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The fire alarm panel is an integral part of a fire alarm system. All the components, including the detectors, call points, and sounders, are connected to it.
The control panel provides power to all the components and is used to relay information back and forth between the various components in order to determine if there is a fire and if there is, to activate the alerts.
Any fire alarm system designed according to British Standards will divide a certain property into zones and each fire alarm panel will have a zone capacity sufficient to accommodate the number of zones your system requires.
There are three main types of fire alarm panels – addressable, twin-wire, and conventional – and there are certain factors to consider when choosing the right one for your needs.
Read on to find out more about fire alarm panels, their different types, their pros and cons, how they compare with one another, and much more:
WHAT IS A FIRE ALARM PANEL?
A fire alarm system is made up of several components, out of which the fire alarm panel is one of the most basic and important ones.
The fire alarm panel is the central controlling hub of the fire alarm system since it tells each component what to do and when to do it.
The main purpose of the fire alarm panel is to activate a quick emergency response in the event of a fire so that everyone in the building is made aware of the threat and gets a chance to safely evacuate.
Different fire alarm panels have different features from basic ones simply sounding an alarm to alert everyone of the danger, to more sophisticated ones that can pinpoint the exact location of the fire, call the fire and rescue services, and activate the property’s sprinkler system to put out the fire.
HOW DOES A FIRE ALARM PANEL WORK?
When a fire breaks out, the fire alarm panel receives signals from the sensors, detectors, or manual call points in the building.
The panel is not capable of detecting the fire on its own but can respond to signals sent to it by the other components.
Once the signals are received, the fire panel is activated, which is followed by a loud noise and flashing lights to warn people of the danger.
It may also be followed by sending a signal to the fire department or Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) to get emergency services to the building and put out the fire as soon as possible.
A fire alarm panel can receive three types of signals:
- An alarm signal that indicates the presence of a fire and activates audio and visual alerts while also notifying the authorities,
- A supervisory signal that alerts the Fire Warden or other responsible people of an issue that may be preventing the system from working properly,
- A trouble signal that indicates an issue with the wiring, battery, or any other component of the system.
Fire alarm panels are generally installed near the entrance of an enclosed room to make sure it is heard. They are an integral part of the fire alarm system since they enable staff and fire and rescue services to quickly learn about the safety threat and give them ample time to respond in order to prevent loss of life and property.
HOW TO CHOOSE A FIRE ALARM PANEL?
If you are considering getting a new fire alarm panel for your property or wish to replace an old one, the first step is considering which features you want.
You may go for a basic fire alarm panel that sounds an alarm and alerts the authorities in the event of a fire. If you want more comprehensive features, you may buy one that has the ability to lock or unlock your doors, turn off the electricity, or fully integrate with your security system.
You will also need to consider your security needs, which you can understand much better by conducting a fire risk assessment and getting a panel that can support said needs.
The panel must be capable of supporting the number of zones in the building and be compatible with all the installed components and any other safety devices present on your property.
In order to choose the right fire alarm panel for your property, you need to get a better idea of the different types of panels available and how they work.
TYPES OF FIRE ALARM PANELS
There are three main types of fire alarm panels:
- Conventional
- Twin-wire
- Addressable
Out of the three, conventional fire alarm panels are considered the most basic and pocket-friendly option. The detectors and call points for each zone on the system are connected in series and the sounder beacons are connected to a separate sounder circuit.
A single zone may contain up to 32 detectors and, in the event of a fire, the fire alarm panel will simply show which zone the fire has occurred in.
Twin-wire fire alarm panels can be seen as an evolved version of conventional panels where, in order to overcome the need for cabling the sounder circuits separately, the panels allow any type of component, be it the detectors, call points, or sounders, to be connected in series on the same wire.
Addressable fire alarm panels are more advanced as all the devices for every zone are connected on the same wire using a loop technology where the wire goes from the panel to each device in series before returning back to the control panel.
Addressable systems are much more precise than conventional and twin-wire panels in pinpointing the exact location of the fire. In addition to identifying each device assigned to the zone, they also give a text description, for example, “room 201”, indicating this is where the fire erupted.
Let’s look at each type of fire alarm panel in detail:
CONVENTIONAL FIRE ALARM CONTROL PANELS
Conventional fire alarm systems, also called non-addressable fire alarms, are the simplest and most common type of fire alarm systems suitable for use in commercial settings. Despite being an analogue system, they remain an ideal option for fire safety.
A series of initiating devices and notification devices work together to create different zones throughout the property, all of which connect to the alarm system’s control panel.
A conventional fire alarm system uses one or more circuits, which are connected to the sensors in parallel. What this means is that each device on the system is connected to the control panel on its own wire.
If a sensor detects signs of a fire, it sends a signal to the control panel to set off the alarm. It uses increased electrical currents to notify the control panel of the changes that it picked up.
The sensors installed in a particular zone are set at a certain level, and when that limit is surpassed by factors such as smoke or heat, the signal is sent to the control panel.
An example of this would be smoke detectors detecting a change in the amount of smoke particles in the air, or the level of carbon monoxide in the zone, and alerting the control panel to sound an alarm.
Conventional fire alarm panels can be used anywhere but are ideal for small properties, single-storey buildings, and buildings with a simple layout where just a couple of zones can cover all the areas of the property.
Let’s look at the pros and cons of using conventional fire alarm panels:
PROS OF CONVENTIONAL FIRE ALARM PANELS
Conventional fire alarms are a great option if you are looking for the perfect balance between reliability and cost-effectiveness.
Despite their lower cost, they are an incredibly reliable option when it comes to fire safety and are simple to set up and require no costly configurations.
They don’t require any extensive changes to existing systems and can easily be integrated with other devices from different manufacturers.
CONS OF CONVENTIONAL FIRE ALARM PANELS
Despite their reputation of being a great and reliable budget-friendly option, there is one notable drawback of using conventional fire alarm panels, and that is the system’s inability to pinpoint the exact location of the fire.
Although the system uses zones to narrow down the source of the fire, the detectors and call points are only able to give a general location of the fire. There are, however, newer systems that are much better at telling the exact location of the fire.
Overall, conventional fire alarm panels are a great investment, especially if you run a small business or are the owner of a small property.
TWIN-WIRE FIRE ALARM CONTROL PANELS
Twin-wire fire alarm panels are similar to conventional systems in terms of the zones. The only difference is that you can put the sounders on the same circuit as the detectors and call points, saving the cost of having additional sounder circuits.
Each detector or call point on a twin-wire system is connected to the fire alarm panel on its own wire. When the detector picks up any signs of a fire, the panel activates the sounders for a quick evacuation.
This wiring format can be helpful when you decide to upgrade and add to an existing conventional system, allowing the existing cables to be used for new detector and sounder circuits.
PROS OF TWIN-WIRE FIRE ALARM PANELS
A twin-wire fire alarm panel provides all the benefits of a conventional fire alarm panel with the added benefit of not needing separate circuits for the sounders.
This helps reduce the cost of additional cabling and is a great option for all the places where using a conventional system would be suitable.
CONS OF TWIN-WIRE FIRE ALARM PANELS
Both twin-wire and conventional fire alarm panels share the same type of disadvantages. Although twin-wire systems are cheaper to buy, they can be a bit more expensive to install.
Similar to conventional systems, the exact location of the fire cannot be determined. In addition to that, if a wire becomes severed, the device attached to it may be disconnected and may not send any signals to the control panel and alert it of the presence of a fire.
ADDRESSABLE FIRE ALARM CONTROL PANELS
Addressable fire alarms are advanced systems where all the components of the system are connected to and communicate with each other as well as the control panel.
Each device on the system uses a system-wide protocol, which is a language used by the control panel to communicate with the devices.
The control panel allocates each device with a unique location or “address” based on where the initial detection occurred. During installation, the device’s address is logged in on the control panel, in addition to the real-world location where the device is placed.
This level of interconnectivity and communication allows the control panel to identify exactly where the fire erupted. Not only does this help minimise emergency response times but also helps detect system issues and faults in a matter of seconds.
Addressable fire alarms are complex systems better suited to businesses that span over a large area. This is mainly due to their ability to determine the exact location of the fire instead of just identifying a zone.
Ideal for larger properties, some of the places where addressable fire alarms are used include large offices, multi-storey buildings, warehouses, schools and university campuses, and care and nursing homes.
PROS OF ADDRESSABLE FIRE ALARM PANELS
There are several advantages of using an addressable fire alarm system on your property. Since the systems are wired in a loop technology, they require less cabling, which results in time and cost savings during installation.
They offer the option between loop or bus wiring topology, which offers higher flexibility while wiring new systems or upgrading/modifying existing ones.
The most outstanding feature of the system is its ability to identify the exact location of the fire enabling the fire and rescue services to locate the fire and extinguish it without losing any time.
This not only helps locate the fire but also helps with the precise location of faults and maintenance of the system.
CONS OF ADDRESSABLE FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS
The only drawback of addressable fire alarm systems is that they are more expensive than conventional and twin-wire systems. However, keeping in mind the level of protection that they offer makes them worth the investment.
CONTACT CALDER SECURITY
At Calder Security, we offer you a comprehensive solution for all your fire safety needs that include professional installation, maintenance, monitoring, and repair.
We understand that every property is different and the specification of the system depends on several factors including the type and size of the building, the number of occupants, and how high risk it is.
We can help you cut through all that and advise you on the best fire detection system for your building that complies with British Standards, HSE, Building Regulations, and Fire Officer Guidelines, in addition to meeting the requirements of business insurance.
We also understand fire regulations and provide professional maintenance checks and reminders for when the checks are due to help you stay compliant with the law. We work fast to restore your fire alarm system to excellent condition and always strive to meet your expectations.
We offer various levels of monitoring via a 24-hour monitoring centre using Dualcom and BT Redcare signalling, which is the most secure alarm monitoring system and the largest supplier of intelligent alarm signalling services in the UK.
If your system starts to malfunction, you can rely on our highly skilled engineers to restore your system to full working order in one visit. We offer a 24-hour call-out service for customers and can also repair fire alarms not installed by us thanks to our extensive knowledge and experience.
Contact us here or call us today free on 0800 612 9799 for more information on conventional, twin-wire, and addressable fire alarm panels.