A Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP) is the controlling console of a Fire Alarm System. The panel receives information from environmental sensors designed to detect changes associated with fire, monitors their operational integrity and provides for automatic control of equipment, and transmission of information necessary to prepare the facility for fire based on a predetermined sequence. The panel may also supply electrical energy to operate any associated sensor, control, transmitter, or relay. There are two types of fire panels:

• Conventional fire alarm panel
• Addressable fire alarm panel

 

CONVENTIONAL SYSTEM
A conventional Fire Alarm Control Panel employs two or more zone circuits, connected to sensors (initiating devices) wired in parallel. These sensors are devised to dramatically decrease the circuit resistance when the environmental influence on any sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold. In a conventional fire alarm system, the information density is limited to the number of such circuits used.
The conventional control panels have been developed to provide a simple and reliable solution of fire detection solutions. The conventional control panels have been designed with both technician and customer requirements.
For technicians, conventional control panels offer an out of the box and on the wall solution. A combination of quick installation, an enhanced feature set and advanced programming allows technicians to quickly and simply meet the demands of customer. Equipped with configurable class change inputs, coincidence detection, and programmable delays to allow alarm verification and the facility to interface to larger house alarm systems
For customers, clear visible indications, easy to operate functions and a switch to activate the control buttons, make for simple and unambiguous operation. Engineered and built to the same high standard as all control panels, these systems form an essential part of any fire alarm solution.

 

ADDRESSABLE SYSTEM
This is an intelligent fire alarm control panel. It has been designed and is constructed around proven and reliable microprocessor technology. This simple approach has produced a modular, scalable fire alarm platform suitable for protecting all types of premises. The control panel supports leading protocols, allowing fire detection devices to be independently selected based on performance or aesthetic appeal. Designed for maximum flexibility the control panel is supported by a complete suite of peripherals and software tools. Information on the location of fires, faults and system status can easily be displayed or printed in multiple locations. Integration to Voice Evacuation Systems, short messaging system and third party control systems is supported through a range of peripheral interface units.
This adaptability, support and intelligence mean that it is suitable for new projects, system expansions, retrofits and system upgrades in all application areas. Offices, industrial units, entertainment venues, industrial plants and hospitals are a few of the many installations that can benefit from the features of intelligent multi-protocol fire alarm control panel.

Addressable panels are usually more advanced than their conventional counterparts, with greater information capacity and control flexibility. Addressable Fire Alarm Control Panel employ one or more Signaling Line Circuits - usually referred to as loops or SLC loops - ranging between one and thirty. Depending on the protocol used, a Signaling Line Circuit can monitor and control several hundred devices. Some protocols permit any mix of detectors and input/output modules, while other protocols.