure 25: Device information tab for a command module



Figure 26: Device information tab for a detector

The Device information tab of the Function Settings dialog box contains the information shown in the following table.

Table 15: Device information tab fields

Option Function

Device type The type of detector or command module.

Firmware version Revision number of the main software chip within the device.

Watchdog count Each unit contains a “watchdog,” which detects momentary interruptions to the power supply to the unit. If this is above 0, it may indicate a problem in the power supply or wiring. A watchdog trip generates a fault condition, so the times and dates of watchdog faults can be seen in the detector’s event log.

Run-time hours The length of time in hours that the unit has been running since initial power-up. It is not reset by powering down the unit, but may be reset by removing and replacing a detector’s memory reset link.

Device text Can be edited to any alphanumeric text of 16 characters or less. In the case of a unit with LCD display, it is the default legend displayed on the LCD panel when the unit is operating normally. It is also displayed on a connected command module in the case of alarm or fault.

It is probably most useful to set the device text for a detector to the name of the area being protected, for example Computer room, Stores, etc. When this text string appears in the Device information tab, the Remote Control Software is communicating properly with the detector.

The drop-down box on the left allows selection of the unit to which the programmable functions will apply. The very top of the list reads Command Module, and the rest of the list runs from “Detector 001” to “Detector 127” to allow you to select the settings for any detector in the network.



Use the controls at the bottom of the dialog box to perform various functions as shown in Table 16 below.

Table 16: Common control functions

Control Function

OK Sends all modified settings to the selected detector and closes the Function Settings dialog box. Click this when you have completed changing settings.

If Save All is selected, clicking OK sends all modified settings to all detectors, where that function is applicable to the detector.

Note: Command module function settings need to be performed separately.

Modified (check box)

If you select the Modified check box, it means that only settings which have been modified will be sent to the detectors. Clearing the check box sends all programmable functions applicable to the current detector to all other detectors on the loop.

If you wish to set up all detectors on the loop to have identical settings (regardless of their current settings), change any settings that you wish to apply, select Save All, clear the Modified check box and click OK. All detectors will then be set to identical parameters.

Cancel Exits the Function Settings dialog box without saving any changes.

Modifying device function settings You can modify the function settings for each device. Not all settings are applicable to each device. For example, the Pager device setting only applies to the command module and not to the detectors.

The following sections describe the functions accessible through the Function Setting dialog box tabs.

MatrixScan tab The MatrixScan device settings apply only to command modules.

MatrixScan allows you to set up “virtual detectors.” If the sampling pipework of two detectors shares a common location (for example, two detectors have sampling holes in the same area), these detectors can be assigned a “virtual” detector number.

This virtual detector generates an alarm at the command module when both “real” detectors pick up smoke at the same time. Therefore, with only two detectors, zone localization is available from a large number of protected areas.

The “virtual” detectors are assigned on the MatrixScan tab (see Figure 27).



Figure 27: MatrixScan tab

In the example shown in Figure 27, detector address 1 has common sampling locations with detectors 2 and 3, and detector 2 also has a common sampling location with detector 4.

The MatrixScan tab contains the following check boxes:

Table 17: MatrixScan tab check boxes

Check box Function

Enable Enables virtual detectors when the box is selected, as shown in Figure 27.

Base Address The address of the lowest-numbered real detector in the loop. In Figure 27, the base address is “001.” The MatrixScan function requires that you enter a base address.

All cells and No cells

Respectively, selects and clears all the cells.

Up to 15 “real” detectors can be used in a MatrixScan network, leaving 105 possible “virtual” detectors.

The MatrixScan tab limits the choice of detector address as follows:

• Real detectors are assigned addresses in the range 001 through 015

• Virtual detector addresses are assigned in the range 016 through 105. Real detector addresses in this range will clash with the virtual detector addresses, causing problems. However, unused virtual addresses may be used for other real detectors which are not part of the MatrixScan network.



Note: Address 000 is reserved for a network’s command module, and cannot be used for a detector.

The number of virtual detectors available for a given number of real detectors using MatrixScan can be calculated by the following formula:

Figure 28: Number of possible virtual detectors for all available real detectors

Table 18 shows maximum numbers of virtual detectors produced by using the above formula with values of real detectors from 2 to 15. Fifteen is the limit of real detectors in a system using MatrixScan, due to the fact that 105 virtual detectors + 15 real detectors is 120 detector addresses, and the maximum number of addresses available on a single network loop is 127.

Table 18: Maximum number of virtual detectors per real detectors

Real detectors Virtual detectors

2 1

3 3

4 6

5 10

6 15

7 21

8 28

9 36

10 45

11 55

12 66

13 78

14 91

15 105

Alarm actions tab The Alarm actions device settings apply to both detectors and command modules.

Figure 29 shows the Alarm Actions tab for a command module device (“Command module 001”).



Figure 29: Alarm actions tab and settings for a command module

Remote input functions

Remote input functions allow various functions to be carried out manually by shorting the relevant remote inputs in the unit (for example, by using a key switch or relay). No electrical power should be applied to the inputs.

Depending on the detector used, inputs connections might not be part of the default configuration and therefore requires an add-on card. The add-on card will add support for three inputs.

The Remote Input box contains check boxes which assign and enable the functions. To the left of the check boxes are numerical input boxes, which accept values in the range 1 to 6. Depending on the detector used and if the add on relay/input card is fitted, upper value of the range may be 3. This number corresponds to the relevant input terminals on the detector unit. “1” corresponds to input “I/P 1” on the unit, “2” corresponds to input “I/P 2” and so on.

Note: The same input number cannot be used more than once, to ensure that the devices have unique input numbers.

The Alarm actions tab also contains the check boxes described in Table 19 below.

Table 19: Alarm actions tab check boxes

Check box Function

Remote Isolate When used on a command module, Remote Isolate disables the command module relays, but does not disable detector communications. On a detector, the unit is effectively removed from the communication loop.



Check box Function

Remote Reset Resets latching alarms and fault LEDs, relays, and LCD display messages.

Remote day/night Only applies to detectors. Shorting the selected input terminal toggles the detector between day/night settings. This is useful, for example, when working hours in an area are irregular. The remote day/night could be activated when the last person leaves the area.

Remote day/night overrides any timed day/night settings set in the Day/night switching panel of the Remote Control Software, which means that the detector will only switch between day and night settings when commanded on the remote input, regardless of any preset switch-over time.

Programmed Isolate

When selected, Programmed Isolate prevents the detector from sending any alarm or fault condition to a connected fire panel. The “Fault” LED will light on the detector front panel while it is isolated.

You can use the Programmed Isolate function to prevent unwanted alarms or faults during testing, maintenance, or repair.

The Programmed Isolate function automatically disables itself after 7 days if it has not been manually disabled.

