ISO 7240 Fire detection and alarm systems

The committee which created ISO 7240 is ISO/TC 21, Equipment for fire protection and firefighting, Subcommittee SC 3, Fire detection and alarm systems.
ISO 7240 consists of the following parts, under the general title Fire detection and alarm systems:
— Part 1: General and definitions
— Part 2: Control and indicating equipment
— Part 3: Audible alarm devices
— Part 4: Power supply equipment
— Part 5: Point-type heat detectors
— Part 6: Carbon monoxide fire detectors using electro-chemical cells
— Part 7: Point-type smoke detectors using scattered light, transmitted light or ionization
— Part 8: Carbon monoxide fire detectors using an electro-chemical cell in combination with a heat sensor
— Part 9: Test fires for fire detectors [Technical Specification]
— Part 10: Point-type flame detectors
— Part 11: Manual call points
— Part 12: Line type smoke detectors using a transmitted optical beam
— Part 13: Compatibility assessment of system components
— Part 14: Design, installation, commissioning and service of fire detection and fire alarm systems in and around buildings
— Part 15: Point type fire detectors using scattered light, transmitted light or ionization sensors in combination with a heat sensor
— Part 16: Sound system control and indicating equipment
— Part 17: Short-circuit-isolators
— Part 18: Input/output devices
— Part 19: Design, installation, commissioning and service of sound systems for emergency purposes
— Part 20: Aspirating smoke detectors
— Part 21: Routing equipment
— Part 22: Smoke-detection equipment for ducts
— Part 23: Visual alarm devices
— Part 24: Sound system loudspeakers
— Part 25: Components using radio transmission paths
— Part 27: Point-type fire detectors using a scattered-light, transmitted-light or ionization smoke sensor, an electrochemical-cell carbon-monoxide sensor and a heat sensor
— Part 28: Fire protection control equipment
The following parts are in preparation
— Part 29: Video fire detectors
ISO 7240 specifies components of fire detection and alarm systems, requirements for their interconnection and installation and the performance, testing, and servicing of parts or of complete systems. It provides:
— local and/or remote signals to organizations having authority to respond to fire alarms, and
— signals to initiate the operation of fire protection equipment and other systems.
A fire detection and alarm system may be activated by automatic detection devices or by manual operation and should fulfil its functions without errors or omissions, including
— detecting quickly enough to fulfil its intended function,
— reliably transmitting the detection signal to the control and indicating equipment and, if applicable, the fire alarm receiving station,
— translating the detection signal into a clear alarm signal that will attract the attention of occupants in an immediate and unmistakable way,
— remaining insensitive to phenomena other than those which its function is to detect, and
— signaling immediately and clearly any supervised fault that might jeopardize the correct performance of the fire detection and alarm system.
A fire detection and alarm system should not
— be adversely affected by any other systems whether associated with it, or not
— be rendered partially or totally inoperative by the fire or the phenomenon which it is designed to detect before the fire or phenomenon has been detected.
ISO 7240-1:2014(EN) Fire detection and alarm systems — Part 1: General and definitions
ISO 7240-1:2014 provides a set of general guidelines and definitions used in describing the fire detection and alarm system (FDAS) equipment installed in and around buildings, and the tests and requirements for equipment in the other parts of ISO 7240.
ISO 7240-2:2017(EN) Fire detection and alarm systems — Part 2: Fire detection control and indicating equipment
ISO 7240-2:2017 specifies requirements, test methods and performance criteria for fire detection control and indicating equipment (FDCIE) for use in fire detection and fire alarm systems installed in buildings.
For the testing of other types of FDCIE, ISO 7240-2:2017 is intended to be used only for guidance. FDCIE with special characteristics, developed for specific risks, are not covered in ISO 7240-2:2017
ISO 7240-4:2017(EN) Fire detection and alarm systems — Part 4: Power supply equipment
ISO 7240-4:2017 specifies requirements, test methods and performance criteria for power supply equipment (PSE) for use in fire detection and alarm systems installed in buildings.
For the testing of other types of the PSE, ISO 7240-4:2017 is intended to be used only for guidance. The PSE with special characteristics, developed for specific risks, are not covered in this document.
