Create a logic equation. For example:
A common structure is shown below (also referred to in technical Scribd documents for Siemens General Fire Detection): Cause (Input) General Alarm AHU Shutdown Door Release Elevator Recall Manual Call Point Lobby Heat Detector Kitchen Sprinkler Flow (X = The action that occurs) Developing the Matrix: Step-by-Step
These are the "senses" of the building.
When a smoke detector inside an elevator lobby, shaft, or machine room activates, the system must recall elevators to a designated primary floor. If the fire is on the primary floor, the system must recall the elevator to an alternate floor. HVAC and Smoke Control
It is often required for compliance with local regulations and codes. fire alarm cause and effect matrix
A comprehensive fire alarm cause and effect matrix should include the following components:
Fire causes more damage from smoke than from flames. The HVAC system can distribute smoke throughout a building in minutes. The C&E matrix dictates:
Standards such as BS 5839-1 require periodic inspection and testing of system functionality, including cause and effect logic, typically every six months. In England and Wales, the 'responsible person' must ensure zone plans are properly maintained and up-to-date, with verification required over a 12-month period.
What is this matrix for (e.g., high-rise, school, hospital, industrial)? Create a logic equation
Consult local building codes to determine your evacuation strategy (e.g., immediate total evacuation vs. horizontal progressive evacuation). List your output relays across the top columns. Step 4: Map the Logic Rules Apply logic filters if necessary:
In a hospital or high-rise, you don't want a false alarm to evacuate the whole building.
At its simplest, the (often called C&E Matrix, Input/Output Matrix, or Control Matrix) is a logical flowchart or a table that defines exactly how a fire alarm system must behave in response to every possible input signal.
Listed vertically in the left-hand column. These represent any device that can trigger a signal. If the fire is on the primary floor,
Modern systems rarely have a single layer of logic. Usually, the matrix defines three distinct phases:
Below is a simplified visual representation of how a matrix handles different events in a multi-story office building. Cause (Input Event) Trigger Alarm (Floor 1) Trigger Alarm (Floor 2) Central Station Notification Elevator Recall HVAC Shutdown Close Fire Doors X X X X Smoke Detector (Floor 1 Room 101) X X X X X Duct Smoke Detector (Main AHU) X X Sprinkler Waterflow (Floor 2) X X X X Tamper Switch (Floor 1 Valve) Trouble Signal Only Best Practices for Managing and Maintaining the Matrix
Modern fire alarm systems do much more than sound an alarm. They interact with mechanical, electrical, and structural systems. Without a clear matrix, programming these integrations can lead to chaotic or dangerous system behaviors. 1. Life Safety and Evacuation