WARNING: When applied to a command module, the Programmed Isolate function disables the command module fire and fault relays, but does not disable any APIC communication. The function differs from the front panel isolate in that pressing the enabled ISOL button generates a fault at the panel, whereas Programmed Isolate does not. For this reason, Programmed Isolate must be used carefully and disabled as soon as possible. Failure to disable the Programmed Isolate could impact the functionality of the unit, potentially resulting in property damage or personal injury.

Latching alarms When cleared (disabled), any alarm condition will clear itself when the fire condition ends. When checked (enabled), the alarm condition persists until the detector or command module is reset, either from the detector front LCD panel (if fitted), from the command module front panel, or from the Remote Control Software.

Note: A reset from the front panel requires that the RESET button be enabled; the button is disabled by default.

Caution: If latching alarms are disabled at the detector but enabled at the command module, then any alarm condition still requires a command module reset to clear the alarm from the fire panel.

Latching faults When cleared (disabled), any fault condition clears itself when the fault condition ends. When selected (enabled), the fault condition persists until the detector or command module is reset, either from the detector front LCD panel (if available), from the command module front panel, or from the Remote Control Software.

Caution: A reset from the front panel requires that the RESET button be enabled; the button is disabled by default for all units. If latching faults are disabled at the detector but enabled at the command module, then any fault condition will still need a command module reset to clear the fault from the fire panel.

Cascading alarms When cleared (disabled), the detector starts to count down the Fire 1 alarm delay once it has generated a PreAlarm. The PreAlarm and Fire 1 alarm delays are cumulative. The Cascading alarms function is enabled by default.



Time and date tab The Time and date device settings apply to detectors and command modules.

Figure 30 shows the Time and date tab settings for a detector device (“Detector 001”).

Figure 30: Time and date tab settings for a detector device

This is the time and date to be used for the unit’s internal real-time clock, and is used in event logs and chart recordings.

The time and date function does not automatically update for daylight saving time or other changes of local time. You must update the real-time clock settings periodically, or you must make allowances for the time difference when reviewing data.

Note: When installing a detector, the clock may need to be set to correct local time. The date and time can be set by one of the following methods:

• Incrementing or decrementing each value (hours, minutes, day, month, or year) by clicking the up or down arrows to the right of each display box

• Select one of the boxes to highlight it and type in the relevant value

• Click the Set from PC button to synchronize the detector’s clock with the current time and date set on the controlling PC.

Note: Setting the time and date on a command module automatically synchronizes all detectors on the loop.



Alarm levels and delays tab The Alarm levels and delays tab settings apply only to detectors and not to command modules.

Figure 31 shows the Alarm levels and delays settings for a detector device (“Detector 001”).

Figure 31: Alarm levels and delays tab for a detector

For each of the detector’s fire alarm levels (PreAlarm, Fire 1, Fire 2 and Aux) there are numerical boxes for Level and Delay.

Level

PreAlarm, Fire 1 and Aux: Level corresponds to the relatively-scaled level that needs to be reached on the detector’s bar graph display (if fitted) or on an attached command module or Remote Display Unit’s bar graph display. The Fire 2 alarm level is in terms of absolutely scaled % obscuration/meter from 1% to 25%.

Figure 32 shows a bar graph display which is fitted to some of the detectors and illustrates the concept.



Figure 32: Barograph display

(1) Absolute level (1 to 25% obs/ m) (2) Relatively scaled level (1 to 10)

Relatively scaled (yellow portion of the scale): The absolute value of a reading on the relatively scaled yellow portion of the bar graph will depend upon the ClassiFire Alarm factor chosen, and the level of ambient pollution that the detector has accepted as a normal background level as part of the ClassiFire learning routine. In normal conditions, the yellow bar graph does not show any indication, so that the bar graph is an indicator of abnormal conditions only.

You can set the relatively scaled alarm levels to the following range of bar graph levels:

• PreAlarm: 3 to 8 (default 6). PreAlarm always appears before the main Fire 1 alarm

• Fire 1: 8 to 10 (default 8). PreAlarm and Fire 1 can be set to the same level if particularly early warning is not required

• Aux: 2 to 10 (default 10). The Aux level may be set below PreAlarm for very early warning, or above Fire 1 for a high-level alarm confirmation

Absolutely scaled (red portion of the scale): A reading on the red portion of the bar graph (Fire 2 bar graph) does not depend upon the ClassiFire alarm factor. It is a direct numerical measure of the concentration of smoke seen at the detector in terms of % obscuration/meter. Theoretically, if the “learned” background smoke level was very high and the detector was set to very insensitive, the detector could display a reading on the red Fire 2 bar graph before it showed anything on the relatively scaled yellow PreAlarm/Fire 1/Aux bar graph.



Delay

Delay is the time in seconds that a detector needs to continuously sense a given alarm level before an alarm warning is given. The acceptable range is 0 through 90 seconds. This is useful in an area which generates a lot of smoke “spikes” as a part of normal working (for example, a furnace which releases smoke when the door is opened). In very clean areas, the installer may decide that the delay can be set to 0.

Alarm factor

The ClassiFire system statistically analyzes the background smoke level and sets detector sensitivity to a level giving a statistical probability of nuisance alarm. The software assesses the arithmetic mean and variance (standard deviation) of the “normal” ambient smoke level and places the alarm flags at a certain number of standard deviations from the mean of the distribution.

The number of standard deviations at which the alarm flag is set away from the mean is directly proportional to the ClassiFire Alarm factor chosen.

The probability of nuisance alarm and the maximum detector sensitivity are higher when a low level of alarm factor is chosen and lower as the alarm factor is increased. A low alarm factor, equating to very high sensitivity, may be desirable in the case of, for example, a high-value computer center, or other application where the cost of down-time and call-out costs may be offset by the high value of the protected installation.

On the other hand, this will not be desirable in an environment with very variable levels of background smoke. In this case, it may be more important to ensure that an elevated level of smoke really does indicate an incipient fire before alarms are raised.

In summary, a low alarm factor equates to high sensitivity and higher probability of nuisance alarm, and a high alarm factor gives a lower maximum sensitivity and correspondingly reduced probability of nuisance alarm.

The probability of nuisance alarm for a given environment also depends on the “stability” of the background smoke level. For example, a semiconductor clean room may have a strictly-controlled environment so that it is unlikely that smoke level will vary by chance. Under these circumstances, a low alarm factor may not imply a radically increased probability of nuisance alarm.

The detector sensitivity is set by entering a value of 0 through 18 into the Alarm factor numerical box. The default is set to 4. Refer to Table 20 below for suggested settings.