ISO 7240-6:2011(EN) Fire detection and alarm systems — Part 6: Carbon monoxide fire detectors using electro-chemical cells
ISO 7240-6:2011 specifies requirements, test methods and performance criteria for point fire detectors using electro-chemical cells that operate using carbon-monoxide detection principles for use in fire detection and alarm systems installed in buildings
For the testing of other types of CO fire detectors working on different principles ISO 7240-6:2011 can be used only for guidance. Fire detectors with special characteristics and developed for specific risks are not covered by ISO 7240-6:2011
ISO 7240-7:2018(EN) Fire detection and alarm systems — Part 7: Point-type smoke detectors using scattered light, transmitted light or ionization
ISO 7240-7:2018 specifies requirements, test methods and performance criteria for point-type smoke detectors that operate using scattered light, transmitted light or ionization, for use in fire detection and alarm systems installed in buildings. ISO 7240-7:2018 also covers point-type smoke detectors that incorporate more than one smoke sensor operating on these principles.
For the testing of other types of smoke detectors, or smoke detectors working on different principles, this document is only intended to be used for guidance. This document is not applicable to smoke detectors with special characteristics, developed for specific risks.
ISO/TR 7240-9:2022(EN) Fire detection and alarm systems — Part 9: Test fires for fire detectors
ISO/TR 7240-9:2022 provides a catalogue of test fires and is intended to enhance comprehensive understanding of fire detection test methods. It describes a series of test fires to which fire detectors, such as smoke, heat and flame detectors, are subjected, as specified in other Parts of the ISO 7240 series.
ISO 7240-10:2012(EN) Fire detection and alarm systems — Part 10: Point-type flame detectors
ISO 7240-10:2012 specifies requirements, test methods and performance criteria for point-type, resettable flame detectors that operate using radiation from a flame for use in fire detection systems installed in buildings.
ISO 7240-10:2012 is not applicable to flame detectors with special characteristics, developed for specific risks. It can be used as guidance in assessing other types of flame detectors not included in ISO 7240-10:2012. The performance of flame detectors is assessed from results obtained in specific tests.
ISO 7240-11:2011(EN) Fire detection and alarm systems — Part 11: Manual call points
ISO 7240-11:2011 specifies the requirements, test methods and performance criteria for manual call points in fire detection and alarm systems in and around buildings. It takes into account indoor and outdoor conditions, the appearance and operation of the manual call points for type A “direct operation” and type B “indirect operation”, and covers those which are simple mechanical switches, those which are fitted with simple electronic components (e.g. resistors, diodes) and those which contain active electronic components and which work with the control and indicating equipment for signaling and identifying, for example, an address or location.
ISO 7240-13:2020(EN) Fire detection and alarm systems — Part 13: Compatibility assessment of system components
ISO 7240-13:2020 specifies the requirements for compatibility and connectability assessment of the components of fire detection and alarm systems, fire protection systems and voice alarm systems.
ISO 7240-13:2020 only includes system requirements when these are necessary for compatibility assessment.
ISO 7240-13:2020 also specifies requirements for the integrity of the fire detection and fire alarm system when connected to other systems.
ISO 7240-13:2020 does not specify the manner in which the system is designed, installed and used in any particular application.
ISO 7240-13:2020 does not cover components or functions which are not included in the fire detection and alarm systems (FDAS), such as functions performed by a building management system.
Methods of assessment are specified to permit an acceptable degree of confidence within predetermined operational and environmental conditions to be achieved.
The requirements for the transmission path used for a distributed function are covered by a relevant ISO standard and not by ISO 7240-13:2020
ISO 7240-13:2020 is applicable to systems where the components are connected to control-and-indicating equipment (CIE) and where the components are interconnected by electrical wires or optical fibre or by radio frequency links or by any combination of these.
ISO 7240-25 provides additional information and requirements about systems using radio frequency links.

ISO 7240-14:2013(EN) Fire detection and alarm systems — Part 14: Design, installation, commissioning and service of fire detection and fire alarm systems in and around buildings
ISO 7240-14:2013 specifies the design, installation, commissioning, and service requirements for a fire detection and alarm system (FDAS), which is primarily intended to provide early detection of fire and notification within one or more specified indoor or outdoor areas for the protection of lives. The FDAS includes automatic detection of a fire and manual initiation of a fire alarm, with audible and visual warning to people within the detection area.
ISO 7240-14:2013 also specifies requirements for FDAS capable of providing signals to audible warning systems in accordance with ISO 7240-19, to initiate the operation of ancillary technical services, such as fixed fire extinguishing systems, and to other precautions and actions.
The protection of property is outside the scope of ISO 7240-14:2013. However, the requirements specified herein may be used as recommendations for property protection.
