Basics of F A C P (Fire Alarm Control Panels)

Any Fire Alarm Control Panel (F A C P or, more commonly, "FACP" without spaces or just "fire panel" for short) is designed to monitor and control the various components of a fire alarm system.

Your fire panel acts as your building's central brain for fire alarm detection and reporting. For larger buildings, it's common to have one panel per section of the building.

An F A C P monitors alarms from smoke detectors, heat sensors, waterflow switches, manual pull stations and other related devices that are connected to its inputs. The F A C P then triggers an appropriate response based on the type of emergency detected.

When first responders arrive, F A C Ps can provide valuable information that helps them assess the situation and determine the best course of action.

F A C Ps also store records of each alarm event for later review, which is useful for investigating false alarms or looking into any issues with the fire alarm system.

Conventional vs. Addressable Fire Panels

F A C P's can be divided into two main types: conventional F A C P and addressable F A C P.

Conventional F A C P are designed to provide basic fire protection with a simple setup using minimal components. They have set zones of detection that activate when smoke, heat or water flow is detected in those specific areas.

Conventional fire alarm control panels come with a variety of features that enhance their reliability and usability in fire safety applications. Their main features include:

• Multi-Zone Capability: Conventional panels support multiple zones. They typically ranging from 8 to 64 zones per panel. Each zone can monitor distinct areas or devices. This allows for detailed monitoring and control of a facility's fire safety system​​.
• Alarm and Trouble Indicators: Each zone is equipped with indicators for alarms and troubles. These indicators are usually displayed on an LCD screen. They provide clear visual alerts when an issue is detected in a specific zone​​.
• Zone Bypass Function: They have the ability to bypass specific zones using a keypad. This allows maintenance personnel to isolate and work on parts of the system without triggering false alarms. This feature is particularly useful during system maintenance or upgrades​​.
• Power and Battery Backup: Conventional panels can operate on AC or DC power. They're equipped with built-in battery chargers and watchdog timers. They usually include a 12V DC battery backup to ensure continuous operation during power outages​​.
• Supervised Communications: These panels use various communication methods such as RS-485, audio modem, RS-232, fiber optics, and radio polling. This maintains reliable data transmission between the control panel and monitoring systems​​.
• Built-In Lightning Protection: To enhance the durability and reliability of the system, conventional panels often feature built-in lightning protection on all zone inputs. This protects the system from electrical surges caused by lightning strikes​​.
• Compliance with Standards: Conventional fire alarm control panels are designed to comply with NFPA 72 standards and are often ETL listed. This guarantees they meet stringent fire safety and quality requirements​​.

These features collectively uphold conventional fire alarm control panels' ability to provide strong and reliable fire safety monitoring. This makes them suitable for a wide range of applications in different environments.

Addressable F A C P are more complex systems that can be customized to the individual needs of a facility. These F A C P's can identify the exact location and type of emergency, enabling responders to respond quickly and appropriately.

Addressable fire alarm control panels offer a range of features that enhance the safety, efficiency, and flexibility of fire alarm systems. Key features include:

• Serial Interface and Protocol Flexibility: These panels can monitor addressable fire alarm control panels via user-definable protocols. This ensures compatibility with a variety of systems and allows for customized configurations​​.
• Remote Programming and Upgrades: They are programmable via an easy-to-use web browser interface that allows for remote setup and firmware upgrades. This feature makes sure that the systems can be updated and maintained without the need for physical access.
• Comprehensive Monitoring and Reporting: Addressable panels can monitor and report multiple conditions such as alarms, trouble, supervisory states, resets, restores, and other critical states. This comprehensive monitoring capability helps quickly identify and address any issues within the system​​.
• Zone and Device Supervision: These panels often support multiple supervised end-of-line (EOL) zone inputs. Some models are capable of handling up to 64 zones per panel. They monitor each zone for various conditions, including alarm, trouble, secure, bypass, low battery, tamper, AC fail, and ground fault conditions​​.
• Built-in Lightning Protection: To enhance reliability and safety, many addressable panels include built-in lightning protection on all zone inputs. This feature aids in protecting the system from power surges and maintains continuous operation during adverse weather conditions​​.

These features work together to make sure that addressable fire alarm control panels provide strong, adaptable, and reliable fire safety solutions suitable for a wide range of applications.

3 Primary Conditions: Alarms, Trouble, Supervisory

F A C Ps generally report back three types of conditions:

• Alarm condition
• Trouble condition
• Supervisory condition

An alarm condition is the most critical status, indicating the detection of a fire or another hazard requiring immediate attention. When an alarm condition is triggered, the panel activates the connected alarm devices (such as sirens or strobe lights). This alerts occupants and emergency services. The alarm condition often displays details like the location of the incident and the type of alarm triggered (e.g., smoke, heat, or manual pull station).

A trouble condition signals that there is an issue with the fire alarm system itself. This could affect the system's ability to function properly in the event of an emergency. Common trouble conditions include power supply failures, ground faults, wiring issues, or component malfunctions. Addressing trouble conditions promptly is needed to make sure that the fire alarm system remains fully operational.

Supervisory conditions indicate that a system component, such as a fire suppression system (e.g., a sprinkler valve), is not in its normal state. This irregularity could compromise the effectiveness of the component. This condition requires attention to reset or return the component to its normal operating status to sustain the system's readiness.