Table 20: Suggested settings for ClassiFire alarm factor

Alarm factor

Sensitivity Probability of nuisance alarm

Suggested protected area

0 Extremely High Once per year Semiconductor manufacturing clean room

1 High Once per 5 years Computer room



Alarm factor

Sensitivity Probability of nuisance alarm

Suggested protected area

2 High Once per 10 years Non-smoking office

3 High Once per 50 years Clean factory

4 Medium Once per 1,000 years Warehouse

5 Medium Once per 5,000 years Warehouse with diesel trucks operating

6 Medium Once per 10,000 years Warehouse with diesel trucks operating

7 Low Once per 20,000 years Warehouse with diesel trucks operating

8 Low Once per 100,000 years Warehouse with diesel trucks operating

ClassiFire override

There may be occasions on which a sudden increase in smoke does not necessarily indicate a fire condition. Examples are the release of incense during a church mass and the opening of a furnace door in a factory. Under these kinds of circumstance it is not desirable for the detector to generate a fire alarm.

ClassiFire Override will desensitize the detector by a specified amount when a pair of remote contacts are shorted. In the case of a furnace door being opened, this could be performed automatically by an interlock switch on the door, or it could be achieved with a simple on/off switch. Where the smoke-generating event has a definite length and time of occurrence, the event could be on a time switch. All that is required is that the relevant input terminals on the detector are shorted together.

The figure entered into the ClassiFire Override box is the percentage of full-scale detector output by which the alarm flags will be shifted when the contacts are shorted. For example, if set to a value of 35%, a detector with an alarm level of 20% would have this changed to 55% when the function was activated.

LDD enable

LDD stands for “laser dust discrimination.” This function is enabled by default and it causes the detector to ignore brief, isolated increases in detector output such as spurious readings from ambient dust particles. In very clean areas, such as semiconductor clean rooms, it may be disabled to gain a small improvement in response time.

FastLearn enable

If the detector is in FastLearn mode when the dialog is opened, this function will be selected (enabled). If cleared (disabled), then selecting this box will start a FastLearn. In a similar manner, clearing the box stops a FastLearn that is currently in progress.

Note: Stopping a FastLearn operation will prevent the detector from reaching its optimum sensitivity. The detector must be put through another FastLearn cycle and left for 24 hours to regain full sensitivity.



Auto FastLearn enable

When selected (enabled), Auto FastLearn Enable starts a new FastLearn sequence each time the detector is powered down and restarted. This is the default setting, and it ensures that the detector is set to the optimum sensitivity if it is moved to another location. However, if the detector is left in the same location and powered down, (for example, for maintenance purposes) the function can be cleared so that the detector sensitivity is unchanged when the detector is powered up again.

ClassiFire 3D

When selected, ClassiFire 3D assesses the rate of increase of smoke in the protected area. When the level of smoke rises too quickly, ClassiFire will ignore any time delays before generating alarms. This means that fire damage is minimized if a fire starts when long alarm delays are set.

Demo mode

In normal use, the detector carries out a 15-minute FastLearn operation, during which time it cannot signal a fire alarm. It then takes a further 24 hours to reach full operational sensitivity.

Demonstration (demo) mode causes the detector to estimate its final sensitivity as soon as FastLearn is finished (omitting the 24-hour learning period), so that smoke response testing may be carried out as part of detector commissioning. Checking this box only starts demo mode if the unit is in FastLearn. It has no effect at any other time.

Note: The detector sensitivity will not be set to its optimum level in demo mode. The detector must be put through another FastLearn cycle and left for 24 hours to regain full sensitivity after testing in demo mode.



Flow monitoring tab Device settings on the Flow monitoring tab apply only to detectors.

Figure 33 shows the Flow monitoring tab settings for a detector device (“Detector 001”).

Figure 33: Flow monitoring tab settings

You can modify the following Flow monitoring settings as described in Table 21.

Table 21: Flow monitoring tab settings

Setting Function

Flow rate The current airflow rate for each sampling pipe.

Note: The flow figure is not an absolute measure of airflow. It is automatically set up on initial power-up of the unit so that it can take account of the “normal” flow present in the sampling pipe network. This “normal” airflow is then set to read in the region of 55 to 75% to give adequate “headroom” for the flow sensors to register blocked or broken sampling pipes, regardless of the flow restriction in the pipe network.

Enable sensor This feature is only available on the four-inlet pipe detector.

Aspirator speed

This feature is only available on the four-inlet pipe detector. This may be reduced to lessen fan noise and power consumption, or increased to improve smoke response time.

Note: Care should be taken that any reduction in fan speed does not increase detector response time outside the limits imposed by NFPA standards or other applicable codes or standards.

For example, the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) requires a worst-case smoke response time of 120 seconds. Aspirator speed should not be set outside the limits required by relevant legislation.



Power monitoring tab The Power monitoring tab settings apply only to detectors.

Figure 34 shows the Power monitoring settings for a detector device (“Detector 001”).

Figure 34: Power monitoring tab settings

You can modify the following Power monitoring tab settings as described in Table 22.

Table 22: Power Monitoring tab settings

Setting Function

Auto power save When selected (enabled), the detector reduces fan speed to a minimum, regardless of preset aspirator speed, when an attached power supply fails. This reduces current draw, in order to increase battery life. Any increase of smoke above three bar graph segments on the detector will disable the feature.

Note: The function may need to be disabled if minimum fan speed causes the detector to exceed smoke response time requirements set by relevant national and international approvals bodies.

Mains check Use the Mains check function when the detector is connected to a power supply with integral fault relay. The power supply fault relay is connected to one of the detector’s remote inputs and the relevant input number is entered into the numerical box next to the function (reading “0” in Figure 34).

When the Mains check box is selected, the detector will generate a fault condition when the power supply indicates a fault. The function is disabled by default.



Setting Function

Battery check Use the Battery check function when the detector is connected to a power supply with backup batteries and an integral battery fault relay. The power supply battery fault relay is connected to one of the detector’s remote inputs and the relevant input number is entered into the numerical box next to the function (reading “1” in Figure 34, indicating input “I/P 1”).

When Battery check is selected, the detector will generate a fault condition when the power supply indicates a battery fault. The function is enabled on “I/P 1” by default, as shown in Figure 34.

If backup batteries are not to be used, the function should be disabled to prevent the detector generating a battery fault.

Front panel tab The Front panel tab settings apply only to units with an integral LCD front panel, with buttons.

Figure 35 shows the Front panel tab settings for a detector device (“Detector 001”).

Figure 35: Front panel tab settings

You can modify the following Front Panel tab settings, as shown in Table 23.



Table 23: Front Panel tab settings

Setting Function

Reset button enable When selected (enabled), pressing the RESET button on the front of the detector resets any latched faults or alarms on the detector. The function is disabled by default.

Notes

• You may be violating national or international safety regulations by leaving the RESET button permanently enabled.

• If the fault or alarm reappears after pressing an enabled RESET button, then the fault or alarm condition still exists.

Test button enable When selected (enabled), pressing the TEST button on the front of the detector starts a test of all LEDs on the front of the unit and displays the current detector sensitivity. The function is enabled by default.

