Consulting on Choosing Fire Alarm Systems for Factories, Apartment Buildings, and Houses

In the context of increasingly frequent and complex fire incidents, choosing the right fire alarm system for factories, apartment buildings, and homes is no longer optional — it’s a mandatory measure to ensure the safety of both people and property.

However, each type of building — from private homes and factories to high-rise apartments — has its unique characteristics in terms of area, structure, occupancy density, and legal requirements. Therefore, a fire alarm system that works for a private home may not be sufficient for a factory or apartment complex.

In this article, Bao Tin Steel will walk you through a detailed analysis of the key differences — from technical requirements and equipment types to the standards that must be met — to help you choose the most suitable, safe, and cost-effective fire alarm solution for your building.

Common Types of Fire Alarm Systems Today

In our previous article, “Types of Fire Alarm Systems & How to Choose the Right One for Your Building,” Bao Tin Steel provided a comprehensive overview of today’s most commonly used fire alarm systems. Among them, four key systems stand out:

• Conventional Fire Alarm System
• Addressable Fire Alarm System
• Wireless Fire Alarm System
• Smart Fire Alarm System

Each fire alarm system comes with its advantages, limitations, and suitable applications. In the following sections, we’ll take a closer look at different types of buildings — including private homes, factories, and apartment complexes — to determine which system is the most suitable and effective for each case.

Fire Alarm Systems for Private Homes – Cost-Effective & Easy to Use

Although not legally required like in factories or apartment buildings, installing a fire alarm system in private homes has become an increasingly important safety measure, especially as residential fires have become more frequent and unpredictable. Choosing to install a fire alarm system at home is a proactive step in protecting your loved ones and property.

Private homes are typically small in size, often already fully furnished, and usually don’t have a dedicated electrical system for fire alarms. Therefore, the ideal fire alarm systems for homes should:

• Quick installation without affecting aesthetics

• Reasonable cost

• Easy to use, no complex technical skills required

Recommended Fire Alarm Systems for Private Homes:

1. Wireless or Standalone Fire Alarm Systems

• Use wireless smoke detectors and heat detectors

• Compact control panel or integrated with phone alert notifications

• Some models can connect to mini speakers or combined bell-and-light alarms

2. Smart Fire Alarm Systems

• Connects via Wi-Fi with a mobile app

• Sends fire or low battery alerts through notifications

• Some models allow real-time monitoring of each device’s status

Recommended Devices:

• Standalone Smoke Detectors: GB2688, FireSmart Mini, Kawasan SM07

• Heat Detectors: Ideal for areas near the kitchen to avoid false alarms caused by cooking smoke

• Bell and Light Alarms: Mini wall-mounted type, 12–24V

• Wireless Control Panels: FireSmart, Hochiki consumer-grade models

Device Placement Recommendations:

• Bedrooms, hallways, and ground floors — areas where fires are most likely to occur

• Near the kitchen: Use heat detectors instead of smoke detectors to avoid false alarms from cooking smoke

• Place bell-and-light alarms in central, easily heard locations such as staircases or living rooms

Fire Alarm Systems for Factories – Compliant, Accurate, and Highly Scalable

Factories and manufacturing plants are high-risk areas for fires and explosions due to the presence of flammable materials such as wood, paper, chemicals, and plastics, as well as high-power electrical equipment that often operates continuously. Therefore, installing a fire alarm system is not only a legal requirement but also a critical factor in effective fire prevention and firefighting efforts.

Key Features to Note:

• Typically, large areas are divided into multiple zones (production, storage, offices, etc.)

• High ceilings and open spaces → Early smoke detection is challenging without specialised equipment

• Environment with dust, high humidity, and temperature → requires durable devices with dust resistance and low error margins

• Mandatory compliance with standards: TCVN 5738:2021, TCVN 3890, QCVN 06:2022/BXD

Consulting on Choosing Fire Alarm Systems for Factories, Apartment Buildings, and Houses

Recommended Systems:

1. Addressable Fire Alarm System (Preferred)

• Capable of precisely locating the activated device

• Easily expandable and manageable across multiple zones

• Can be integrated with automatic fire suppression systems (sprinklers, FM200 gas, CO2, etc.)

2. Conventional Fire Alarm System – Suitable Only for Small Factories

• Divides areas into fixed zones

• Lower cost, but cannot pinpoint exact locations

Recommended Devices:

• Addressable Control Panels: GST 200N, Hochiki HCVR, UNIPOS IFS7002

• Beam Smoke Detectors: Suitable for ceilings 8 meters or higher – GST, Hochiki Beam

• Fixed or Rate-of-Rise Heat Detectors: Used in industrial kitchens and welding areas

• High-Power Sounder and Beacon Alarms: Installed in central locations or individual factory zones

• Manual Call Points: Placed along emergency exits, main entrances, and near the security room

System Layout Recommendations:

• Production Area: Smoke detectors or beam detectors spaced 9–12 meters apart, installed on the ceiling

• Storage Area: Combination of smoke and heat detectors, or laser detectors

• Office Area: Secondary systems can be used (zone-based or wireless)

Fire Alarm Systems for Apartment Buildings – Integrated Interfloor Alarm Notification

Apartment buildings are unique structures characterised by high occupant density, enclosed spaces, limited escape routes, and strict legal requirements. Therefore, fire alarm systems must not only ensure early detection and timely alerts but also synchronise and integrate throughout the entire building, supporting effective evacuation.

