Fire sprinklers

[Bzncrewjr]

Code requires my house build to have fire sprinklers. So is there any part of the sprinkler system that can be connected to a HAI Omnipro?

My guess is that it's best to let the sprinkler company do there thing and let it be. Although I would hate to pay two monitoring services, fire and alarm.

 

[FlyingDiver]

What does code require for activation of the sprinkler system?  I expect it's either mechanical (fusible links), or activated by the security system (based on it's smoke/fire detectors).  If it's the first, I wouldn't expect there to be any monitoring built into the sprinkler system itself.  If it's the later, it would already be connected to the HAI.
 
Where are you?

 

[ano]

I have fire sprinklers, and typically there will be a pressure switch which will activate an outside bell. (At least where I live there is.) What I did was add a simple 120V relay to the bell, and when it triggers, it closes a contact that triggers my Omni Pro II, just like any zone, which will trigger a fire alarm. As far as I know, there was no other monitoring of the sprinkler system. 

 

[Bzncrewjr]

I know nothing about sprinkler systems. I don't have detailed fire code. We are in Montana, outside of public water on a well. So I believe we will also need a holding tank for the system. Just a blurb in my building covenants that require sprinklers. I suppose the builder will know more.

So far I think I like HAI and will wire it for burglar alarm, sound system, lighting and possibly thermostats. The house will have radiant heat and will have several zones with separate stats.

I'd like to integrate video surveillance with it, but not sure how HAI integrates video. Perhaps a simple DVR Costco deal will be enough.

Future cool stuff would be motorized blinds that shut at dusk. Haven't found much on this yet.

Right now I'm overwhelmed with the learning curve of this stuff. I work in IT and have pulled plenty of cable and know how to connect devices. There isn't much info on HAI how to or even what hardware is required to connect everything. At least not that I've found yet.

 

[Del91574]

You're never going to have a FACP system activate a sprinkler system, it's always going to be the exact reverse scenario.
 
Usually there's going to be a flow switch and possibly a pressure switch. There is usually some sort of requirement for a bell or similar outside, independent of any supervising system, to alert whoever that the sprinklers are flowing.
 
In your case, I'd probably go with the fact the residence is probably too far from the closest fire house, so there is a local mandate for a sprinkler installation. We have a few locales that require the same around here.
 
The HAI system will not be an initiating device for sprinkler activation, only supervising and reporting items such as flow and/or low air (if the designed system is pressurized in that manner). You would need to discuss what the sprinkler guys are providing, however their system is generally going to be local only and most fire alarm supervisiory devices have multiple form C contacts to facilitate multiple system supervision methods.

 

[dwalt]

I'll second what DEL says. The sprinkler systems I see have one or two flow switches with dry contacts to hook up to the HAI as well as dry contacts on the handles used to close the valves for service/testing. Those handles can be considered tamper switches. Could you be more specific where you are in Montana?

 

[ano]

I'll second what DEL says. The sprinkler systems I see have one or two flow switches with dry contacts to hook up to the HAI as well as dry contacts on the handles used to close the valves for service/testing. Those handles can be considered tamper switches. Could you be more specific where you are in Montana?

Around here you are not allowed to have ANY valve than can shut off the sprinkler water independent of shutting off ALL the water to the house. That is intentional, and for residential systems is typical.
 
If the system hasn't been installed yet, they DO have flow switches with two sets of contacts. One for the mandatory outside bell, and the other for your alarm system. Since my system was already installed I chose to add a relay to the bell, rather than replace the flow switch.
 
I'm not sure where the idea that the HAI Omni Pro II would CONTROL the sprinkler came from. Obviously you monitor a sprinkler system, you don't control it. Each sprinkler head controls that sprinkler.

 

[Del91574]

Here, there is the provision to allow a tamper supervisiory switch on the valve that closes the supply valve, however there is a double edged sword that if a security system is installed, now the system is subject to being supervised and monitored as the end user is creating a "lesser" protection condition that would require reporting to a 3rd party.
 
They allow it mainly for servicing the system, but the mandate is there for the reporting aspect.

 

[tmbrown97]

I think the idea of the sprinklers being controlled by the panel comes from the common misconception portrayed in TV where the sprinklers in the whole building go off at once - often by someone pulling the alarm handle.  In reality, the entire system is pressurized at all times - but the head is in a position where it's sealed shut.  By either melting a low-temp melt point on the sprinkler or breaking the glass tube (filled like a thermometer - when it gets hot enough, it breaks) - either way when these are triggered, the spring loaded valve/head opens and water flows to just that single sprinkler.
 
In CA there's a pretty new statewide mandate to have sprinklers in all residences (commercial has been required for ages); my house has sprinklers as well due to a local requirement at the time for any house over 3K sq. ft in this particular city. I haven't bothered to integrate with my system yet though, since the access panel doesn't open so I haven't even been able to look around yet.  I really need to get the service performed...

 

[Bzncrewjr]

I guess I'm thinking the sprinklers need to trip a fire alarm, not necessarily be controlled by the HAI. I have no experience here so I assume too much. Also victim of movies where hackers set off sprinklers.

So it's safe to believe the sprinkler system is separate from fire alarm.


DWALT, we are in Bozeman, SW Montana.
Sorry for all the stupid questions, I'm trying to understand all these systems and how home automation can be tied in.

 

[Del91574]

Well, there's a half truth in the movies, but what you'll commonly see is a dry pipe deluge system....usually installed in a very high risk application where there's a specific hazard. A site I work on has them protecting a gas trane and a pair of oil tanks and they're fed with full volume of water from a preaction deluge panel and there's literally zero restriction on how much water can flow, basically as much as the fire pumps can push out.
 
The sprinklers for fire suppression aren't controlled but supervised by a host panel.

 

[dwalt]

Bzncrewjr, My business is less than an hour away from you. If you want some help installing your system, send me a PM.