VIETNAM NATIONAL STANDARD TCVN 5738:2000 1ST EXAMINE

Automatic fire alarm system – Technical requirements

1. SCOPE OF APPLICATION
The standard is applied to fire alarm system at plants, factories, warehouses, working offices,
hospitals, schools, theaters, hotels, markets, trade centers, armed forces barracks and other
buildings prone to fire, explosion, etc. This standard is not applied to works designed by special
request.
2. CITED STANDARDS
TCVN 2103:1994 PVC insulated wires
TCVN 4756:1986 Regulations on earthing and air connection of electric equipments
TCVN 6612:2000 (IEC 228:1978) Wire core of insulated cable
3. TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
3.1. Automatic fire alarm system: System automatically detects fire and fire location
3.1.1. Conventional fire alarm system: fire alarm system has no function of informing
address of each fire detector.
3.1.2. Addressable fire alarm system: fire alarm system has function of informing
address of each fire detector.
3.1.3. Intelligent fire alarm system: Apart from conventional fire alarm and address,
automatic fire alarm system measures fire parameters in fire alarm system
location such as the temperature, smoke content and/or automatically change
impact threshold of smoke detector in accordance with requirements of
designers and installers.
3.2. Automatic fire detector: The automatic equipment is sensitive with accompanying
phenomenon of fire (temperature rise, smoke, illumination) and send proper signal to fire
alarm center.
3.2.1. Heat detector: Automatic fire detector is sensitive with temperature rise of
installation environment.
3.2.1.1. Fixed Temperature Heat detector is trigged when the temperature at
installation location reaches certain value.
3.2.1.2. Rate-of-rise heat detector: Rate-of-rise heat detector is trigged when the
temperature accelerates at certain rate.
3.2.1.3. Line-type heat detector: Line-type heat detector is of line or small tube
structure
3.2.2. Smoke detector: Automatic detector is sensitive with smoke created by solid
particles or liquid particles generated from explosion and/or heat destruction.
3.2.2.1. Ionization smoke detector. Ionization smoke detector is sensitive with sprinklers
generated when the fire is likely to affect ionization flow in fire detector.
3.2.2.2. Photoelectric smoke detector: F i r e detector is sensitive with sprinklers
generated when the fire is likely to affect radiation absorption in infrared range
and/or ultraviolet range of electromagnetic spectrum.
3.2.2.3. Optical smoke detector: The same as 3.2.2.2
3.2.2.4. Projected beam-type smoke detector: Smoke detector consists of 02 parts:
beam transmitter and beam receiver, both of them work when smoke appears in
the middle distance.
3.2.3. Flame detector: Automatic fire detector is sensitive with fire radiation.
3.2.4. Automatic Testing Function Detector – ATF: Fire detector automatically tests
its functions and then transmit the result to fire alarm center.
3.2.5. Combined detector: Automatic detector is sensitive with at least 02 accompanying
phenomena of fire.
1
VIETNAM NATIONAL STANDARD TCVN 5738:2000 1ST EXAMINE
3.3. Manual call point: First alarm by hand
3.4. Electrical power supply: The equipment feeds the fire alarm system
3.5. Conjunctive devices: Include parts, cables and signal wire system, conjunctive devices of
equipments of fire alarm system.
3.6. Fire alarm control panel: The equipment feeds automatic fire detector and have following
functions:
- Receive the signals from automatic fire detector and transmit fire alarm signal
identifying fire location.
- Transmit fire detecting signal via signal transmitter to fire alarm receiver or/and
to automatic fire protection equipments.
- Check the normal working of the system; show the problems of the system such
as broken line or short –circuit.
- Automatically control the operation of other peripheral equipments.
4. GENERAL REGULATIONS
4.1. The design and installation of automatic fire alarm system must comply with the
requirements and provisions of current standards and regulations which are approved by
competent authority.
4.2. Automatic fire alarm system must meet following requirements:
- Promptly detect fire signal as their functions;
- Change fire detector signal into obvious fire alarm signal for proper actions of
surrounding people
- Have good interference – resistance.
- Promptly and clearly detect any troubles of the system
- Is not affected by other centered or local system.
- Is not partially or entirely paralyzed prior fire detection
4.3. Fire alarm system must ensure its reliability. This system must fulfill its set function
without any errors.
4.4. The external influence resulting in troubles for a part of the system should not cause
sequential events in the system.
4.5. Automatic fire alarm system consists of following parts:
- Fire alarm center
- Automatic fire detector
- Call point
- Conjunctive devices
- Electric supply
Depending on each fire alarm system’s requirements, there are other parts such as fire
alarm signal transmitter and receiver, fire protection equipment controller, automatic fire
fighting, etc.

