What are the Two Types of Fire Alarm Systems?
Before you decide to replace an antiquated fire alarm, you should know about the different types of fire alarm systems on the market. The two main types of fire alarm systems are conventional and addressable. The various components that make up these systems are either automatic or manual. The following information will help you understand the difference between conventional and addressable fire alarm panels and help you decide what type of fire alarm system will work best in your facility.
Type 1: Conventional Fire Alarm
Conventional fire alarm systems and their components are all wired to the same cable that connects them to a fire alarm control panel. The control panel displays a signal when these components activate. These types of systems are inexpensive and work well in small facilities. The disadvantage of a conventional fire alarm system is that when a fire alarm component produces a signal and it appears on the control panel there is no way to know which component it is in the building. Then you’ll have to walk throughout the facility and check devices to discover which one caused the trouble signal on the panel. If you foresee this as a problem you may want to consider an addressable fire alarm system.
Type 2: Addressable Fire Alarm
Addressable fire alarm systems are the most modern type of system and its components have individual unique identifiers. When one of the system’s components initiates, it indicates the component’s address on the fire alarm panel. The panel may say, “smoke alarm detector, floor 6, room 610.” Large facilities utilize these systems because they can quickly pinpoint where the trouble signal originated. This saves a lot of time because it eliminates the need to search for the component that produced the signal.
Pricing Addressable vs Conventional Fire Alarm
Purchasing a conventional fire alarm panel costs 25% less than an addressable panel. But in terms of the installation and having a fire alarm company run wiring to the devices and panel etc., a conventional system installation is more expensive. A conventional fire alarm system installation generally costs more because it requires running more wires than an addressable system. The system has a limited number of devices that can be connected per loop. Whereas an addressable system can have many devices connected on one line. The conventional fire alarm system installation requires more wires and that takes more time to install making it more costly.
After you decide what type of system would work best in your facility speak with a fire alarm installation company. They’ll evaluate your building, work with the Authority Having Jurisdiction, and the local building code requirements. They’ll follow the codes and determine which fire alarm components are necessary, how many are required, and where they need to be placed throughout the facility. The fire & life safety firm will ensure that the new fire alarm system meets all the local requirements and NFPA standards.
Check out these two blog posts to learn more about selecting a fire alarm system for your facility.
Proprietary vs Open Fire Alarm System
What’s the Cost of a Fire Alarm Installation?
Categorized in: Education, Fire Alarms, General