FOCUS
Peer group Paul Duffy explains networked fire systems and how they work, digging into the details of set ups, use, maintenance and expansion
H
AVE YOU ever really thought about what your fi re panel has to do? The demands on today’s fi re systems have never been
greater and not all panels are created equal, which can make choosing the right solution a challenge. Many fi re panels are now powerful computers, working with intelligent detectors to constantly report on changing conditions across the fi re system. Relied upon to alert people to real and
potential emergencies by voice, light and/or sound, they allow you to control evacuation procedures so that people get out of complex buildings safely in any fire situation. Some panels are fine tuned to reduce the number of false alarms. They are also required to control the release of suppressants; operate smoke control systems; manage appropriate closure and release of fire doors; link to graphical control systems; and interact with third party building management systems. The list is long and constantly growing. The demand is increasing for fire panels
to do all this and more, over larger and more complicated sites as part of a fi re network; and
38 MAY 2020
www.frmjournal.com
with this requirement come some important questions, such as: • are the panels quick and easy to set up as a network?
• will the network’s speed/performance be compromised over a large area?
• will the network be easy to use and maintain?
• will it be easy to expand the system? Network setup
Flexible architecture A networked fi re alarm system communicates data between all the panels and network nodes that are located throughout a site, allowing for greater control over the fire safety of the entire building. The design should allow buildings to be protected by distributing the fi re panels throughout the building, instead of having to take all the detection circuits back to a single point. When using a true peer to peer system,
information from any input or output device can be passed over the network and displayed
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