FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS
A fire alarm system is typically composed of a number of components. The control panel, which is the brains of the system, processes the inputs from the field devices such as the smoke detectors, and triggers the audio-visual units when it has determined that an alarm condition is warranted. There is a standby power supply, which consists of a battery charger and a set of batteries, that is sized specifically for each particular panel’s current load. If the building power were out, the batteries would keep the system operational for a predetermined amount of time.
An annunciator panel, that is located in the front lobby of the building, tells emergency personnel exactly what type of alarm and where it has occurred (ie-3rd floor west wing smoke detector). There are silence and reset switches here as well that give operators control over the system.
Lastly, a series of field devices that make up the initiating zones (smokes, heats, pulls, etc.), and notification appliances (horns, speakers, strobes), for the system