Guides
Fire Detection Guides
Find guidance for the job in front of you: specifying a system, choosing equipment or working on an existing installation. Written for fire alarm engineers, specifiers and building teams.
Design and specify a system
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Choose panels and detection
Gent by Honeywell fire alarm systems
Understand the Gent panel ranges, device compatibility, loop loading and System Integrator support.
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Gent vs Morley
Two Honeywell addressable systems compared — Gent's closed S4 protocol and integrator model versus Morley-IAS's open multiprotocol platform.
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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.
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VESDA vs FAAST
Compare the detection and connection options across VESDA and FAAST models, including FAAST FLEX.
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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.
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Work on an existing system
What to send us for a Gent replacement part
The panel details, full part number and photographs that help us check a replacement enquiry.
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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.
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Fire alarm battery calculator
Work through the standby calculation, then check the result against the panel, charger and battery specification.
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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.
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Need equipment for a spec?
Send the specification and drawings, or the part numbers you need. We will review the enquiry and confirm availability with your quote.