Mandatory Legal & Technical Requirements:

• Mandatory compliance with QCVN 06:2022/BXD and TCVN 3890 standards for the design and installation of fire protection systems in high-rise buildings

• Required use of automatic fire alarm systems throughout all public areas and individual apartments

• Must have integrated interconnection with fire suppression systems, elevators, emergency lighting, and evacuation public address systems

Recommended Systems:

1. Addressable Fire Alarm System

• Each device has a unique address, → allows precise identification of the fire location

• Centralised management of the entire building from a control panel located in the technical or security room

• Easily integrates with PA systems (public address), BMS (building management system), and automatic fire suppression systems

2. Smart Fire Alarm Systems

• Allows remote monitoring and sends notifications to the management team’s or operator’s mobile phones

• Logs and enables real-time status checks of device operation

Recommended Devices:

• Addressable Loop Control Panels: Hochiki HCVR, UNIPOS, Nohmi, GST

• Addressable Smoke Detectors: Installed in corridors and inside apartments

• Evacuation Public Address Speakers: Integrated with voice alarm systems

• Addressable Manual Call Points + Sounder and Beacon Alarms: Located on each floor and stairwell areas

• Monitoring and Control Modules: Used to integrate smoke extraction fans, fire doors, exit lights, elevator shutdown systems, etc.

System Layout According to Standards:

• Each corridor: at least one smoke detector, manual call point, and sounder-beacon alarm

• Inside each apartment: one smoke detector (or combined with a heat detector if near the kitchen)

• Technical room: control panel and monitoring computer connected to the server

Comparison of Fire Alarm Systems by Building Type

Choosing the right fire alarm system depends heavily on the type of building. The table below provides a quick comparison of characteristics, suitable solutions, and recommended devices for three common building types: residential houses, factories, and apartment buildings.

To help you make a more confident decision, in the next section, Thép Bảo Tín will delve into the key criteria to consider when choosing a fire alarm system, from budget and scalability to legal requirements.

Key Criteria to Consider When Choosing a Fire Alarm System

1. Scale and structure of the project

• Small, completed house → prioritize wireless or standalone system
• Large, multi-area construction → needs an addressable system with scalable management capabilities
• High ceiling, open space → should use beam detector instead of point detector

2. Level of Fire and Explosion Risk

• Presence of high-power electrical equipment and flammable materials (such as in factories and warehouses) → prioritize heat detectors and flame detectors
• Special areas (server rooms, machine rooms) → should integrate automatic fire suppression systems

3. Legal Requirements and Fire Safety Documentation

• Projects subject to mandatory fire safety approval → Systems must comply with TCVN/QCVN standards and have CO/CQ certificates

• Control panels, detectors, sounder-beacons, etc., must be listed as certified compliant equipment

4. Remote Monitoring and Alerting Needs

5 . Scalability and Integration with Other Systems

6.Initial Investment Budget and Operating Costs

“Investing in a fire alarm system is an investment in long-term safety. If the budget is limited, choose a simplified but compliant solution. Don’t sacrifice technical quality and operational safety just to save upfront costs..”

Recommended Device Lines Suitable for Each Type of Building

For Residential Houses (Townhouses, Villas)

For Factories and Warehouses

For apartments, office buildings

Note:

• All devices should be selected from brands certified to TCVN/UL/EN54 standards.
• It is recommended to purchase from reputable distributors that provide clear CO/CQ certificates and technical documentation.

Conclusion

Choosing a fire alarm system cannot follow a “one-size-fits-all” approach. Each building type — from residential houses and factories to apartment buildings — has different requirements regarding area, environment, risk level, and legal standards.

• Residential houses require compact, easy-to-install systems with fast alerts.
• Factories need stable, wide-coverage systems that strictly comply with fire safety regulations.
• Apartment buildings demand integrated systems with interfloor alerts and multi-system integration.

Investing in the right fire alarm system not only helps protect your property and lives but also saves significant time, costs, and legal risks during the building’s operation.

Do you need advice on choosing the right system for your building?

Bao Tin Steel  is ready to assist you:

• Consulting on selecting suitable devices for each type of building

• Providing quotations for genuine equipment, complete CO/CQ certificates, compliant with TCVN and international standards

• Supporting fire safety acceptance documentation (catalogues, wiring diagrams, compliance certificates)

Bao Tin Steel – Reliable Fire Alarm Equipment Solutions for Every Building.

• Address: 551/156 Le Van Khuong Street, Hiep Thanh Ward, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
• Hotline: 0932 059 176
• Email: kinhdoanh@thepbaotin.com
• Website: www.thepbaotin.com

Safety doesn’t come from luck; it starts with the right choices.

Contact Bao Tin Steel today for the best advice and quotes on fire alarm equipment!

Tiger Steel is a subsidiary of Bao Tin Steel.