【Haichuan Building Review】Why are no automatic fire alarm systems installed in Class A warehouses?

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Why are no automatic fire alarms installed in Class A warehouses? During a safety inspection, experts pointed out that a Class A warehouse did not have an automatic fire alarm system. Is it necessary to install such a system in Class A warehouses? The automatic fire alarm system enables the early detection and notification of fire incidents, allowing for timely alerts to evacuate people and extinguish fires; it is widely used. Industrial plants and warehouses classified as Category A and Category B in terms of fire hazard are workplaces with a relatively high risk of fires. Then why aren’t automatic fire alarm systems installed in them? Article 8.4.1 of the \"Code for Fire Protection Design of Buildings GB50016-2014 (2018 edition)\” does not impose a requirement to install automatic fire alarm systems in Class A and B warehouses; of course, this article has been replaced by the general provisions. The explanatory text for this article states: \"The areas covered by this provision are mainly those places or buildings where a large number of people are present at the same time, and where a fire could easily lead to casualties necessitating prompt evacuation.\" ； Places or buildings with a large amount of combustible materials, where fires spread rapidly and are difficult to extinguish ； As well as locations or buildings where fires are not easily detected in a timely manner and that are of significant importance. ” The new standard, the General Code for Building Fire Protection GB55037-2022, states in 8.3.1 that except for bulk grain warehouses and raw coal warehouses where it is not necessary to install a fire alarm system, the following industrial buildings or facilities must be equipped with such systems: 1 High-rise factories of Class C ； 2 Class C production facilities located underground or semi-underground with a building area of more than 1,000㎡ ； 3 Class C warehouses that are underground or semi-underground and have a construction area of more than 1,000㎡ ； 4 Class C high-rise warehouses or Class C elevated warehouses. ” Under this standard requirement for industrial building sites, there is also no mandatory requirement to install automatic fire alarm systems in Class A and Class B factories and warehouses. Clause 8.3.2 and other clauses specify the requirements for civil buildings and other aspects. Let’s take a look at another standard, the \"Code for Design of Automatic Fire Alarm Systems GB50116-2013\": \"3.1.1 Automatic fire alarm systems can be used in places where people live or stay regularly, as well as in places where important materials are stored, or where serious pollution may occur as a result of a fire and prompt alerting is necessary. ”Explanation of the provisions: 3.1.1 This clause specifies clearly the locations where automatic fire alarm systems should be installed, reflecting the design goal of such systems to protect lives and property from fire hazards. It can also be seen from this that the original purpose of designing an automatic fire alarm system is to protect people, and the severe pollution that occurs as a result of fires is also there to protect people. Important materials should refer to those that are of very high value or great significance, rather than those with a higher degree of danger, such as the cultural relics in the Forbidden City.