Design and Testing of a Fire Detection and Alarm System for University Laboratory Buildings in Nsukka, Enugu State

This project designs, assembles, and tests an electronic fire detection and alarm system for university laboratory buildings at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, South East Nigeria. University laboratories contain flammable chemicals, pressurised gas cylinders, and energised electrical equipment that pose significant fire risk, yet many Nigerian university laboratory buildings operate without functional automatic fire detection systems. The designed system integrates smoke detectors based on photoelectric sensing, heat detectors using thermistors calibrated to trigger at 58 degrees Celsius, and manual call points at exit locations. All sensors are wired to a central control panel built around a PIC16F877A microcontroller, which processes sensor signals, determines the zone of fire origin, and activates zone-specific audible and visual alarms. The control panel incorporates a seven-segment display indicating the activated zone and a keypad for alarm reset and system testing. A GSM module sends an SMS alert to designated emergency contacts upon alarm activation. Battery backup ensures continued operation during grid power failure. The system was installed in a prototype building section and subjected to controlled smoke and heat tests to verify detection sensitivity and alarm response time. Smoke detection was achieved within 45 seconds under simulated smouldering fire conditions, and heat detection triggered within 20 seconds under rapid temperature rise. False alarm rate during a one-month monitoring period was zero. Recommendations include integration with a building sprinkler system for automatic suppression. Keywords: fire detection, alarm system, university laboratory, smoke sensor, Nsukka.