Isolate button enable When selected (enabled), pressing the ISOL button on the front of the detector prevents the unit from signaling alarms. Use the ISOL button to prevent fire alarms at the fire panel while carrying out smoke sensitivity tests (for example, during commissioning). The unit will generate a fault.

The Isolate button enable function is disabled by default.

Note: You may be violating national or international safety regulations by leaving the ISOL button permanently enabled.

Day/Night switching tab The Day/Night switching tab settings apply only to detector units and not the command module.

Figure 36 shows the Day/Night switching tab settings screen for a detector device (“Detector 001”).

Figure 36: Day/Night switching tab settings



The ClassiFire software allows for two separate sensitivity histograms, one for “active” and one for “inactive” periods. For convenience, these are referred to as “Day” and “Night” settings. At times specified in this function, the detector will switch between the two histograms. This will make the detector more sensitive during inactive (night) periods, when the ambient smoke density is less, and less sensitive during the active periods (day) when smoke density is higher.

Both histograms are optimized to the working environment, and they are automatically set up during the initial 24-hour learning period.

For this function to work correctly, the detector’s internal clock must be set to local time.

The Remote Control software automatically compensates for one-hour changes in local time (for example, the start of Daylight Saving Time).

You can modify the following Day/Night Switching tab settings as described in Table 24.

Table 24: Day/Night switching tab settings

Setting Function

Day start Makes the detector less sensitive during active periods (day) when smoke density is higher.

Night start Makes the detector more sensitive during inactive periods (night) when smoke density is lower.

Disable day/night switching

Where there is no distinction between “active” and “inactive” periods (such as a factory operating on a 24-hour basis or in a climate-controlled microelectronics clean room), select (enable) the Disable day/night switching box to stop the switch-over function.

Day/night switching may be carried out manually by assigning one of the remote terminals in the detector or on an input/relay card. (“Day/Night switching tab” on page 49 for details.)

Referencing tab The Referencing tab settings only apply to detector units and not to the command module.

Figure 37 shows the Referencing tab settings for a detector device (“Detector 003”).



Figure 37: Referencing tab settings

There may be occasions when external pollution enters a protected area and it is undesirable to generate a fire alarm, such as smoke from an external furnace entering the open doors of a factory. A reference detector can be used to “back-off” such a spurious external smoke reading to prevent detectors inside the protected area from generating unwanted alarm signals. Any detector in a network may be set as a reference detector.

You can modify the following Referencing tab settings as described in Table 25.

Table 25: Referencing tab settings

Setting Function

Reference detector This is the address (as set on the detector’s internal DIP switch) of the detector to be used as a reference.

Reference level This is the percentage of the reference detector’s output signal to be subtracted from the detector. The default value is 0.

The Reference Level function reflects the fact that smoke seen at a reference detector may be diluted by the time it reaches the smoke detector.

For example, smoke might be diluted by 75% by the time it reaches a smoke detector. Under these circumstances, you should subtract 25% of the reference signal from the detector. Therefore, if the “nuisance” smoke causes an increase in signal at the reference of 10% full-scale output, setting the reference level to 25% will subtract 2.5% detector output from the smoke detector. This means that any rise in smoke over and above this 2.5% level is probably due to a genuine fire condition in the protected area.

Reference back-off This is the time delay in minutes before smoke seen at the reference detector is seen at the detector. The default setting is 15 minutes.

The Reference Back-off value reflects the fact that it may take time for smoke seen at the reference detector to reach the smoke detector.



Setting Function

Reference enable Selecting this box enables the reference detector. The box is cleared by default.

To implement the referencing function:

1. Select the smoke detector to use as a reference detector.

2. Perform a smoke test.

3. Using the histogram screen, note the maximum output level reached by the reference detector.

4. Select the address of the smoke detector in the histogram screen.

5. Note the time interval before the detector output level begins to rise and the maximum smoke detector output level is reached.

6. Divide the increase in output level at the detector by the increase seen at the reference detector.

7. Enter this fraction as a percentage into the Reference Level function.

8. Enter the time delay into the Reference Back-off function.

9. Enter the address of the reference detector into the Reference Detector function and select (enable) the Reference Enable box.

The reference system is now enabled. The unit will then begin a FastLearn, followed by a 24-hour learning period in order to optimize the system.

Miscellaneous tab The Miscellaneous tab settings apply only to detector units and not the command module.

Figure 38 shows the Miscellaneous tab settings for a detector device (“Detector 001”).



Figure 38: Miscellaneous tab settings

You can modify the following Miscellaneous tab settings as described in Table 26.

Table 26: Miscellaneous tab settings

Setting Function

Access code Set by default to 0102. You can change the Access code function to any four-digit number to prevent unauthorized modifications to detector functions.

Once the code is set, the new four-digit code is required for a user to access the Remote Control Software function settings page or to program the detector from a command module or the detector’s front panel (if fitted appropriately).

Chart recording rate Sets the resolution of the detector’s chart recording. The shorter the interval selected, the greater the resolution, but the shorter the period covered by a full chart.

The chart recording can capture 2,000 samples before it begins to overwrite the older entries.

A variety of preset recording intervals is available from the drop-down list, from 10 seconds/division to 500 mins/division, recording detector level and alarm level. The same set of preset values is available with the suffix “air flow.” In these cases, the chart recording captures the flow rate instead of the alarm level.

Changing the chart recording period clears the current chart recording, as does powering down and removing and replacing the memory backup link. However, normal power-downs will not clear the current chart recording.



Setting Function

Separator condition The detector continuously monitors the condition of the dust separator (filter cartridge). You cannot edit the value displayed in this box. After a period of time, the separator begins to fill with dust and reduces the amount of smoke reaching the detector. The ClassiFire system compensates for such dust loading, reducing the figure in the Separator condition box as it does so. A new filter will read 99 and the software will automatically generate a Separator renew fault when the separator condition figure reaches 80.

Separator change date

On a site with many detectors, it may be more convenient to change all the dust separator filters at a planned interval (for example, during site maintenance). Entering a date in the Separator change date field generates a Separator renew fault on this date, regardless of the actual condition of the dust separator. However, if the filter becomes clogged before this date, a Separator renew fault will still be generated.

Factory default Selecting (enabling) the Factory default box and selecting OK resets all programmable functions to their default settings.

Communication settings

If you click the Communication Settings command on the Options menu, it opens the same Communication Settings dialog box that opens when the Remote Control Software is started.

Figure 39: Communication Settings dialog box

Global reset

If you click the Global Reset command on the Options menu (shown in Figure 40), it has the same effect as clicking the Global Reset toolbar button. It cancels any latched alarms or faults and resets LCD display messages to the normal operating status on all detectors on the loop. If, after you press the Global Reset button, the fault or alarm conditions recur, then the alarm or fault condition is still present.