ISO 7240-15:2014(EN) Fire detection and alarm systems — Part 15: Point-type fire detectors using smoke and heat sensors
ISO 7240-15:2014 specifies requirements, test methods, and performance criteria for point-type fire detectors using smoke and heat sensors, incorporating in one mechanical enclosure at least one smoke sensor and at least one other sensor which responds to heat, and in which the signal(s) of the smoke sensor(s) is (are) combined with the signal(s) of the heat sensor(s).
The performance of a single sensor within the detector covered by ISO 7240-15:2014 cannot be sufficient for conformity to other parts of ISO 7240 for the single sensor detector.
Certain types of detectors can contain radioactive materials. The national requirements for radiation protection differ from country to country and they are not therefore specified ISO 7240-15:2014. However, such detectors are expected to conform to the national requirements and be in line with the recommendations of the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)1.
For the testing of other types of detectors, or detectors working on different principles ISO 7240-15:2014 can be used only for guidance. Detectors with special characteristics, developed for specific risks, are not covered in ISO 7240-15:2014
ISO 7240-16:2007(EN) Fire detection and alarm systems — Part 16: Sound system control and indicating equipment
ISO 7240-16:2007 specifies the requirements, test methods and performance criteria for sound system control and indicating equipment (s.s.c.i.e.) for use in buildings and structures as part of a sound system for emergency purposes (s.s.e.p.) (item C of Figure 2 in ISO 7240-1:2005). The s.s.c.i.e. is primarily intended to broadcast information for the protection of lives within one or more specified areas in an emergency, to effect a rapid and orderly mobilization of occupants in an indoor or outdoor area. This includes systems using loudspeakers to broadcast voice announcements for emergency purposes, alert signals complying with ISO 7731, and evacuate signals complying with ISO 8201.
The overall requirements of an s.s.e.p., especially concerning audibility and intelligibility, are contained within ISO 7240-19. In addition to ensuring compliance with ISO 7240-16:2007, the manufacturer should also consider the requirements of ISO 7240-19, national regulations, codes and standards that affect the s.s.c.i.e. design and usability. For example, some regulations require certain optional functions to be available on all s.s.c.i.e. installed within the jurisdiction.
The use of the equipment for normal sound reinforcement and distribution systems purposes under non-hazardous circumstances is not excluded.
ISO 7240-16:2007 can also be used for the assessment of similar control and indicating equipment for use in systems where the warning-signal broadcast does not include a voice message.
ISO 7240-16:2007 does not apply to systems using only sounders or bells.
ISO 7240-17:2020(EN) Fire detection and fire alarm systems — Part 17: Transmission path isolators
ISO 7240-17:2020 specifies the requirements, test methods and performance criteria for transmission path isolators for use in fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings
Means of isolation or protection incorporated within control and indicating equipment are not covered by ISO 7240-17:2020
ISO 7240-19:2007(EN) Fire detection and alarm systems — Part 19: Design, installation, commissioning and service of sound systems for emergency purposes
ISO 7240-19:2007 specifies the design, installation, commissioning and service requirements for a sound system for emergency purposes (s.s.e.p.; see ISO 7240-1:2005, Figure 1, item C), which is primarily intended to broadcast information for the protection of lives within one or more specified indoor or outdoor areas during an emergency. The s.s.e.p. is intended to initiate a rapid and orderly mobilization of occupants in an emergency by including systems using loudspeakers to broadcast voice announcements for emergency purposes, alert signals complying with ISO 7731 (where applicable) and evacuation signals complying with ISO 8201. In some cases, sound systems are used in preference to sounders or bells in order to broadcast a range of coded warnings that is difficult to communicate with sounders or bells.
The use of the s.s.e.p. for normal sound reinforcement and distribution systems purposes under non-hazardous circumstances is not excluded. When used for non-emergency purposes, the zoning of the loudspeakers can differ from the zones used for emergency purposes.
ISO 7240-20:2010(EN) Fire detection and alarm systems — Part 20: Aspirating smoke detectors
ISO 7240-20:2010 specifies the requirements, test methods and performance criteria for aspirating smoke detectors for use in fire detection and alarm systems installed in buildings.
