How Do Fire Alarm Control Panels Work
Fire Alarm Panels
A fire alarm panel is the control center for a fire alarm system. The panel acts as the central processing unit. It receives signals from the smoke and heat detectors associated with the system and sends out signals to the fire alarms, sprinkler heads, and local authorities.
If the panel receives a signal that smoke has been detected, it may trigger an alarm to sound in the building. It may also activate a sprinkler head in the same area as the smoke detector. The fire alarm panel is programmed to respond based on the types of signals it receives.
The most common fire panels in use today are Conventional Fire Panels and Addressable Fire Panels.
Conventional Fire Panels
A Conventional Fire Panel is mostly used in smaller facilities. It generally acts as an early-warning system for people in the building by sounding an alarm when there is an issue. It cannot be programmed to respond in more complex ways, but it’s also not as expensive. The Conventional Fire Panel is not able to communicate with each component of the system, but a building can be wired into zones, so owners have a general idea of where a signal is coming from.
Addressable Fire Panels
Addressable Fire Panels give every smoke detector or sprinkler head a unique, identifiable address. When a smoke detector goes off, the main control panel knows exactly which one it is and where it’s located within the building. This comes in handy when a large area needs to be protected, such as a stadium. Specific responses can be programmed into Addressable Fire Panels, and they can be networked together. This allows the owner to see where the alarm is coming from inside the building.
What Type of Fire Protection Do I Need?
Deciding on the right type of fire protection system for your facility and budget can be challenging. It requires a unique skill set to understand, design, install, and maintain these specialized systems.
The Team at FSS will make sure your system meets all codes, as well as your company’s specific needs.
Explore Our Other Blogs
Alarm Monitoring Services: How They Work
An ear-piercing siren and flashing strobe lights create an immediate sense of emergency and indicate an alarm of some sort has been triggered. Now that the alarm has been triggered and the warning sirens have sounded, what happens next? If you have a monitored security system, it won’t just be the neighbors or passerby alerted…
Where Should Window and Motion Sensors be Placed?
Motion and window sensors are basic parts of a security system in both residential and business applications. The expert security team at FSS Technologies has helped thousands of business and property owners stay safe with these tools. Sensors A motion sensor allows a system to detect movement, using waves or light to determine if someone or…
Holiday Security Tips
It’s a beautiful time of the year, but the holidays come with some inherent risks that you should prepare for amidst all the gift buying, cooking, and decorating. Here are some of our top holiday safety tips to keep your home and loved ones safe over the season. Theft and Burglary Prevention Do not put…
What is the Difference Between Analog and IP Cameras in a CCTV System?
When you are considering different security systems and potentially implementing surveillance cameras into your home or business, a big question is whether you want IP or analog cameras. Global Market Insights estimates that the IP camera market will be worth more than 20 billion by 2025. With today’s technology both IP and analog systems can be viewed…
Fire Safety for Kids
Setting up fire alarm systems and fire monitoring are fundamental elements in your home’s fire safety plan. However, that is only the beginning. Educating your children on fire prevention, fire safety, and how to manage an emergency are vital in keeping your family safe. According to the American Red Cross, not only are children under five…
Inside the Mind of a Burglar
What Message Are You Sending? Whether you know it or not, your business could send a message to potential burglars about how easy or difficult it is to break in. Professional thieves can quickly assess a property, also known as “casing,” to determine if it could be an easy and lucrative target. Unfortunately, many employees…
Smoke Detectors for the Hearing Impaired
What are Visual Fire Alarms? If a fire breaks out, occupants of a building may have as little as two minutes to get out before the fire becomes life-threatening. Fire alarms provide an early warning notification and alert people to evacuate, but what if you are deaf or hearing impaired? How do you know there…
Testing Fire Alarm Call Points
Most large commercial-grade fire alarm systems today are an addressable fire alarm system. Addressable fire alarm systems, also known as addressable fire panels, give every smoke detector or sprinkler head on the system its own uniquely identifiable address or call point. When any sensor on the system is triggered, the main control panel shows exactly which device or point was triggered to pinpoint…
Spring Cleaning Your Security System
The unofficial countdown to summer begins for many of us each year as we “spring forward” into daylight saving time, moving the clock forward one hour to give us an extra hour of sunlight at the end of every day. Since this is the time of the year when we change our clocks, it is important…