Figure 40: Global Reset command on the Options menu

Language

You can change the language used in the Remote Control Software menus and titles by clicking the Language command on the Options menu when a translation in that language has been prepared.

Note: Changing the language using the Language feature does not change the language displayed on the detector LCD displays.

The following languages are available:

• English • Estonian • Dutch • French • German • Hungarian • Italian • Norwegian • Portuguese • Spanish • Swedish • English US (non-metric units) • Finnish • Korean • Chinese (simplified) • Chinese (traditional) • Russian • Polish




Appendix A Device address table

Content

Device address table 58

Appendix A: Device address table


Device address table

In order to identify itself to the command module or fire panel, each detector needs to have a unique address ranging from 1 to 127. The detector address is simply set on DIP switch SW1 at the bottom left of the opened detector on the main circuit board. The switch settings are: UP for “1” and DOWN for “0”. The detector address is set as a seven-bit binary code (switch 8 equates to a value of 128 and so is outside the usable address range).

Figure 41 shows some sample DIP switch settings.

The address equates to 01100011 in binary, or:

(1 x 1) + (1 x 2) + (0 x 4) + (0 x 8) + (0 x 16) + (1 x 32) + (1 x 64) + (0 x 128) = 99

Figure 41: Sample DIP switch settings

Table 27 below contains a list of valid SenseNET device addresses. Addresses chosen for detectors do not have to be consecutive or in any special order as long as they are different.

Table 27: Address table

Address 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 65 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 66 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0

2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 67 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0

3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 68 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0

4 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 69 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0

5 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 70 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0

6 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 71 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0

7 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 72 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0

8 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 73 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0

9 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 74 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0

10 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 75 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0

11 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 76 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0

12 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 77 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0

13 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 78 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0

14 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 79 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0

15 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 80 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0

16 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 81 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0

17 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 82 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0

18 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 83 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0

19 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 84 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0

20 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 85 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0

21 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 86 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0



22 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 87 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0

23 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 88 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0

24 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 89 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0

25 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 90 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0

26 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 91 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0

27 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 92 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0

28 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 93 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0

29 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 94 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0

30 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 95 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0

31 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 96 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0

32 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 97 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0

33 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 98 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0

34 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 99 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0

35 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 100 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0

36 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 101 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0

37 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 102 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0

38 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 103 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0

39 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 104 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0

40 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 105 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0

41 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 106 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0

42 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 107 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0

43 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 108 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0

44 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 109 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0

45 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 110 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0

46 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 111 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0

47 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 112 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0

48 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 113 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0

49 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 114 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0

50 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 115 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0

51 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 116 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0

52 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 117 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0

53 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 118 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0

54 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 119 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0

55 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 120 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0

56 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 121 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0

57 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 122 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0

58 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 123 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0

59 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 124 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0

60 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 125 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0

61 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 126 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0

62 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 127 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0

63 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0

64 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0




Appendix B List of programmable functions

Content

Introduction 62 Table 26: Device information 62 Table 27: Pager 62 Table 28: MatrixScan 63 Table 29: Alarm actions 64 Table 30: Time and date 64 Table 31: Alarm levels and delays 65 Table 32: Flow monitoring 65 Table 33: Power monitoring 66 Table 34: Front panel 67 Table 35: Day/Night switching 67 Table 36: Referencing 67 Table 37: Miscellaneous 67

Appendix B: List of programmable functions


Introduction

This appendix provides a reference for aspirating smoke detector programmable functions. Programmable functions are accessed using the Option > Device Settings command as shown in Figure 42.

Figure 42: Accessing function settings

The key for the “Applies to” column in Table 28 through Table 39 is as follows:

H: Four-inlet pipe detector only C: Command module only L: Units with LCD/programming module only D: Detectors only (does not apply to the command module) A: All units B: Four-inlet pipe detector/command module only

Table 28: Device information

Function Applies to

Range of settings

Default setting

Comments

Device type A N/A Unit type For information only, cannot be edited

Firmware revision A N/A Firmware revision level

Automatically obtained from firmware chip, cannot be edited

Watchdog count A N/A N/A Count incremented when power interrupted, cannot be edited

Run-time hours A N/A 0 Reset by removing and replacing memory link, cannot be edited

Device text A Alphanumeric, 16 characters maximum

Unit type

Table 29: Pager

Function Applies to

Range of settings

Default setting

Comments

Call center number

C N/A Blank Numeric, 20 digits maximum



Function Applies to

Range of settings

Default setting

Comments

Password C N/A Blank Alphanumeric, 20 characters maximum

Pager/GSM phone number

C N/A N/A Numeric, 20 digits maximum

Page on Fault C Enabled/Disabled Disabled

Page on Alarm C Enabled/Disabled Disabled

Baud rate C 1200/2400/4800/9600

2400 Select preset value from drop-down menu

Format C 0/1 0

Table 30: MatrixScan

Function Applies to

Range of settings

Default setting

Comments

Virtual detector assign

C Enabled/Disabled Disabled 105 individually assignable check boxes

Enable C Enabled/Disabled Disabled

Base address C 001 through 014 N/A Lowest real detector address

Minimum of 2 detectors in a network loop

All addresses in the range: 001 through 015

All cells C Enabled/Disabled Disabled Assigns all possible virtual detectors

No cells C Enabled/Disabled Disabled Unassigns all possible virtual detectors



Table 31: Alarm actions

Function Applies to

Range of settings

Default setting

Comments

Remote isolate enable

A Enabled/Disabled Disabled

Remote isolate input

A 1 through 3 1 through 6

Blank 1 to 3: On detectors with onboard inputs or detectors without onboard inputs and with an add-on card fitted. 1 to 6: On detectors with onboard inputs and with an add-on card fitted.

Remote reset enable


Remote reset input



Remote day/night enable

A Enabled/Disabled Disabled When enabled, the detector will only switch between day and night when a remote input is received.

