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A Fire Alarm Control Panel, often abbreviated as FACP, is an electric device used to control a fire alarm system. All devices in the system, such as fire notification appliances, smoke detectors, pull stations, and other initiating devices are controlled by the panel. There are four main types of panels: conventional, coded, multiplex, and addressable.

Contents 1 Conventional Panels 2 Coded Panels 3 Multiplex Panels 4 Addressable Panels 5 System Controls 6 Common System Indicators 6.1 Other Indicators

[edit] Conventional Panels

Conventional panels are the simplest form of control panels. They were the long-running standard for fire alarm systems from the 1800's to the late 1970's, but have since been replaced with addressable and multiplex panels for larger applications. However, they are still widely used in smaller spaces, such as schools, restaurants, stores, etc. A conventional panel uses one or more initiating circuits (IDC's), which are connected to sensors wired in parallel. The major drawback of conventional panels is that it cannot show exactly which device has been activated on an initiating circuit. Initiating circuits are often resistance-sensitive, in which an end-of-line resistor (EOL) is placed at the end of the circuit. This allows the panel to detect troubles and faults on the circuit. Common features and controls on conventional panels include NAC (Notification Appliance Circuit) silence, trouble silence, walk test, reset, NACs, relays, and IDC (Initiating Device Circuit) zones.

[edit] Coded Panels

A coded panel works similar to a conventional panel, except for that each zone or IDC is connected to a code wheel. This means that when a device is activated, a code is tapped out on the NAC's (example: zone one = 1-1-1, zone two = 1-1-2, etc) Depending on the model and setup of the panel, the code may repeat four times then stop, or may repeat continuously until the panel is reset. Coded panels were often very large and could take up an entire wall. These panels are not very common today, but can sometimes still be found in large facilities, often tied with a newer system.

[edit] Multiplex Panels

Multiplex systems were often used in large buildings from the late 70's to the early 90's, and were designed to control many aspects of a building (e.g. fire alarm, security, access control, HVAC, etc). Early models were simply large microprocessor-controlled conventional panels. However, towards the early 80's, addressable features began to be introduced which allowed the panel to tell exactly which device has been activated. Most multiplex systems were designed around a central control panel, which would control a variety of transponders. Examples of multiplex panels include the Simplex 2100, 2120, Honeywell FS90, and EST IRC-3.

[edit] Addressable Panels

Addressable panels are much more advanced than conventional panels, and are usually software-based with far more flexible programming, and a higher capacity for devices. Addressable panels were first manufactured in the 1980's, and are essentially the replacement for multiplex systems. For addressable functionality, special initiating devices with addressable modules are required. All initiating devices are connected to a signaling line circuit (SLC), where each device is seen as a "point" on the system, and is given an address (e.g. 1-M1-12). One SLC typically can support around a few hundred devices, and multiple SLC's are utilized on larger systems. Sometimes, relays and notification appliances (often in Simplex systems) can be found on the SLC. Some addressable systems can have pseudo "zones" and "groups" to organize devices. Mapping and boolean logic features are also available (for example: device A activates NACs 1 and 2 and shuts off HVAC, device B activates NAC 3 in march time cadence, and does not report the event to the central station).

[edit] System Controls

• Reset - Used to reset the panel after an alarm, supervisory, or trouble condition. During a reset, all initiating devices, notification appliances, and relays are reset to their normal condition, and a lamp test is typically conducted.

• Silence - Used to silence notification appliances. On modern systems, only the audible devices are silenced, and the strobes remain flashing until system reset (audible silence).

• Acknowledge or Ack - Tells the panel that building personnel are aware of an alarm, trouble, or supervisory condition, and usually silences the panel's buzzer.

• Drill - Manually activates the fire alarm system without notifying the central monitoring station or fire department

• Walktest - Allows the system to be tested without the assistance of additional personnel. In a silent walk test, the audible devices do not activate.

• Lamp Test - Lights all system LED's and sounds the internal buzzer. This function is not common on newer panels, and is sometimes a function within the system's menus.

[edit] Common System Indicators

• Power - This LED indicates that the system is receiving full AC power

• Alarm - This LED is lit when a system alarm occurs. Along with this LED, notification appliances and relays are activated.

• Trouble - This indicates a problem on the system. This can be caused by an open circuit fault, short circuit, missing device, dirty smoke detector, AC loss, etc. Usually, the LED will go out once the condition is fixed and restored to normal.

• Supervisory - This indicates a lower-level alarm (such as a duct detector) or a trouble condition (such as a sprinkler valve closed or tamper switch activated). Supervisories can be non-latching, in which the LED goes out when the condition is restored, or latching, where the panel must be reset to fix the condition.

• System Silence - This LED indicates that the notification appliances on the system have been silenced.

[edit] Other Indicators

• Prealarm - This LED is often used in conjunction with a two-stage system, in which the panel requires two devices to be activated in order to go into full alarm. The prealarm LED may also be used if an analog smoke detector registers low levels of smoke in the detection chamber, but not enough to trigger a full alarm. Depending on the system's layout, the NAC's may or may not activate for prealarm conditions.

• Priority 2 - Also known as "Alarm 2". Indicates that a non-fire alarm of lower priority has been activated, such as a security contact, nurse call switch, flood alarm, etc.

• Ground Fault - Also known as "earth fault". This LED indicates that there is a dead short to ground within the system's wiring or in the main panel itself.

• Low Battery - Indicates that the system's backup battery needs to be replaced.

• CPU Fail - Indicates that the system's internal processor has failed and the system is non-operational.

• Comm Fail - Indicates that the system cannot communicate with the central station.

• Remote Fail - Indicates that a remote device, such as an annunciator, transponder, command center, or network terminal is not communicating with the panel.

• Maintenance - Also known as "dirty". Indicates that a detector on the system needs to be cleaned.

• Kissoff - Indicates that the system has successfully transmitted data to the central station. This LED is typically located on the board of the panel.

• City Disconnect - Indicates that the system has been disconnected from reporting to the central station.