Fire Alarm Control Panel
The heart of a fire alarm system is the primary fire alarm control panel
(FACP). The FACP monitors system integrity and starts all sequences of oper-
ation for system detection, suppression, and notification. FACPs are typically
microprocessor based with software for communications, processing and deci-
sion making.
FACPs gather data from system detection or indicating devices, process the
data, and then act on the data if need be; managing system alarms and sup-
pression systems as well as other building automation, security, and life safety
systems. FACPs can also detect failures within the system that require repair
and maintenance (Fig. 9.2).
Depending on the size of a building or the number of buildings on a campus,
an overall system may have a single central control unit or may have distributed
control units networked together to provide a unified and transparent system.
Field or remote control panels can be networked to a central panel. The relation-
ship between the central and field panels can be “peer-to-peer” or “master-
slave.” Field panels can be deployed for narrower, more specific functions such
as simply supplying power to alarm devices or used as a remote annunciator.
System devices assigned to a zone can be connected to the FACP either
through a direct connection, bus or loop topology. The NFPA designates
the performance of these connections or circuits. Class A circuits must be able
Figure 9.2 Fire alarm control panel.
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