Remote day/night input



Latching alarms A Enabled/Disabled Enabled Disabled

Latching faults A Enabled/Disabled Disabled

Programmed isolate


Cascading alarms A Enabled/Disabled Disabled

Table 32: Time and date

Function Applies to

Range of settings

Default setting

Comments

Hours A 00 through 23 12

Minutes A 00 through 59 00

Day A 01 through 31 01

Month A 01 through 12 01

Year A 1970 through 2069

2000



Table 33: Alarm levels and delays

Function Applies to

Range of settings

Default setting

Comments

Fire 2 level D 1 through 25 20 Absolute level in % obs/m

Fire 2 delay D 0 through 99 seconds

5 seconds

Fire 1 level D 8 through 10 8 Relative ClassiFire bar graph level

Fire 1 delay D 0 through 99 seconds

5 seconds

PreAlarm level D 3 through 8 6 Relative ClassiFire bar graph level

PreAlarm delay D 0 through 99 seconds

5 seconds

Aux level D 2 through 10 10 Relative ClassiFire bar graph level

Aux delay D 0 through 99 seconds

5 seconds

Alarm factor D 0 through 8 4

ClassiFire override

D 0 through 99% 0% First digit indicates APIC card remote input number (for example, 105% for override of 5% from APIC input 1)

LDD enable D Enabled/Disabled Enabled

FastLearn enable D Enabled/Disabled See comments

FastLearn is enabled on first power-up, and on subsequent power-up when Auto FastLearn is enabled

Auto FastLearn Enable

D Enabled/Disabled Enabled When enabled, starts new FastLearn whenever unit is powered down and then powered up

ClassiFire 3D D Enabled/Disabled Disabled

Demo mode D Enabled/Disabled Disabled Must be enabled during FastLearn period

Table 34: Flow monitoring

Function Applies to

Range of settings

Default setting

Comments

Pipe 1 flow D 00 through 99 See comments

Automatically set on initial power-up, cannot be edited

Pipe 1 flow high limit

D 00 through 99 See comments

Automatically set on initial power-up



Function Applies to

Range of settings

Default setting

Comments

Pipe 1 flow low limit

D 00 through 99 See comments


Pipe 2 flow H 00 through 99 See comments

Automatically set on initial power-up/ Cannot be edited


H 00 through 99 See comments





















Flow sensor 1 enable

H Enabled/Disabled Enabled Disable if sampling pipe 1 is not installed







Aspirator speed H 1 through 16 8

Table 35: Power monitoring

Function Applies to

Range of settings

Default setting

Comments

Auto power save H Enabled/Disabled Enabled

Mains check enable

B Enabled/Disabled Disabled

Mains check remote input

B 0 through 3 0 through 6

0 0

Units without relay/input card Units without relay/input card

Battery check enable

B Enabled/Disabled Enabled

Battery check remote input

B 0 through 3 0 through 6

0 0

Units without relay/input card Units without relay/input card



Table 36: Front panel

Function Applies to

Range of settings

Default setting

Comments

Reset button L Enabled/Disabled Disabled Legislation may require button to be disabled in normal use

Test button enable

L Enabled/Disabled Enabled

Isolate button enable

L Enabled/Disabled Disabled Legislation may require button to be disabled in normal use

Table 37: Day/Night switching

Function Applies to

Range of settings

Default setting

Comments

Day start D 00 through 23 08

Night start D 00 through 23 19

Disable day/night switching

D Enabled/Disabled Disabled

Table 38: Referencing

Function Applies to

Range of settings

Default setting

Comments

Reference enable D Enabled/Disabled Disabled

Reference detector

D 1 through 127 1

Reference level D 0 through 99% 0%

Reference back-off

D 0 through 99 minutes

15 minutes

Table 39: Miscellaneous

Function Applies to

Range of settings

Default setting

Comments

Access code D 0000 through 9999

0102

Chart recording rate

D 1 second through 50 minutes air flow or 1 second through 50 minutes alarm level

20 minutes alarm level

Discrete preset values from drop-down list. Multiply value by 10 for time period per major chart division.

Separator condition

D 0 through 99 99 Clean dust separator filter is 99, ”Filter change” fault generated when figure drops to 80, Cannot be edited



Function Applies to

Range of settings

Default setting

Comments

Factory default D Enabled/Disabled Enabled Selecting this function and clicking OK resets detector to factory default settings

Separator change month

D 01 through 12 01

Separator change year

D 1970 through 2069

2069


Appendix C The ClassiFire system

Content

About ClassiFire 70 Detector levels 70 Sensitivity levels 72 ClassiFire operation 72

Building a distribution plot 73 Building a ClassiFire histogram distribution curve of smoke density 74 FastLearn mode 79 Intermediate learn mode 79 Sensitivity levels 80 Setting the detector 83 Auto FastLearn enable 84 Remote day/night 84 Real Time ClassiFire Viewer window 84

Appendix C: The ClassiFire system


About ClassiFire

ClassiFire is the patented artificial intelligence system for aspirating smoke detectors that continually monitors the environment and internal contamination and automatically adjusts sensitivity to the optimum level.

ClassiFire automatically adjusts sensitivity to suit day/night or operational/non-operational levels with no need for external input.

ClassiFire automatically sets up the detector to the normal working environment so the detector sensitivity is optimized for its surroundings.

Detector levels

The Fire level always appears at level 8 on the display bar graph, as shown below in Figure 43.

Figure 43: ClassiFire alarm indicator

An additional user-definable AUX level can be set to any position on the bar graph from Level 1 to Level 10 as shown in Figure 44. (See “Alarm levels and delays tab” on page 41 for details on how to set the AUX level).



Figure 44: The AUX Alarm level

A user-defined PreAlarm level can also be used when early warning is required (as shown in Figure 45). (See “Alarm levels and delays tab” on page 41 for details on how to set the PreAlarm level.)

Figure 45: The PreAlarm level

When the predetermined level of smoke is reached, the Fire Alarm is activated (as shown in Figure 46).

Figure 46: Fire Alarm activation



A second Fire Alarm level, Fire 2 Alarm, is provided. This level may be preprogrammed to provide an indication when it is required for a higher smoke density. This is typically used for the operation of automatic fire extinguishing systems.

Note: Fire 2 is absolute sensitivity, not relative.

Sensitivity levels

The alarm factor controls how closely the detectors adapt to the working environment, according to the degree of protection required or the type of facility you want to protect.

The following alarm factor settings give a starting point for the protection of a wide range of environments:

• Alarm factor 0: clean rooms (highest sensitivity)

• Alarm factor 1: computer rooms

• Alarm factor 2: non-smoking offices

• Alarm factor 3: clean factory

• Alarm factor 4: warehouses

• Alarm factor 5: warehouses with diesel trucks (lowest sensitivity)

See “Alarm levels and delays tab” on page 41 for details on setting alarm factor sensitivity levels.

ClassiFire operation

ClassiFire considers the likelihood of a “nuisance” alarm being generated by normal operating conditions. Each of the six alarm factors balances the degree of protection required against the probability of a nuisance alarm.

The calculated probability of nuisance alarm ranges from an average of one nuisance alarm per year (for alarm factor 0) to one per 5000 years (for alarm factor 5).

The detector samples air once per second and passes information on the smoke density of each sample to ClassiFire.

In a working environment, the density of smoke in the atmosphere continually varies. The detector needs to be able to discriminate between normal pollution caused by working activities and pollution cause by early signs of fire. ClassiFire sets and maintains sensitivity by continual statistical analysis of the data received.



Building a distribution plot ClassiFire builds a continually varying distribution plot of how the smoke density varies with time. For each sample taken, ClassiFire records the particle density, assigning each density recorded against a sample class and logs the number of sample in each class.

Low and high values are rare. Most samples tend to cluster around the average level or the mean. Graphs which group samples into predefined classes are called histograms.

