Integrating Elevators and Addressable Fire Alarm Systems

In this post I will be briefly explaining the different aspects of a passenger elevator and or fright elevator with a new or existing addressable fire alarm system. Now a day it is almost a standard factor in installing a new fire alarm system.

When connecting to the elevator service, keep in mind there are two types of elevator recall, elevator shunt trip, and battery backup and the fireman's hat light. Please see the breakdown for a detailed explanation of what each of these mean:

Primary Elevator Recall: This is in place to send the passenger elevator or freight elevator to the main level or floor of exit. Photoelectric smoke detectors in all elevator lobbies other than the primary exiting floor will be mapped to this function.
Alternate Elevator Recall: This is in place to send the passenger elevator or freight elevator to an alternate floor of exit. Photoelectric smoke detectors in the main exiting floor elevator lobby, the elevator shaft (if applicable) and the elevator equipment room (depending on what floor the elevator equipment room is located on)
Elevator Shunt Trip: The elevator shunt trip is in place to shunt the main power source to the elevator if a fire alarm heat detector in the elevator shaft or elevator equipment room is activated. The fire alarm heat detector should be set to a temperature lower than the fire sprinkler in the room or area. This is in place to shut down the elevator equipment before water is dispensed from the automatic fire sprinkler system.
Elevator Battery Back-up: You will need to install a relay to shut down the elevator battery back-up in the case of activation of a fire alarm heat detector in the elevator shaft and or elevator equipment room. This is in place for obvious reasons. If you are trying to power down the elevator before a sprinkler head is popped then you will want to stop the battery backup as well. Map this realy to the same points as the elevator shunt trip.

Fireman's Hat Light: This is fairly new in the industry. If a photoelectric smoke detector or fire alarm heat detector in the elevator shaft or elevator equipment room is activated then the fireman's hat light on the elevator call buttons needs to light up. I heard this is for the fire department. They want to know if there is a fire in the elevator shaft before they enter the cab.

I will be explaining in future posts how to make the elevator connections and how to map the addressable fire alarm systems correctly.