2
VIETNAM NATIONAL STANDARD TCVN 5738:2000 1ST EXAMINE

5. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS ON FIRE ALARM CENTER

5.1. Fire Alarm Center must automatically check the signal from the channel reported to
eliminate false fire alarm signal. It is allowed to use fire alarm center which does not
function of automatically detecting the signal. Do not use the center which does not have
fire alarm as the fire alarm center.
5.2. Central fire alarm must be placed in areas with day and night inspector. Otherwise, the
center must have a function of transmitting fire alarm signals and fire incidents or fire to
the place with day and night inspector and take measures to prevent unrelated people
exposure to fire alarm center.
The alarm centers have direct telephone contact with a fire team or fire alarm receiver.
5.3. Center fire alarm must be installed on walls, partitions, on the table where there is no fire
hazard.
5.4. If the central fire alarm is mounted on the combustible building structures, these materials
components must be protected with metal shield 1 mm thick or more, or by other non-
flammable materials not less than 10mm thick. In this case, the shield must have dimensions
such that each edge of the guard is beyond the edge of the center at least 100, on all sides.
5.5. The distance between the center fire and ceilings made of inflammable materials should
not be less than 1.0 m.
5.6. In the case side by side location, the distance between the centers is not small than
50mm.
5.7. If the fire alarm center is mounted on wall, building pile or machine mount, the distance
from fire alarm control center to slab is from 0.8 to 1.8m
5.8. The temperature and humidity at the fire alarm center must be in line with technical
schedule and manual of fire alarm center.
5.9. The sound signal of fire alarm and troubles should be different.
5.10. When installing the fire alarm detector into fire alarm center, pay attention to the
compatibility of the system (supply voltage for the fire alarm detector, fire alarm signals,
methods to detect incidents and wire controller).
6. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS TO AUTOMATIC FIRE DETECTOR
6.1. Automatic fire alarm detector ensures set functions and the specifications listed in Table 1.
The selection of the fire alarm detectors must be based on the nature of the flammable
substances features of protection environment and the nature of the facility, see Appendix A.
Table 1
Specification Heat detector Smoke detector Fire detector

Time Less than 120 s Less than 30 s Less than 5 s

Threshold Temperature Smoke *: The flame is 15mm

increase over 5°C/min From 5 to 20%/m to high, 3m far from fire
Conventional smoke detector
detector
From 20 to 70% in the
distance between the
transmitter and
receiver of projected
beam – type detector

3
VIETNAM NATIONAL STANDARD TCVN 5738:2000 1ST EXAMINE

Specification Heat detector Smoke detector Fire detector

Humidity at the Less than 98% Less than 98% Less than 98%
location of fire
detector

Working From -10°C to 170°C From -10°C to +50°C From -10°C to

temperature +50°C
2 2 2
Protection area From 15m to 50m From 50m to Pyramid with angle
2
100m greater than
120°, t h e height is
over or equal 3
to 7m
Notes:
* Active threshold of smoke is based on the smoke level in the certain distance
** Protected area of projected beam-type detector is the area limited by the distance
between transmitters and receivers (From 5 to 100 m) 2- sided width along the projection
beam (15 m): From 75 to 1500m2 .