ClassiFire divides the range of sampled smoke densities into 32 classes and counts the number of samples which fit into each category. The most recent data is considered most significant while older data has proportionately less significance.

ClassiFire models the smoke densities against the normal distribution. For example, the normal distribution can be found in all continuously variable functions, such as the heights of a large group of men. However, if you drew a graph showing the number of men at each height (a histogram), after a while you would begin to see the histogram fill out until it begins to approximate a normal distribution.

Figure 47: A normal distribution of men’s heights



Figure 48 shows the normal distribution curve of men’s height.

Figure 48: A normal distribution curve

Building a ClassiFire histogram distribution curve of smoke density Figure 49 demonstrates how ClassiFire builds a smoke density distribution curve by collecting data on smoke density.

Figure 49: Building a ClassiFire smoke density distribution curve (histogram)



Figure 50 shows a distribution curve fully populated with smoke density data.

Figure 50: Fully populated distribution curve

Two basic concepts of statistical analysis of a normal distribution curve are the mean and the variance.

Mean level: The center of the distribution and the base around which probabilities are determined.

Variance or spread of the distribution: Indicates the amount of spread in the distribution.

If the mean changes but the variance remains constant, the shape of the plot remains the same (as shown in Figure 51).

Figure 51: Mean changes/variance remains constant

But the distribution curve moves along the axis as the level of smoke increases (as shown in Figure 52).



Figure 52: Distribution curve moving along its axis as smoke level increases

If the variance changes, but the main remains constant, the center of the curve stays in the same position but the width of the plot changes (as shown in Figure 53).

Figure 53: Low variance/mean constant



Figure 54 shows a moderate variance.

Figure 54: Moderate variance

Figure 55 shows a high variance.

Figure 55: High variance

The plot can be broken down into blocks (classes) of equal width on either side of the mean. These blocks are called standard deviations (SD). The probability of a random event falling outside this area of the graph is the same for all normal distributions.

The actual width of one SD depends on the variance, but one SD has the same statistical significance for any normal distribution.

Most of the events within a normal distribution are within 3 SDs either side of the mean. Readings outside this range are likely to be non-random factors, such as the start of a fire.



Figure 56 shows one SD.

Figure 56: One standard deviation

Figure 57 shows two SDs.

Figure 57: Two standard deviations

Figure 58 shows three SDs.

Figure 58: Three standard deviations



The probability of nuisance alarms caused by random events outside the zone of distribution shown in Figure 58 is very small (since low readings can be ignored). Thus, ClassiFire can statistically base the sensitivity of the detector on the actual working environment.

ClassiFire maintains the alarm levels at the appropriate number of SDs above the mean smoke level to provide the optimum level of protection required while maintaining nuisance alarms at a low and defined level.

If the environment changes (such as day to night, air filtration or use of area varies), distribution, mean, and variance also change. ClassiFire continually updates the alarm levels to maintain the same position from the mean. This guarantees an unchanging level of protection by continuously varying the alarm parameters.

FastLearn mode When a detector is first powered up, it automatically enters FastLearn mode for 15 minutes. This permits rapid approximation of normal smoke density.

During the FastLearn period, there is insufficient data to set an accurately defined alarm level. After the 15-minute period, the detector has collected an approximation of the smoke distribution. This data is placed into a “slow” histogram to set up the initial alarm settings.

ClassiFire initially places the alarm level several SDs from the mean reading to take into account the fact that the histogram is still being sparsely populated and narrow.

Intermediate learn mode Over the next 24 hours, ClassiFire develops a histogram to represent the standard range of smoke pollutions in the normal operating environment. As more data is collected to cover nonworking periods, ClassiFire incorporates two types of histograms:

• Fast: Monitors short-term variation in smoke density

• Slow: Builds up over 24 hours to for a complete picture of the smoke density distribution for day and night (or active and inactive) periods.

The Alarm level position is initially set well away from the mean to take into account the sparseness of the data (as shown in Figure 59).



Figure 59: Initial alarm level position

When FastLearn has finished, the data on the smoke density becomes the basis for a long term histogram. The slowly updating histogram now takes over to form the basis future settings. As the histogram only has 15 minutes of data, ClassiFire begins to perform a more refined and detailed analysis.

After 24 hours, the detector has enough data about the working environment and sets the alarm flag based on the level of protection required based on the distribution of data (as shown in Figure 60).

Figure 60: Alarm flag after 24 hours

Sensitivity levels Smoke levels will usually increase during the day. When the protected area is unoccupied, there may be lower levels than in working periods. If the detector sensitivity were set to a fixed figure, there may be unwanted alarms or delayed alarms at night.



High sensitivity: Means maximum protection but a higher risk of nuisance alarms during working hours.

Lower sensitivity: Protects against unwanted alarms during the day, but is not as effective at detecting the earliest signs of a fire.

An ideal detector needs to be able to be preset to at least two different sensitivity levels to provide the optimum coverage. The ClassiFire Artificial Intelligence process does this automatically.

ClassiFire uses two sets of histograms:

• Day: Reduces sensitivity for normal working practices and minimized the risk of nuisance alarms.

• Night: Increases sensitivity of lower smoke density during night or holiday shutdown periods, maximizing protection when the protected area is unoccupied.

These two types of histograms are dynamically and continuously updated to ensure that alarm levels are optimally set.

During the day, ClassiFire keeps the fire alarm flag out of the nuisance zone, a set number of SDs from the active histogram mean, based on the alarm factor chosen (as shown in Figure 61 below).

The fast histogram updates continuously in the background and is shown dotted in blue for reference. The previous “inactive” histogram is maintained in the background and is shown in Figure 61 dotted in yellow.

Figure 61: Fast histogram

When work stops in the protected area and people leave, the smoke level starts to drop (as shown in Figure 62). The fast histogram mean tracks the smoke level and begins to diverge from the active histogram mean, taking on new data at a sampling rate of once per second. The alarm setting remains based on the active histogram mean.



Figure 62: Dropping smoke level after work stops in the protected area

As the active histogram reduces, it approaches the previous night’s histogram mean. When the histogram mean has reached 2/3 of the distance towards the previous night’s mean, ClassiFire checks to see if the time is within +70 minutes of the programmed switch-over time (as shown in Figure 63).

Figure 63: Histogram reaches 2/3 of the distance from the previous night’s mean

If so, the inactive histogram immediately takes over and the alarm flag is repositioned based on this latest data. The previous active histogram is saved in the background to await the next changeover time, when the “search” process is repeated (as shown in Figure 64).



Figure 64: Inactive histogram takes over and alarm flag repositioned

If there is no smoke reduction measured within +70 minutes of the programmed time, ClassiFire stays with the currently selected slow histogram. That means that during weekends or holiday periods, the inactive histogram remains in force.

The currently selected slow histogram is updated over the remainder of its active period so that the mean is always based on the most recent environment.