3 Primary Components: Detection Devices, Control Panels, and Indicators

When designing and installing F A C P systems, it is important to understand their basic principles, components, and wiring. The F A C P and its surrounding components are divided into three primary sections: detection devices, control panels, and indicators/alarm devices.

• Detection Devices - These are the devices that detect fires by sensing heat or smoke and alerting the F A C P when they do so. Common detection devices include fire detectors, smoke sensors, and heat sensors.
• Control Panels - F A C P's are usually housed in a metal cabinet, or F A C P box, which contains the F A C P's microprocessor-based controller and associated wiring. The F A C P's control panel is where all of the system information and settings are programmed, monitored, and controlled.
• Indicators/Alarm Devices - F A C P's are usually connected to several types of indicators and alarm devices, such as audible alarms, strobes, relay switches, buzzers, etc. These devices alert personnel when an emergency has been detected by the F A C P system.

Installation & Maintenance

Setting up an F A C P is a complicated process that requires specialized knowledge. F A C P systems must be properly installed and regularly maintained in order to ensure effective fire protection.

Proper installation requires an understanding of F A C P components, wiring, and the local fire code. F A C P maintenance includes regular testing and inspections to make sure that all system components are functioning properly.

Interacting with F A C Ps

People interact with fire alarm control panels primarily through various buttons, functional switches, and interfaces designed to manage and monitor fire alarm systems. These interactions typically involve providing input data, acknowledging alarms, silencing alerts, and controlling other aspects of the fire alarm system. People also interact with control panels by providing several types of information to them:

• Alarm Acknowledgement: When an alarm is triggered, users must acknowledge it by pressing a specific button. This action records that a user has noticed the alarm.
• System Status Queries: Users may query the system for the current status of alarms, troubles, and supervisory conditions.
• Silencing Alarms: Users provide input to silence the alarm's audible components temporarily.
• System Resets: After addressing the cause of an alarm, users often reset the system. This may involve entering a password or pressing a reset button.

By interacting with the system, users provide critical information to fire alarm control panels. These interactions uphold that the system operates smoothly and alarms are promptly addressed.

How much does an F A C P cost?

F A C P prices can range by thousands of dollars depending on the size and complexity of the system. Installation costs can also vary widely, so it's best to consult with an experienced fire alarm technician before making any decisions.

You may also have to pay recurring fees for monitoring services, depending on how you structured overall monitoring system. It's possible to run an on-premises server that requires no ongoing fees.

To help you out, I've compiled data describing what you should pay for an F A C P. I look at real-world bids for government buildings to speak very specifically about actual purchase prices in recent years.

There are two primary ways that you can monitor your individual F A C P's

Deciding between proprietary vs. central station monitoring is one of the most fundamental fire alarm decisions you have to make.

Traditionally, you'd monitor your F A C Ps very locally. You might have a room in a larger facility that brings all of your fire alarms into one location for central dispatch. It also used to be common to route alarms directly to the local fire department.

Managing your own in-house monitoring center (it's called "proprietary monitoring" in the industry) is still the most appropriate option for organizations above a medium size threshold. If you're a college campus, a military base, or (certainly) a city, you have the scale to justify the installation and management of a centralized fire alarm collection server. This will empower you to manage your own fire alarms.

Remember, also, that modern environments can benefit from redundancy. This includes fire panels that can send SNMP to your NOC center. A fire is a major incident that many people should know about. That absolutely includes your Network Operation Center (NOC). Building that alerting into the automation of your fire panels is one less thing to worry about and precious seconds saved during an emergency.

How do you know how many Fire Alarm Control Panels you need for your facility?

Fire panels are essential for protecting lives and property from fire-related incidents. F A C P's use sensors located throughout the monitored area to detect smoke, heat, or flame in order to alert personnel and first responders of any potential danger. F A C Ps must be properly installed and programmed according to fire codes and other applicable regulations in order for them to accurately monitor their designated areas.

The quantity and placement of fire panels is determined by multiple factors, including:

• The distance between F A C P and all required sensors,
• The density of required sensors around the F A C P, as well as
• The accessibility of the panel by first responders.

If any of these applicable limits are exceeded for a given building, then another F A C P will need to be added to adequately cover the area. Consult your in-house expert - or call a company like Digitize for assistance (1-800-523-7232).

What "initiating devices" and other equipment are typically used to be the "eyes" and "hands" of your F A C P?

Fire panels are designed to connect with a variety of fire detection and response systems. These can include smoke detectors, heat detectors, manual pull stations, sprinkler systems, and other similar types of initiating devices.

When a fire is detected by one or more initiating devices, the F A C P will detect the signals and then activate an alarm in order to alert personnel and first responders of a potential fire emergency.

Initiating devices such as smoke detectors, heat detectors, and manual pull stations are responsible for detecting the presence of a fire and sounding an alarm.

Other response systems such as sprinklers are part of an automated system that will activate when it senses fire or smoke.

Additionally, some F A C P setups may include additional sensors that detect activation of a response system such as flow sensors in fire-sprinkler plumbing which can detect when a sprinkler is engaged. In certain scenarios, this may be the F A C P's first indication of a new fire.

Call Digitize for assistance with any project that includes fire panels

The Digitize Engineering team is ready to help you as soon as you call. We'll point you in the right direction - whether or not that direction involves Digitize equipment. You'll have a great experience at Digitize today, and hopefully (for us) you'll have more projects in the future.

To get started now, call Digitize at 1-800-523-7232 or email info@digitize-inc.com