A Fire Alarm Control Pannel (FACP) / Fire Alarm Control Unit (FACU), is an electric panel that is the controlling component of a fire alarm system which is installe dat various places as a protective measure against fire; sounds an alarm when actuated by a fire detection system. Fire Alarm System is essential to warn all occupants that a fire or emergency situation exists. Sometime fire detection and alarm systems are used to compensate or to give special cover for items of high values. In case of fire early detection of smoke and heat helps in fighting the fire effectively & extinguishing it in nascent stage. Thus by early detection, we can prevent the fire from spreading in turn saving life and loss of property and business.
Whatever the reason, an automatic fire detection and alarm system generally provides a network of manual call points, fire sensors and alarm warning devices over the area covered. It is, in effect, the eyes and mouth of the building to constantly monitor the building and warn if a fire breaks out, or is suspected in the way we do, if we see flames or smell burning.
Fire Alarm Panel.
Manual Call Points.
Panic Switches.
Hooters.
Cable and Instrumentation.
Linear Heat Sensing Cables.
Detectors ( Smoke / Heat / Multi / Bean / Flame / UV IR / Gas / Etc )
Conventional Systems are used for small installation as it becomes cost effective and also serves the purposr of safety and location identification is easy. It is a well-proven technology protecting many hundreds of thousands of properties worldwide.
In a typical Conventional fire Alarm System the 'intelligence' of the system resides solely within the Fire Alarm Control Panel, Which recieves a trigger signal from a Conventional Detector or Call Point and in turn, signals the condition to othe devices such as alarm sounders and remote signalling equipment. The control panel operates from house power but also usually contains an emergency battery which can operate the system for about 24 hours during a power outage.
When a fire alarm condition i.e. Smoke is detected and reported by the system Initiating devices, the following functions shall immediately occur:
The Fire Detection & Alarm System is designed to help in identifying fire, heat or smoke and to alert immediately the building's occupants for evacuation. There are two types of Fire Alarm Systems, Addressable Fire Alarm System and Conventional Fire Alarm System.
Types of Fire Alarm System
Addressable Fire Alarm System
In an Addressable Fire Alarm System, all the Smoke Detectors and other Devices are given an individual address (name) which are identified by the Fire Alarm Panel. This helps in recognizing the exact location of ignition of fire/smoke even in a multi-storied building hence, reducing the time required to locate the fire/smoke.
Conventional Fire Alarm System
The Conventional Fire Alarm System can be divided into multiple zones, each having up to 20 Smoke Detectors. At the time of fire/smoke, the Fire Alarm Control Panel identifies the affected zone.