In addition to detecting the change from active to inactive periods, ClassiFire also takes into account the time in which the change occurred.

For example, if there is a change in working hours so that people leave at 6 p.m. instead of 5 p.m., ClassiFire adjusts the changeover time by an amount proportional to the difference from the preset time. After a few days, the system switches over according to the new working times.

Note: The larger the time difference, the larger the change.

Setting the detector To set detector operating values, click Device settings on the Options menu.

Figure 65: The Device settings command on the Options menu

The following detector values relate to ClassiFire operation:

• Detector’s clock and calendar. (See “Time and date tab” on page 40 for details.)

• PreAlarm and AUX alert levels (if required).



PreAlarm defaults to 6 on the bar graph (adjustable from 3 to 8)

Aux defaults to 10 (adjustable from 2 to 10). (See “Alarm levels and delays tab” on page 41 for details.)

• Day and night changeover times (if required). The preset times when day and night histograms activate can be set the nearest hour on a 24-hour clock.

Day defaults to 08 (8AM)

Night defaults to 19 (7PM)

If no changeover is required (for example, a 24-hour working day), you can set the day and night times to “00”. (See “Day/Night switching tab” on page 49 for details.)

• ClassiFire alarm function. Alarm delays allow the detector to ignore one-off spikes and monitor for persistent conditions, before entering an alarm state. The alarm delay can be set between 0 and 60 seconds. The default setting is 5 seconds. (See “Alarm levels and delays tab” on page 41 for details.)

ClassiFire does the rest automatically.

Auto FastLearn enable From time to time the detector needs to be powered down for routine maintenance. Setting the Auto FastLearn function to “n” prevents the detector from going into FastLearn mode when powered up, reducing down time.

The default setting is “Y”.

Remote day/night Where a remote switch is fitted, enabling the Remote Day/Night by setting it to “y” prevents the changeover between night and day setting to occur (except manually via the remote switch.

The default setting is “N”.

Real Time ClassiFire Viewer window Nuisance alarms, alarms being signaled because the detector is over-sensitive for its environment, can often occur with high sensitivity aspirating detectors that have fixed, absolutely scaled alarm thresholds. ClassiFire is a patented feature, unique to aspirating smoke detectors, that enables the detector to continually learn and adjust to its environment, setting its alarm levels appropriately to get the optimum level of protection without nuisance alarms.

The Remote Control Software has a Real Time ClassiFire Viewer window (shown in Figure 66 on page 85) that demonstrates how the detector is continuously setting its alarm levels and scaling its smoke density bar graph.



Figure 66: Real Time ClassiFire Viewer window

The histogram (shown in Figure 66) shows a detector working in a stable environment, resulting in a narrow distribution of histogram classes. The numerals on the bar graph are not displayed on the viewer due to the small size of the bar graph segments (shown above the vertical histogram bars).




Index

A about ClassiFire, 76 access code

default, 35, 57 overview, 34 reset, 35

addresses base, 39 command module, 39 destination, 13 detector selection, 14 device address table, 64 MatrixScan, 39, 69 Referencing tab, 56 scanning, 14, 15

advisory messages, iii Alarm actions tab, 40 alarm factors, 47 Alarm levels and delays tab, 45 alarm thresholds, 7, 28, 91 APIC card, 17, 42, 71 aspirating smoke detection, 2, 76 auto FastLearn enable, 90 AUX alarms, 26, 28, 45, 46, 71, 76, 89

B building a distribution plot, 79 bus viewer, 12 buttons (toolbar), 7

C cascading alarms, 43 Chart Recorder Viewer

key features, 18 menus, 20 scroll bars, 20 window, 18

chart recording, 18 ClassiFire

3D, 49 operation, 78 override, 48 overview, 76 smoke density histogram, 80

Close button, 17

communication settings, 58 configuration

access code, 34 Alarm actions tab, 40 Alarm levels and delays tab, 45 Communication Settings dialog box, 58 Day/Night switching tab, 53 Flow monitoring tab, 50 Front panel tab, 52 MatrixScan tab, 38 Miscellaneous tab, 57 Power monitoring tab, 51 Referencing tab, 55 Time and date tab, 43

configuring settings, 34 connecting to an RS-232 serial port, 5 CTS (clear to send), 6

D Day/Night switching tab, 53 delays, 47 demonstration (demo) mode, 49 detector levels, 76 detector output, 7 detector settings, 89 device address table, 64 Device information tab, 36 device settings, 34 diagnostics, 13 Diagnostics button, 15 Diagnostics dialog box controls, 15 distribution plots, 79

E Edit menu, 21 event filter dialog box, 24 event log, 22

F FastLearn

auto enable, 49, 90 enable, 49 mode, 85 sensitivity, 49 starting and stopping, 49

Index


File menu, 9, 20, 28 Fire 1 alarms, 27, 43, 46, 71 Fire 2 alarms, 26, 45, 71, 78 Flow monitoring tab, 50 Front panel tab, 52

G global reset, 59

H Help button, 17 Help menu, 22 histogram viewer, 25

I installing Remote Control Software, 3 intermediate learn mode, 85

L language, 59 latching, 53, 59 latching alarms, 17, 42, 69 latching faults, 42 LDD enable, 48 levels, 45

M MatrixScan tab, 38 menus

Edit, 21 File, 9, 20, 28 Help, 22 Options, 34 Real Time ClassiFire Viewer, 28 Remote, 29 View, 12, 21, 28

Miscellaneous tab, 57 modifying device function settings, 38

N nuisance alarms, 20, 47, 78, 86, 91

O Options menu, 34

P PC requirements, 2 Power monitoring tab, 51 PreAlarms, 26, 28, 43, 45, 46, 71, 77, 89 Print button, 17 Programmable functions, 68

R Read button, 16 Real Time ClassiFire Viewer

menus, 28 starting, 25 window, 91

Referencing tab, 55 Relays button, 16 Remote Control Software

installation, 3 languages, 3 overview, 2 starting, 6

remote day/night, 90 remote input functions, 41 remote inputs, 69 Remote menu, 29 RS-232 serial port, 5 RS-485 communication, 5

S Save As button, 17 Scan button, 15 sensitivity

alarm factor, 47 demo mode, 49 FastLearn, 49 histogram elements, 27 histogram with, 28 levels, 78, 86 nuisance alarms, 91 suggested settings, 48 Test button, 53

setting detectors, 89 starting Remote Control Software, 6

T Time and date tab, 43 toolbar buttons, 7

V View menu, 12, 21, 28 viewers

bus, 12 chart recorder, 18 histogram, 25 Real Time ClassiFire Viewer, 25, 91

virtual detectors, 38

Z zone localization, 38

Remote Guide for Airsampaling

Documents

remote menu

contact information

product liability

general information

theory of liability

content important information

applicable law

applicable codes