Safety alarms and European standards

This paper describes the current status and future of the safety-alarm (Alarm-of-Level-3) equipment at CERN. The emphasis is on the classification of these systems in the European standards framework as well as in other relevant international standards. Fire and gas detection systems and evacuation alarms represent the majority (approximately 90%) of the safety-alarm equipment at CERN. We will mainly address issues concerning the functioning of the fire-detection equipment and how it communicates with the Safety Control Room and Technical Control Room. The technological evolution of the equipment will be discussed. We shall also refer to the international and national standards applicable at CERN in the fire-equipment domain.