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Learn Fire Alarm Panel To Help Diagnose Problems
By Arthur Sneddon

Whether you have a commercial or residential installation, every fire system will have a fire alarm panel as part of the system. Typically, they are equipped with not just an indicator when a fire has been detected, but they also display different messages to indicate any problems with the system.

In many commercial applications, the fire alarm panel is connected to the fire detectors as well as the building's sprinkler system, which provides a flood of water in the even of a fire. The sprinklers in most applications only activate the ones that can have an effect on the fire and does not necessarily cause all of them to release water into the building. The fire alarm panel often indicates which sprinklers have been activated in order to note the location of the fire.

Most fire systems are also connected to an automatic dialing system that notifies either a call center or the local fire department that a fire has been detected. When the alarm is activated, the fire alarm panel automatically sends out a call that in the case of a call center, the personnel there may attempt to confirm the alarm is not a false alarm prior to dispatching the fire department.

Smoke Detectors Not Usually Connected

Many times smoke detectors are not wired into the fire alarm panel to avoid the potential for false alarms due to cooking mistakes or possibly outside smoke influencing the detectors reactions. In private residences detectors may be included but usually only if they also hold a heat sensor, activating the fire alarm if the heat indicated is higher than a preset temperature.

The fire alarm panel will also have a means to silence the alarm before the fire department arrives to allow local control over the length of time the audible alarm sounds before the fire department can reset the system. Not all fire alarm panels require official involvement in resetting the alarm, but several large commercial users may be required to allow by the fire department.

Placement of the fire alarm panel is usually near the main entry door, which can also allow for ready egress in the event of a fire. This would allow a person to manually activate the alarm as they headed out the door for safety. Its positioning will also allow the alarm to be silenced as a responsible party entered the building, especially in the event of a false alarm.

Author Details:
Arthur Sneddon, writes for various web sites, such as The A to Z of Home Improvement, about home security, fire alarms etc.

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