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FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS – AN OVERVIEW
The primary purpose of a fi re alarm system is to provide an early warning of a fi re so that people and animals can be evacu-
ated and action taken to stop the fi re as soon as possible - all according to a predetermined plan.
Alarms may be raised automatically by smoke or heat detectors, or manually by a person operating a manual call point.
To ensure an alarm is dealt with in an orderly manner, it is important to know where the alarm is coming from. To aid this func-
tion, fi re alarm systems are usually split into zones, each covering a diff erent area of a building.
When an alarm has been raised, the fi re alarm panel responds by indicating the zone in which the alarm has occurred and
activating all relevant sounders, bells and other alarm outputs to provide a warning of the fi re.
Additional alarm outputs available on the CFP range of fi re alarm panels (which may, or may not be used depending on the
requirements of the site) are:
• A Remote Output:
this output is activated when the panel is in alarm and is returned to normal when the alarm sound-
ers are silenced. It may be used to signal an alarm condition to other parts of the fi re alarm system. If used, its function will be
declared on the System Set-Up Data Chart (page 13) of this manual. This output may be disabled if required.
• An Auxiliary Output:
this output is activated when the panel is in alarm and is returned to normal when the panel is reset.
It may be used to signal an alarm condition to other parts of the fi re alarm system. If used, its function will be declared on the
System Set-Up Data Chart (page 13) of this user manual. This output may be disabled if required.
The building's fi re management plan should always be executed when the fi re alarm panel goes into alarm.
See User Responsibilities (page 5) for further details.
Fault monitoring
For obvious reasons, the reliability of the fi re alarm system is paramount. To this end, the fi re alarm panel continuously moni-
tors all connections between detectors, manual call points and sounders and also checks it's own power supply and back-up
batteries for faults.
If a fault is detected anywhere on the system, the panel responds by illuminating one or more of the Fault light(s) located on
the panel front and sounding its internal fault buzzer. The panel's fault output is also activated, sending notifi cation of the fault
(if connected) to a remote manned monitoring centre or other electronic equipment, as required.
Delays
Certain zones on a fi re alarm system can be prone to conditions that lead to frequent and unavoidable false alarms, a common
example being a loading bay fi lled with vehicle smoke. In such areas it may be acceptable to delay the activation of the alarm
sounders and other outputs to give a responsible person time to investigate the cause of the alarm. If the cause is found to be
a true fi re hazard, the delay can be overridden.
In the event of a false alarm, the panel can be reset. Should the delay period expire without any user intervention, the alarm
sounders will automatically sound to evacuate the premises. To ascertain if any delays have been programmed into the panel,
refer to the System Set-Up Data Chart (page 13).
Disablements
In abnormal conditions, certain parts of the fi re alarm system can be temporarily turned off (disabled) to suit prevailing condi-
tions. For example, if there is a risk of a false alarm occurring in a zone, say from vehicle exhaust smoke in a loading bay, it is
possible to disable that zone during the risk period, then enable it again afterwards. Another example is the disablement of
outputs during a routine test or temporary fault.
Coincidence
The consequence of a false alarm on some fi re alarm systems, particularly those connected to sprinkler or gas extinguishant
systems, can be onerous. To help reduce the risk of a false alarm, certain zones on the system can be coupled together so that
the alarm sounders and outputs only activate when there is a fi re condition on both zones. The only way to tell if and how this
feature has been utilised is to refer to the System Set-up Data Chart (page 13).
2/4/8 ZONE CONVENTIONAL FIRE ALARM CONTROL PANEL
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