6.2. Fire detector must have indicator light in action. Where the fire alarm has no indicator
lights base of fire detector must have substitute light.
For wireless fire alarm (Radio and spot fire detector),
apart from indicator lights, there must be indicator light of the situation of power supply
6.3. Number of automatic fire alarms need to install a protected area depends on the necessity
of detect a fire on the entire area of the region and ensure that the technical and economic
requirements
If the fire alarm system used to control automatic fire fighting system, each point in the
protected areas must be controlled by two automatic fire alarms in two different channels.
Where the suspended ceiling with ceiling and between classes has installed systems
engineering, electrical cable, cable assembly, they must supplement the fire alarm in the
ceiling above.
If there is suspended ceiling or technical system or electric/signal cables between ceiling
layers, additional fire alarm must be placed on above ceiling.
6.4. Smoke alarm and heat alarm are mounted on the ceiling or roof. Otherwise, allowing
girders mounted on wire or hanging on the ceiling, but the fire alarm to the ceiling not
exceeding 0.3 m including the size of a fire alarm detector.
6.5. Smoke and heat detector must be placed in the ceiling room, limited by construction
structures protruding below (bar, beam, panel edge) over 0.4 m.
In other cases, the protruding part is over 0.4m and 0.75 m wide; install additional fire
detectors at protruding parts.
6.6. If material piles, shelves, construction equipments and parts have their highest point less
than 0.6m far from the ceiling, the automatic detectors must be installed here.
6.7. The number of fire detector of a channel depends on specification of fire alarm center, but
the protection area of each one is less than 2,000m2 to open protection area and 500m2 to
close protection area. Fire detectors should be used in accordance with technical requirement,
standards and technical history added with environment at these locations.
Notes:
Protection zones are areas where smoke is visible in case of fires, such as warehouses,
factories, conference halls, etc.

4
VIETNAM NATIONAL STANDARD TCVN 5738:2000 1ST EXAMINE

Enclosed area is the area where smoke is invisible in case of fires such as cable vault,
false ceiling, closed room, etc.
6.8. Where fire alarm center is unable to identify address of each fire alarm detector, the fire
alarm detectors are connected on a channel which controls 20 rooms or a common corridor
is designed on the same floor but there is indicator of fire detector outside each room and
they meet all requirements of article 6.7.
Where a room is designed with glass windows or glass walls facing with the common
corridor and is visible from common corridor, indicator lights may not be installed here.
6.9. The distance from fire detector to outside edge of the diffuser of ventilation system or air
conditioning system must be greater than 0.5m
It is not allowed to directly place fire detector on diffusers.
6.10. In case many fire detectors are installed at a protection area, each unit should be protected
by at least one detector
In case, a combined detector is installed at a protection area, the distance between
detectors is determined in accordance with the features of main flammable substance in
the area.
6.11. In area prone to explosion, use fire detector with function of explosion prevention.
In area with high humidity and/or high dust content, use fire detector with moisture –
proof and dust – proof.
In area with insects, use fire detector with the function of anti-insect or introduce insects to
enter the detector.
6.12. Smoke detector
6.12.1. In the protection area of the smoke detector, the maximum distance between
smoke detectors and between smoke detectors and walls are determined
according to Table 2, but not greater than the value recorded in technical
requirements and technical background of smoke detectors

Installation Area protected Max distance, m

height, m by one detector Between smoke From smoke
(m2) detectors detector to wall
Under 3.5m Less than 100 10 5.0
From 3.5 to 6 Less than 80 8.5 4.0
Greater than 6 to 10 Less than 65 8.0 4.0
Greater than 10 to 12 Less than 65 7.5 3.5

6.12.2. With units less than 3m wide, the permissible distance between smoke detector is
15m
6.12.3. Ionization smoke detector is not allowed to install in place with wind velocity
greater than 10m/s.
6.12.4. Photoelectric smoke detector is not allowed to install in place where mainly black
smoke is generated.
6.12.5. With projected beam – type smoke detector, the distance between the straight
line connecting transmitter and receiver of 2 pairs is not larger than 14 m and the
distance to walls or other detector is no more than 7 meters. No barrier is in the
distance between the player and the receiver of the smoke alarm.