Aspirating smoke detectors developed for the protection of specific risks that incorporate special characteristics (including additional features or enhanced functionality for which ISO 7240-20:2010 does not define a test or assessment method) are also covered by ISO 7240-20:2010 . The performance requirements for any special characteristics are beyond the scope of ISO 7240-20:2010
ISO 7240-21:2005(EN) Fire detection and alarm systems — Part 21: Routing equipment
ISO 7240-21:2005 specifies requirements, methods of test, and performance criteria for fire-alarm routing (transmitting) equipment (ISO 7240-1:—, Figure 1, item E) and for fault (trouble) warning routing equipment (ISO 7240-1:—, Figure 1, item J) for use in fire detection and fire alarm systems installed in buildings.
ISO 7240-22:2017(en) Fire detection and alarm systems — Part 22: Smoke-detection equipment for ducts
ISO 7240-22:2017 specifies requirements, test methods and performance criteria for smoke-detection equipment for ducts (SDED) for use in fire detection and alarm systems installed in buildings (see ISO 7240-1).
The SDED samples the air from a duct and detects smoke in the sample.
The SDED can use smoke detectors complying with ISO 7240-7 or other detectors complying with tests specified in ISO 7240-22:2017
A common application for SDED is to detect visible smoke, for which detectors using scattered light or transmitted light can be more suitable. However, requirements for detectors using ionization are also included in this document for use in applications where detection of less visible fire aerosols is desired.
For the testing of other types of smoke detectors or smoke detectors working on different principles, this document can be used for guidance. Smoke detectors with special characteristics, developed for specific risks, are not covered.
ISO 7240-23:2013(EN) Fire detection and alarm systems — Part 23: Visual alarm devices
ISO 7240-23:2013 specifies the requirements, test methods and performance criteria for visual alarm devices in a fixed installation intended to signal a visual warning of a fire between a fire detection and alarm system and occupants in and around buildings.
ISO 7240-23:2013 specifies visual alarm devices for three types of application environment.
It is only applicable to pulsing or flashing visual alarm devices, for example xenon beacons or rotating beacons. It is not applicable to devices giving continuous light output.
ISO 7240-25:2010(EN) Fire detection and fire alarm systems — Part 25: Components using radio transmission paths
ISO 7240-25:2010 requirements, test methods and performance criteria for components used in fire detection and alarm systems, installed in and around buildings, which use radio-frequency (r.f.) transmission paths. It specifies requirements for the assessment of conformance of the components to the requirements of ISO 7240-25:2010
Where components work together and this requires knowledge of the system design ISO 7240-25:2010 also specifies requirements for the system.
When the fire detection and alarm system uses wired and r.f. transmission paths, the relevant parts of ISO 7240 apply together with ISO 7240-25:2010. Requirements relevant to wire transmission paths are superseded or modified by those included in ISO 7240-25:2010.
ISO 7240-27:2018(EN) Fire detection and alarm systems — Part 27: Point type fire detectors using a smoke sensor in combination with a carbon monoxide sensor and, optionally, one or more heat sensors
ISO 7240-27:2018 specifies requirements, test methods and performance criteria for multi-sensor point fire detectors that incorporate a smoke sensor, a carbon monoxide (CO) sensor and, optionally, one or more heat sensors, for use in fire detection and alarm systems installed in buildings (see ISO 7240-1).
For the testing of other types of fire detectors using smoke, CO and, optionally, heat sensors working on different principles, this document can be used only for guidance. ISO 7240-27:2018 is not applicable to fire detectors using smoke, CO and, optionally heat sensors, which have special characteristics and which have been developed for specific risks.
ISO/TS 7240-29:2017(EN) Fire detection and alarm systems — Part 29: Video fire detectors
ISO/TS 7240-29:2017 specifies requirements, test methods and performance criteria for video fire detectors (VFD), which operate in the visible spectrum, for use in fire detection and alarm systems installed in and around buildings (see ISO 7240-1). For the testing of other types of VFD working on different principles, this document can be used only for guidance.
Detectors developed for the protection of specific risks that incorporate special characteristics (including additional features or enhanced functionality for which this document does not define a test or assessment method) are beyond the scope of ISO/TS 7240-29:2017.
ISO/TS 7240-30:2022(EN) Fire detection and alarm systems — Part 30: Design, installation, commissioning and service of video fire detector systems
ISO/TS 7240-30:2022 specifies the design, installation, commissioning and service requirements for video fire detector systems (VFDS; see ISO/TS 7240-29), which are primarily intended to provide early detection of fire within one or more specified indoor areas for the protection of lives and equipment. The VFDS can also serve to protect from specific defined risks. The VFDS can be an independent fire detection system or can be used in conjunction with a fire detection and alarm system
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