How Do Fire Alarm Systems Work?

  
                                                   
      I'm Sure you have seen fire alarms in public buildings, but have you wondered how they work? Well it is simple when you pull the lever down, or when a smoke or heat detector detects heat or smoke it sends a signal to the control panel. From there it sends a signal to the horn strobes witch sound. The fire alarm control panel (FACP) does not only sound the alarms, but it also notifies the fire department. The fire department come and put out the fire. The day is saved!

      Fire alarm pull stations are those levers that are on the hallways in public buildings. Fire alarm pull stations are a simple switch that when you pull down the handle it completes the circuit. Sometimes the pull stations have tiny glass break rods in them. This is so the lever cannot easy pulled. Glass rods are usually in buildings such as schools so small children can't accidentally pull it. If you ever see a fire in a building I suggest you should pull the pull station and get out.

      The fire alarm control panel (FACP) it the software that controls the fire alarm system. There are two types of fire alarm panels addressable and non-addressable. Addressable panels are more high tech. These panels can detect where the system was set off (Pull stations or Smoke detectors). The FACP will say on it's screen what the model number the device was and what zone it was in. Here is an example of what an addressable panel would show ''Fire in tone two. Pull station model number 4098-3290.'' The second type of fire alarm pane is non-addressable. This panel has no screen but it has LED lights for the zones. But otherwise non-addressable panels are similar addressable panels. The other functions of the panel are system silence, system test, reset, and acknowledge. Silence silences the horn but keeps the strobes going. Test just sets off the system. Reset resets the system. And acknowledge silences the piezo buzzer in the panel after the alarms have been going off. When the pull station is pulled it sounds the alarm which lights up a red LED light in the panel letting you know that the system is in alarm. After you reset the pull station you can reset the fire alarm panel. There are also troubles witch are yellow LED lights in the panel letting you know there is a fault in the system. The green light in the panel means there is power in the system. If you plan on installing a FACP now you know how to use them.

      Fire alarm horn strobes are the devices that sound and tell you to get out of the building. The horn strobe sounds and flashes when you pull the pull station. The strobe on the alarm flashes to let people that can't hear. The horn is really loud and makes you want to get out of the building as quickly as possible. If you ever hear a fire alarm go off and strobes start blinking you should get out of the building.

      Well the next time you see a fire alarm horn strobe, pull station, or maybe even a fire alarm control panel you will know what they do.