5
VIETNAM NATIONAL STANDARD TCVN 5738:2000 1ST EXAMINE

6.13. Heat detector

6.13.1. In protection area, the maximum distance between heat detectors and between
heat detector with walls are defined the table 3 but less than the value recorded in
the technical conditions and technical background of heat detector.
Table 3
Installation Area protected by Max distance, m
height, m heat detector, m2 Between detectors From detector
to ceiling
Less than 3,5m Less than 50 7,0 3,5
From 3,5 to 6 Less than 25 5,0 2,5
From 6 to 9 Less than 20 4,5 2,0
6.13.2. Active threshold of heat detector should be 20°C greater than maximum
temperature of the room.
6.14. Flame detector
6.14.1. Flame detectors in the room or area must be installed in ceilings, walls and other
building components or equipment - mounted
6.14.2. Fire detector layout must meet requirements in Table 1 and the values recorded
in the technical conditions and technical history of fire alarms.

7. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS TO CALL POINT

7.1. Manual call point boxes are installed inside and outside of the buildings, on the walls and
structures at a height of 0.8 m to 1.5 m from the floor or ground.
7.2. Call point boxes must be mounted on the emergency exits, visible stair platform. If
necessary, call point box can be installed in each room. The distance between the push
button boxes shall does not exceed 50m.
7.3. If push button boxes are installed outside the building, then the maximum distance push
button fire alarm boxes is 150m and symbols must be clear. Fire alarm box outside the
home button should be waterproof or there must be measures against the rain. Fire alarm
boxes shall be illuminated continuously.
7.4. Call points can be installed on a separate channel of fire alarm center or shared channel
with other types of detectors.
8. TECHICAL REQUIREMENTS TO CONJUNCTIVE DEVICES
8.1. The selection of wires and cables of automatic fire alarm system is compliant to
TCVN2103:1994 and ISO 6612:2000, this technical requirements and technical documents
applied with specific types of devices.
8.2. Cable system of automatic fire alarm system must penetrate via wall, ceiling, and take
measures to protect against short-circuit or broken wire (passing metal conduits or other
type). In case of floating, take measures against rats or other causes mechanical damages
to cables. The hole through the ceiling and walls must be sealed with non-flammable
material after construction.
8.3. Signal circuits of the automatic fire alarm system must be automatically checked on the
technical conditions along the signal circuit.
8.4. Fire alarm circuits must have their own wires and are copper wired. It is allowed to use
communication copper cables of combine communication network, but the
communication channel should be separated.
8.5. Copper core of the signal wire from automatic fire detector to the main shaft must be over
0.75 mm2 (equivalent to a copper core of 1mm). It is allowed to use stranded wire, but the
total section was not less than 0.75 mm2. Cross section of copper core of the trunk cable
must not less than 0.4 mm2. It is allowed to use multi-wires in a protection cladding but
the copper core diameter should be over 0.4mm2.
Allowing multiple wire cable used in a coating of bounds, but the core diameter of each
wire is not Less than 0.4 mm2.
6
VIETNAM NATIONAL STANDARD TCVN 5738:2000 1ST EXAMINE
Total resistance per channel of communication is not greater than 100Ω, but not greater
than the value required to each fire alarm center.
8.6. Control cable of peripherals, the signal wire from detectors in automatic fire alarm system is
highly inflammable (fire – resistant cable). It is possible to use of control cables of
peripherals with conventional cable, but take measures to protect against heat effect during
at least 30 minutes.
8.7. It is possible to install above circuits if there is vertical partition separating them with
inflammable substances, the heat resistance time is over 15 minutes.
8.8. In cases of open and parallel connection, the distance between light wires and cables of
automatic fire alarm system is not less than 0.5 m. Otherwise; there must be measures
against electromagnetic interference.
8.9. If the development has interference source or in case of addressable fire alarm system, it is
compulsory to use interference – proof cables and wires. In such cases, protect them by
earth – connecting ducts or metal boxes.
8.10. The ends of wire connecting boxes and wires of the main axis must have 20% provision
9. TECHNICAL REQUIREPEMTS TO ELECTRIC SUPPLY AND EARTHING DEVICES.
9.1. The fire alarm center must be fed from two independent sources. One of them is alternative
220V source and one is standing battery source.
The voltage tolerance of the alternative power source must be within ±10%.Otherwises, use
voltage stabilizer before supplying the electricity for the center.
Standing battery sources must be capable to feed equipments during 12 hours at regular
mode and in 1 hour in case of fires.
9.2. Fire alarm centers must be earth – connected. The earthing connection should meet
requirements in TCVN 4756:1989.
10. INVESTIGATION, PRESERVATION AND MAINTANCE
10.1. Devices of fire alarm system must be investigated in term of the quality and species before
the installation. The automatic fire alarm system must be certified and accepted by
competent agencies before they are put in operation.
10.2. After putting operation, fire alarm system should be investigated at least 01 time/year. The
whole functions of the system and the operation of all fire alarm devices must be checked.
Immediately correct any possible troubles.

