Manually operated fire alarms

Question 1

List the types of manually operated fire alarms

Answer 1

(i) Rotary gongs which are sounded by simply
turning a handle.
(ii) Hand strikers e.g. iron triangles suspended
from a wall accompanied by a metal bar
which is used to strike the triangle.
(iii) Handbells,
(iv) Whistles.

Question 2

General points re manually operated call points

Answer 2

1. All fire alarm systems should incorporate manual
   call points
2. distributed throughout the building sited on escape routes near to exit doors or doors leading to enclosed stairways
3. persons escaping from a building by a designated exit route should pass at least one manual call point.
4. call points in a building should have similar
   methods of operation and be sited so that no person has to travel more than 45m to a call point
   5.

Question 3

what is a restricted alarm

Answer 3

In order to avoid unnecessary disturbance in hospitals
and other larger installations, it may be
desirable to restrict an initial alarm to the locality
in which it arises, or to a small number of restricted
personnel. A general alarm would then be
sounded only if a ‘duty officer’ considered it desirable
to do so.

Signal light systems, which are often installed for
summoning staff for various purposes, can be used
for restricted alarms; operation of the call point
produces a certain light code signal.