Fire alarm systems contain multiple components that work in conjunction to protect your business from the threat of fire. There are a lot of details to getting a fire alarm system right, which is why it’s best to let experts like Compu-Gen Technologies assist you, but this brief overview covers the main components seen in most systems.

Also called the control unit, the control panel is the core of the fire alarm system. It monitors inputs from across the system and controls what happens next, depending on the situation. The conditions it monitors include Alarm, Trouble and Supervisory.

In some larger fire alarm systems, the panel transmits the signal to an annunciator, which is a face or display to the system. The annunciator displays the condition detected and other pertinent information.

Depending on the condition, the control panel can perform a variety of actions such as:

• Notify the on-site and/or off-premises supervising station(s),
• