Fire alarm control panels are essential for keeping a building safe from fire and the damage that it can do. This blog will look at the role of these panels and the different types to see which is better suited to you.
What is a Fire Alarm Control Panel?
In most buildings, there is a fire system, this is a system built
to detect, alert occupants and alert emergency forces of fire. This is done through smoke, carbon monoxide and heat detectors placed throughout the building. Fire alarm control panels are the central hub of these fire systems, it tells the different components what to do and when so that everyone can be properly alerted to the presence of fire. These are extremely important as they initiate tasks that save lives during the event of an actual fire, they react quickly which helps to lessen the damage caused by the flames. There are two different types of control panels which are addressable and conventional.
Addressable Fire Alarm Panels
An addressable system has a single loop of wire connecting each device to the control panel, this means that if the wire is cut off in one location, the other detectors are still able to operate as normal. One of the main benefits that comes with having addressable fire alarm control panels is the fact that they are able to locate which detector was triggered. This is helpful for the emergency services as it makes it easier to locate the fire and stop it before it spreads further. It has a more robust fault tolerance, this means that even if some parts of the hardware or software stop working, it can continue to operate. This would be helpful if the fire alarm control panel is affected by the fire as it would still be able to run. These are more reliable than other systems when it comes to catching and managing false fire alarms. This means that it is less likely that you would have to evacuate the building and less likely that the emergency services are called to a false alarm which saves time for everyone. Addressable fire alarm panels are better suited to medium to large scale buildings where it might be harder to find exactly where the fire is.
Conventional Fire Alarm Panels
A conventional system has all of its devices connected in a singular circuit, this means that if one device in the circuit stops working, all of the components stop working. Due to this, conventional fire alarm control panels are better suited to smaller buildings where it is easier to find the location of a fire. These systems are much cheaper to install and maintain due to the fact that they do not have a lot of complicated components, making them more accessible to more people. It has a user-friendly interface with straightforward controls, making them simple to understand. Many of these panels have test and reset options which means that you are able to test your alarms without notifying emergency services to make sure that it is working properly. The panels are more compatible with a variety of different detectors so you are able to create the most suitable fire system for your home. They are generally very reliable systems making them a great choice if you want to protect a building from fires. All panels are built to fit both UK and international safety standards, this makes sure that your fire system is compliant to laws and will last a long time.
Both addressable and conventional fire alarm control panels are great additions to your fire system to help keep your building safe. While they have different strengths, both of these panels are able to take action and prevent too much damage from fires breaking out unexpectedly.
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