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Check Out the Life - Saving Functions of Fire Alarm Panel
A fire alarm control panel is a control device that detects, reports
and acts on hazardous fires in buildings. This protective system is
bound by many different rules and safety regulations before it can
be sold. There are two main types of
panels; conventional panels,
and analogue addressable panels. Fire alarm panel repair must be done
by certified technicians only. Manual fire detection points such as
manual pull stations, smoke detectors and heat detectors in a building
are all hooked up to a control panel. When a device connected to the
panel is activated, the panel will for example directly call the fire
department via a so-called alarm transportation system.
How do Fire Alarm Control Panels Operate?
A fire control panel is based on two main processes:
Receive Information from Input Devices
The control panel receives information regarding smoke or heat problems
in a bulding, via devices that are connected to the panel, such as
smoke detectors, heat detectors, sprinkler flow switches, or the alarm
is set off manually. There usually are manual pull stations in a building
(or manual call points) which are usually protected by glass. The
glass has to be smashed to set off the alarm, after which the panel
will recieve a fire hazard message.
Process the Information
The fire alarm control panel automatically contacts the emergency
services and because every fire control panel has a unique code address
emergency responders are able to locate the source of the alarm.
Resetting the System
After the emergency services have checked the building (or after a
fire hgas been extinguished) the fire alarm control panel will be
reset to continue protecting the building.
Types of Fire Alarm Panels
There are different types of fire control panels all following a somewhat
similar alarm procedure:
Conventional Panels
Conventional alarm control fire panels have a small number of circuits
connected to the device.
Each circuit connected to the alarm panel covers a zone in the
building.
LED lights indicate if an area or zone in a building has been activated.
he device does not show what type of alarm went off in a zone
(or which device has been activated in a particular zone).
Analogue Addressable Panels
This type of fire alarm panel is more advanced than a conventional
panel. There are more programming options with these devices and as
single point detection is an option, it is easy to discover where
an alarm device went off in the building, and what alarm device is
signalling a problem. An addressable fire alarm panel usually has
four to six loops and each loop corresponds with a number of alarm
devices. The most common addressable fire alarm panel input devices
are:
Smoke detectors in the building.
Manual pull stations that can be set off by people.
Responders that automatically go off if heat, smoke or fire is
detected.
Switches in the building that can be used in case of emergencies.
Fire sprinkler devices that automatically start when heat or fire
is detected.
Fans in the building.
Relays to switch off electrical equipment in the building.
