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Monthly Test (Monitored Systems)

Item 1.6 of Table 6.4.1.2 of Australian Standard AS 1851:2012 requires maintainers to test and verify the operation of the "isolate" facility of Alarm Signalling Equipment (ASE), where the system is fitted with such a monitoring device.

Australian Standard AS 1851:2012 (the Standard) sets out the routine servicing requirements of fire protection systems and equipment.  The overarching objective of the Standard is to maintain the reliability of fire protection systems and equipment such that they continue to meet the requirements of the approved design and are likely to do so until the next scheduled activity.

Section 6 of the Standard covers the routine servicing requirements of Fire Detection & Alarm Systems, including components of Special Hazard Systems, Smoke Hazard Management Systems. 

In this document we dive deep into one item within the Standard covering the operation of the required signals (visual and audible) when an isolate or disable condition is present.

Item 1.6 of Table 6.4.1.2 of Australian Standard AS 1851:2012 requires maintainers to test and verify the operation of the "isolate" facility of Alarm Signalling Equipment (ASE), where the system is fitted with such a monitoring device.

Item NoItemAction required and pass/fail requirementPassFailComment
1.6Isolate/DisableINITIATE an isolate/disable condition at the fire indicator panel and confirm that all required common or general visual and audible indications operate. Where the system is monitored, ensure the isolate is received by the monitoring service provider alarm signalling equipment. Where the panel is an SIP, confirm that the isolate/disable condition is indicated at the FIP as either a fault or isolate/disable.   

Item 1.6 of Table 6.4.1.2 explained

The purpose of these tests is to ensure that where an isolate or disable condition is present at each FDCIE (main or distributed CIE), that the required signal is present (audibly and visually) and that where the system is monitored that the signal is also transmitted to the monitoring service provider.

Typically the isolate/disable function is displayed at the FDCIE as a yellow isolate signal, often paired with an audible signal that can be muted (silenced). For FDCIE fitted with a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), the condition will typically also indicate the condition of each isolate or disable condition present, with a total number of isolate or disable conditions being also indicated on the display.

This item in the table would be better listed as THREE separate functional test requirements as follows;

Item NoItemAction required and pass/fail requirementPassFailComment
1.6aIsolate/Disable
(Main FDCIE)		For each main fire detection control and indicating equipment (FDCIE), INITIATE and TEST the operation of an isolate/disable function and confirm that each required common or general visual and audible indication operates.   
1.6bIsolate/Disable
(distributed FDCIE, where fitted)		For each connected (sub) FDCIE, TEST the operation of an isolate/disable function and CONFIRM that each required common or general visual and audible indication operates at the main FDCIE.   
1.6cIsolate/Disable
(Alarm Signalling Equipment)		VERIFY where fitted the isolate/disable function initiated at the fire alarm control panel (FACP) is received by the monitoring service provider via the Alarm Signalling Equipment (ASE), this includes all main and where fitted connected sub FDCIE isolate/disable signals.   

Test Methodology

It is implied that the test is intended to verify only the visual and audible signals of each FDCIE and the signals to/from the monitoring service provider, not each monitored circuit.

These tests must be conducted at the Main FDCIE and where fitted, each sub FDCIE. The required visual and audible signals must be present according to the following table.

Test LocationLocallyMain FDCIEAlarm Signalling Equipment
Monitoring Service Provider		Expected Outcome
Main FDCIEYes-YesA test locally of an isolate/disable function at the Main FDCIE confirms the visual and audible signals can be observed and heard at the Main FDCIE and are received by the monitoring service provider.
Distributed1 FDCIEYesYesYesA test locally of an isolate/disable function at each other FDCIE confirms the visual and audible signals can be observed and heard locally at that FDCIE and at the Main FDCIE, and are received by the monitoring service provider.
ASD FDCIEYesYesYesA test locally of the isolate/disable function at each Aspirating Smoke Detector and confirm the visual and audible signals can be observed and heard locally nd at the FDCIE, and are received by the monitoring service provider.

In certain circumstances, there may be an existing isolate or disable function already applied. This signal may serve as the required test.

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    Includes sub-panels and other Control and Indicating Equipment (CIE) such as the controls for an Aspirating Smoke Detector (ASD) where the CIE includes the facility to isolate/disable a feature or function of the CIE.

Common Non-conformances

Common non-conformances1 identified having conducting these tests include;

  1. For systems fitted with filament lamps, the filament could fail, causing the signal not to display;
  2. For systems fitted with a liquid crystal or other similar alpha-numeric or pixel-based display, the display includes a defect or other condition that does not display the required information correctly or at all.
  3. The audible indicator has been disconnected, modified, removed or permenantly muted as to cause it not to operate in accordance with its approved design.
  4. The alarm signalling equipment (ASE) has been installed incorrectly including the signal to monitor the FDCIE isolate/disable function has not been connected.
    1. Examples include
  5. For certain systems, the required signals may not exist as a standard feature of the FDCIE. This may require additional signal relays to be installed and configured/programmed accordingly (i.e. any isolate/disable activates the required signal.)
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    The failure of the required signal is considered to be a non-conformance as compared to a defect, as it does not adversely affect the operation of the system in an alarm condition.

Frequently Asked Questions

QuestionResponse
Is it required to test each aspirating smoke detector (ASD) fitted with an isolate/disable function in this way?YES - An aspirating smoke detector is a type of distributed Control and Indicating Equipment (CIE). Where the function exists at the ASD, the signals for each ASD should be tested in accordance with the requirements of Item 1.6 of Table 6.4.1.2.
Where a system is fitted with a graphical display facility, should the display also indicate the isolate/disable status?PROBABLY - There are no standards governing the design, implementation or oiperation of a  graphical display facility, that said if the feature exists, it should be tested to confirm that it works in accordance with the approved design.

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