Section 18: Fire Zone Types; Partitions And Fire System Configuration; Standard Fire Zone; Delayed Fire Zone - DSC PC4020 Installation Manual

S e c t i o n 1 8 : F i re Z o n e Typ e s
This section explains all Fire zones that can be programmed on the PC4020 and all zone expansion modules. Fire zone program-
ming is the same as burglary zone programming. Instructions on zone programming are located in Section 5 "Partitions and
Zones."
NOTE: Do not turn off the "Audible" zone attribute for fire zones.
NOTE: 2-wire smoke detectors cannot be used on panel or expansion zones. 2-wire smokes can only be connected to the dedicated
2-wire smoke zone on the PC4701.

18.1 Partitions and Fire System Configuration

A fire system within a single building must not be parti-
tioned such that audible or visual alarm notification appli-
ances would operate in one partition and not another.
Even though the system may be partitioned for security
control purposes, any fire zone on any partition in the
building must activate all fire alarm notification appliances
in all system partitions.
The PC4020 provides two methods for achieving these
results.
Fire Configuration 1
• Assign all fire zones to one partition. Do not program
fire zones as 'silent'.
• Assign all PC4702 Bell zones to the same Partition as the
fire zones.
• Assign at least one fire keypad to the same partition as
the fire zones.
• Zones on the PC4701 module are always global and do
not require partition assignment.
• Other types of zones may also be assigned to this parti-
tion without affecting the fire operation as described
below.
Operation
On alarm, from any fire zone in this partition, the fire auto-
scroll display will only show on keypads assigned to the
fire partition and on any system global keypads.
The waterflow and 2-wire smoke zones on the PC4701
module will show, in the auto-scroll mode, on all partition
and global keypads. If a zone on the PC4701 is in alarm,
then fire silence and reset can be done from any partition
keypad.
If the alarm is from a partition zone (not PC4701) then fire
alarm silence and reset can only be done directly on the fire
partition keypad(s). To silence from other partition keypads
or a global keypad requires that the keypad be loaned to the
fire partition.
Fire Configuration 2 (Recommended)
• Assign ALL fire zones to ALL active partitions in the
system. Do not program fire zones as 'silent'.
• PC4702 Bell zones automatically respond to any fire
zone in the system and can be assigned to any partition.
• Zones on the PC4701 module are always global and do
not require partition assignment.
• One or more fire keypads may be located on any parti-
tion.
Operation
On alarm, the fire auto-scroll display will show on all parti-
tion keypads and on all global keypads.
Fire alarm silence and fire system reset may be done
directly on any partition keypad. To silence from a global
keypad requires that the global keypad be loaned to one of
the partitions.
NOTE: Assign command output 2 (sensor reset) to all parti-
tions.

18.2 Standard Fire Zone

All 128 zones can be programmed as Standard Fire zones.
This zone is always an end-of-line resistor type with nor-
mally open alarm contacts from the alarm initiating
device(s). Multiple devices may be connected in parallel on
a single zone.
The zone wiring is supervised by the control panel for:
• Short Circuit: Fire Alarm
• Open Circuit: loss of the end-of-line resistor and will be
indicated as a Zone Trouble
• Ground Fault: resistance < 40kΩ to earth ground indi-
cated as a Common Ground Fault Trouble.
Typical Fire Devices used on this zone type are:
• Heat Detectors – Fixed Temperature and/or Rate-of-
Rise
• Manual pull stations
• 4-wire smoke detectors
• WLS906 Wireless Smoke Detectors
• AMS-220 smoke detectors on an addressable loop
Standard Fire Operation
When a Standard Fire zone goes into alarm, the panel will
activate the alarm notification output(s) and will immedi-
ately transmit a reporting code to the central station, if pro-
grammed. The alarm notification output(s) can be
programmed to pulse—one second on, one second off—or
to follow another programmed alarm notification pattern
(see Section 4.1 "Bell Output Types"). If an open condition
is present, the panel will immediately display and commu-
nicate a trouble condition. All keypads will annunciate the
trouble by activating the Trouble light and beeping twice
every ten seconds. The keypads can be silenced by entering
an access code.

18.3 Delayed Fire Zone

NOTE: IMPORTANT NOTE: This zone type is not to be used
for Commercial Fire installations. This zone type is typically
used for residential installations to reduce false alarms (Ref:
NFPA 72 / 1-5.4.11 Positive Alarm Sequence).
All 128 zones can be programmed as Delayed Fire zones.
This type is a Contact Input Fire zone. It is always an end-
of-line resistor type with Normally Open alarm contacts
from the initiating device(s). Multiple devices may be con-
nected on a single zone.
The zone wiring is supervised by the control panel for:
51