Depending on installation environment of fire alarm system, the system must be

maintained at least each 2 years. In the maintain process, check the sensitivity of all
detectors. Under -qualified detectors should be replaced.

7
VIETNAM NATIONAL STANDARD TCVN 5738:2000 1ST EXAMINE

Appendix A

SELECT AUTOMATIC FIRE DETECTOR IN

ACCORDANCE WITH FACILITIES

No Detector Features of facilities equipped with

A. Manufacturing units
I. Manufacturing and preservation units
1a. Heat detector or photoelectric Wood and wood products, textiles, ready-made
detector garments, footwear, fur goods, tobacco, paper,
cellulose, cotton.
1b. Heat detector or ionization Synthetic resins, synthetic fibers, polymer
smoke detector materials, rubber products rubber, artificial
rubber, flammable film and x-ray film
2. Heat or flame detector Liquid oils, paints, solvents, flammable liquids,
liquid
fire, grease, strong chemicals activities, wine and
3. Flame detector Alkali metals, metal powder, natural rubber
4. Heat detector Cereals, synthetic food and other food, dusty
materials
II. Manufacturing units
5. Heat detector or flame detector Paper, cardboard, cardboard, animals and poultry
III. Preservation units
6. Heat detector or smoke Inflammable materials covered in flammable
detector packets, flammable solid materials
B. Specific buildings
7. Heat detector or ionizationCable placement, transformer, distribution
smoke detector equipment and electric panel rooms
8. Detector Computer rooms, electronic control devices, air
conditioners control, automatic telephone,
broadcast, wiring and switch gear room
9. Heat detector or flame detectorRoom equipment and flammable liquid pipes,
greases, internal combustion engine testing room,
fuel test room, gas-filled room.
10. Heat detector or ionization Car maintenance
smoke detector
C. Public houses and rooms
11. Heat detector or photoelectricPerformance room, gymnasium, lecture hall, reading
detector room and workshop, actors room, makeup room,
dressing room, repairing room, lounge, suite room,
corridor and buffer room, book storage room,
12. Heat detector or photoelectricstorage room warehouse, admin room, machine
Equipment
detector room, control room
13. Heat detector Living room, patient room, good store room,
collective dining room
14. Photoelectric detector or flame Exhibition room, storage room for museum’s
detector exhibits
Notice: If a room has various fire signals in the first stage, the installation of automatic fire alarm
system should be identified on the technical and economic basis.