Fire Detection Guides

VESDA & aspirating smoke detection How aspirating smoke detection works, the Xtralis VESDA range (VESDA-E, VEA, VLI), where it earns its place, and how it differs from point detection. Read the guide Fire alarm panels explained What a fire alarm control panel does, conventional versus addressable, zones and loops, EN 54-2/4, and how to choose the right panel. Read the guide Gent by Honeywell fire alarm systems The Gent addressable ranges — Vigilon Plus, Compact Plus, Nano — the S4 protocol and System Integrator model, and where each fits. Read the guide Gent vs Morley Two Honeywell addressable systems compared — Gent's closed S4 protocol and integrator model versus Morley-IAS's open multiprotocol platform. Read the guide VESDA vs FAAST The two aspirating smoke detection systems compared — high-sensitivity standalone VESDA versus loop-connected FAAST, and when to choose which. Read the guide Fire alarm cause and effect A practitioner's method for programming cause and effect on Gent Vigilon — sectors, delays and double knock, zones v groups, command builds — with a downloadable matrix template. Read the guide Call points: the rules & the myths What BS 5839-1 actually asks of manual call points — siting, height, covers, spacing — and the myths left over from older editions, each dated to its birth. Read the guide BS 5839-1:2025 — what changed from 2017 The 2025 edition's changes ranked by practical impact — sleeping-room detection, call points, batteries, servicing, and the clause renumber map. Read the guide Gent CLSS explained What you need for Honeywell CLSS on Gent and Morley panels — the gateway, connection, subscription and self-test licences, in five decisions. Read the guide BS 5839 fire alarm categories L1–L5, P1–P2 and the LD categories explained — what each protects, how much of the building it covers, and how a category becomes an equipment schedule. Read the guide Flame detector types: UV, UV/IR & IR3 How ultraviolet, UV/IR and triple-infrared flame detectors work, the false-alarm sources each handles, and where each one fits. Read the guide Commercial fire alarm testing The weekly call-point test, periodic servicing, the logbook, and the test keys and access equipment used to keep a system working. Read the guide Fire alarm battery calculator Size fire alarm panel standby batteries to BS 5839-1 — a calculator, the worked method, and the stocked 12V flame-retardant sizes. Open the tool