User Manual

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These measures may include, for example, enclosure and
other physical protection of system components,
separating networks, user training, multi-level defensive
measures, etc. By the implementation of such a security
solution, the product-specific guidelines for that
particular application, together with the local IT’s
specifications, must be strictly adhered to.
EN54 Approval
An essential part of any safety and security concept is a
fully monitored and approved fire protection system. In
university campuses where multiple buildings are
interconnected by a high performance Ethernet network,
it is important that the fire protection system within such
a network is recognized as an EN54 conform system.
In cases where university buildings are spread around a
city, the majority of buildings will not be interconnected
via an Ethernet network. In such cases these building
must be considered as stand-alone EN54 systems (with
their own remote connection to the fire-brigade).
However, such buildings can still be connected (e.g. via a
secure VPN-connection) to a centralized monitoring
system.
Redundancy
 Communication loss
Even with the high reliability provided by modern
electronic equipment and communication paths,
maximum system availability cannot be achieved
without redundancy. We need to ensure that system
performance is not affected by the loss of any single
communication path (short-circuit or line-break),
neither between neighboring panels nor between
neighboring buildings. This can be achieved with a
loop-based communication concept, which applies to
both the local panel-to-panel communication as well
as the building-to-building level.
 CPU-failure
In a similar way, a CPU-failure in one of the fire
protection panels should not allow fire alarm
activations to go unnoticed. An intelligent degrade
mechanism can ensure that any such events will be
transmitted to a neighboring panel and core
functionality is retained.
 Remote transmission
The remote transmission path to the fire-brigade is
also clearly a critical issue, as no single failure shall be
able to prevent an alarm from summoning the
necessary assistance. The ability to make the
connection to a remote transmission device from a
single point in an Ethernet-based network is an
important cost-saving feature. The degrade mode
discussed above also ensures that the remote
transmission device will be activated even if the CPU
of the connected panel fails.
System-wide functionality
Complex control functions for smoke control or
evacuation purposes often require status information
from a number of different fire protection panels. To
provide maximum flexibility, it is important that such
information is available across the entire (Ethernet-based)
network.
Similarly it is also important that designated terminals are
able to display status information from anywhere in the
network, and that security personnel are able to obtain
such site-wide access from any convenient terminal.
Scalability
As mentioned above, only a relatively small number of
sites were created as homogeneous greenfield systems.
The vast majority of systems have been continually
extended and modernized, with systems being added as
the universities expand to meet new demands.
Consequently it is important that the network can be
easily extended without encountering any performance-
related issues.
System lifetime costs
Over the lifetime of a system many modifications will
become necessary to the configuration of individual
panels. Each modification will require updating the
software of the systems concerned. Reducing the effort
of carrying out these updates is an essential pre-requisite
for minimizing service costs and consequently the lifetime
cost of the system. One example of this is the ability to
update all panels in the same network from any panel on
that network, or even from a remote location.
Interoperability
In the current economic climate everything must be “cost-
effective”. This is especially true when considering the
integration of an additional building or the upgrading of a
subsystem in one of the buildings. New systems must be
able to coexist with the previously installed systems. The
use of an open protocol such as BACnet (the industry-
standard for building automation) not only simplifies the
integration itself, it facilitates system replacement at a
later date.
Remote service
Remote service offers the possibility of further savings. In
a traditional service case, the information provided to the
service engineer was often insufficient for him to know
exactly what the source of the reported problem was. This
could result in multiple site visits if the fault was
intermittent or, having identified the faulty unit on-site,
he did not have the required spare part or module with
him.
With remote service, however, once access has been
granted, the equipment supplier (or maintenance
company) is able to login to the on-site systems. The
service engineer is then able to carry out an analysis
directly from his office desk. In some circumstances the
problem may be solved simply by changing a parameter
or other setting. If a defective component can be
identified then a service technician can be dispatched
(from a local service center) and the repair concluded in
an efficient and consequently inexpensive manner.
More detailed information on system integration and the
associated network structures can be found in the
application guide: “System integration and management”