How does a Fire Alarm Panel works & what are its components?

1. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT IN YOUR BUILDING
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2. Fire is one of the most dangerous events possible.
Fire is very useful in our daily needs but an uncontrolled Fire is a real safety hazard &
destructive. The smoke from a fire creates a toxic, dangerous atmosphere.
The rapid detection of a fire and its control can save several thousand lives, thousands of
injuries, and millions of dollars in property loss each year.
It is possible only if you have a Fire Alarm Panel in your Building
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What is a Fire Alarm Panel ?
A fire panel is a safety appliance that commercial buildings typically require to
choreograph the activities of countless life-saving appliances to facilitate safe
evacuation and swift emergency response during a fire.
The purpose of fire-alarm system is to detect an occurrence, alert the control
panel and authorities, and notify the occupants to take action by giving them
an alarm.
These alarms may be activated automatically from smoke detectors, and heat
detectors or may also be activated via manual fire alarm activation devices
such as manual call points or pull stations. Alarms can be either motorized
bells or wall mountable sounders or horns.

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5. Hooter with
Strobe
MCP Smoke Detector
Multi Sensor
Detector
Carbon Monoxide
Detector
Fire Alarm Control Panel
Heat Detector
FUNCTIONING OF FIRE ALARM PANEL
CABLE LOOPS
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MCP
Alarm Bell

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Conventional systems have been around for years, so you might
see them in older buildings. They work by responding to changes
in an electrical current, such as when a smoke detector identifies
smoke and changes the current in response. Once the fire panel
detects this current, it sounds the alarm. The conventional fire
panel is installed in different zones—such as the first floor,
second floor, etc. so it’s often also called a zoned panel. Devices
are distributed in zones and in case of fire alarm activation,
whole zone needs to be diagnosed for identification of fire alarm.

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This system runs off modern technology, since it features a
microprocessor that sends data from devices in the building to
the panel, rather than just sensing changes in electrical
currents. Every device in the building’s fire detection system
has its own address, so the addressable fire panel can identify
which device the signal is coming from. This makes it easy to
locate the device that has sent signals to the fire panel. They
shows exactly which devices are going off, it makes it
extremely easy to figure out either where there is a fire or, in
the event of a false alarm, which specific device is having a
problem.

9. These devices inform the safety system that an incident is underway so
that emergency personnel can be alerted and safeguards can
initiate. These devices can be manually or automatically activated.
 Manual initiating devices, such as "Break Glass" stations, buttons, and
pull stations, must be located near exits and easy to locate. These would
be clearly marked and accessible.
 Automatic initiating devices respond to physical changes in a building's
environment to detect heat, smoke, carbon monoxide & Photoelectric,
Ionization, and In-duct Smoke Detectors.
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Fire Break Glass
If someone in your building sees a fire before it has reached a smoke
detector or heat detector, they need to be able to let everyone in the building
know immediately.
Manual call points or “break glasses” enable them to signal the emergency
simply by pressing the glass.
Break glass units raise the alarm manually when someone fractures the
white glass or plastic.
The doors will remain open after the glass is broken.
They are situated at exits, landings, corridors, fire escapes or near high risk
areas.
Break glasses are usually connected to a central fire control panel system in
the building, and add an extra layer of fire protection.

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MANUAL CALL BUTTON

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FIRE ALARM PULL
STATION
A fire alarm pull station is an active fire protection device. When
activated, it initiates an alarm on a fire alarm system. In its
simplest form, the user activates the alarm by pulling the handle
down, which completes a circuit and locks the handle in the
activated position, sending an alarm to the fire alarm control
panel.

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DETECTOR
A smoke detector is a device that senses smoke, typically as an
indicator of fire. There are four main types of fire detectors that
can help you protect your building.
The main difference between the four fire detectors is whether
they detect heat or smoke.
1. Smoke Detector - It senses the presence of smoke
2. Heat Detector - It senses the presence of heat
3. Multi-sensor Smoke Detector - It can detect smoke & heat both
4. Carbon Monoxide Detector - It detects the presence of
the carbon monoxide (CO) gas

14. These components alert people to an emergency and assist
them to safety. These appliances are designed to be
distinct and universally understood so they aren't confused
with other signals. Some examples are:
 Bells
 Chimes
 Horns
 Strobes
 Horn-Strobes
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FIRE ALARM BELL
A fire alarm is an electronic sounder or a bell.
The alarm makes a loud, high pitched sound to notify
people that there is a fire in the building. It is used to warn
the people notify the people when smoke, fire, CO2 gas or
other emergencies are at present.

16. FIRE ALARM CHIME
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17. A horn is a fire notification device that sounds in case of fire,
either automatically when the system detects fire or manually
when the alarm is pulled to warn the people & take necessary
actions.
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Intended for full building notification,
horns and horn/strobes produce a
loud sound to notify occupants to
evacuate the buildings. Strobes and
horn/strobes are ideal for warning
hearing-impaired individuals during
an emergency event. It produce a loud

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The fire alarm control panel is the central brain which monitors and manages all of the initiating
devices and sends signals to indicating devices if an issue is detected. The control panel typically
contains standard branch-circuit writing and replaceable circuit cards.
In Conventional Alarm Systems, you will generally find a circuit card for each designated zone within
the system.
In Addressable Alarm Systems, you would find digital circuits that transmit data to all devices that
can be zoned with programming.
In each fire alarm control panel, you’ll also find a display that informs you of the system’s status
with troubleshooting codes and a touchpad to manage the system directly.
From this system you can disable alarms, signal alerts, reset the system following an issue, and
reprogram when called for.

20. In addition to the direct wiring
into the building’s power
supply, there are typically UL
Listed emergency batteries in
sealed units to prevent a
disruption of fire protection in
the event of a power outage.
These are typically 6V or 12V
batteries linked in a 24VDC
power-limited system. They
usually are connected to the
Fire Alarm Control Panel to
charge and monitor them.
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21. Building Safety Interfaces makes escaping from buildings safer and easier when a fire
takes place. Examples of building safety interfaces include:
Magnetic smoke door holders - these use wall- or floor-mounted electromagnets
controlled by the fire alarm system magnetically hold doors in the open position. On
command from the fire control, the doors close automatically and restrict the passage
of smoke from one area to another.
Duct smoke detectors – Duct smoke detectors are designed to sense smoke moving
through your ducts and will shut off fans and close dampers to prevent the smoke from
moving to other parts of the building.
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22. If you have any additional questions about your fire alarms, or if you need inspection or
testing of your Fire Alarm System, reach us on info@zapfire.org
Plot No- 477, Sarhaul Road, Sec- 18, Gurgaon – 122015, Haryana
Mob- 9958170709
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