Addressable Fire Panels

 

Fig.2     Addressable Fire Panel  

Addressable panels communicate individually with detectors and other devices on several loops that are essentially a pair of wires that are wired in a ring. Devices on the loops all have an individual address.

  Advantages:

-    The panel displays a specific message for each device, cutting down search times and eliminating confusion.

-    Detectors transmit analogue information to the panel, allowing the panel to process their information, and react to individually programmed thresholds or delays.

-    The panel can indicate if a detector is nearing it's threshold level and needs cleaning.

-    Faults can be identified quickly and easily.

-    Devices can be placed in zones regardless of how the loops are wired.

-    Detectors and other devices are wired in a loop, allowing the panel to detect an open-circuit fault and drive the loop from both ends without losing communication with devices.

-    In the case of a short-circuit fault on the loop the nearest short-circuit isolators will open and isolate a section of the loop allowing the rest to continue to operate.

-    The panel can disable idividual detectors to avoid false alarms, for example if there was to be hot work carried out in an area.

-    The panel can monitor remote switches using addressable interfaces, e.g., sprinkler switches or gas detection devices.

-    The panel can activate or shut down other equipment (fire doors, AHUs, extracts, etc) using addressable relays on the detction loop that can be individually programmed.

-    Flexibility in programming means a range of options are available for zoning and programming outputs.

-   Several repeaters can be added to the main control panel which will display allarm and fault information and give operator control functions at convenient locations such as entrances, control rooms, security gatehouse, etc.

-    Most addressable panels  can be networked, which allows large sites to be wired in modules, simplifying hand-over, catering for phased evacuation, and reducing wiring costs.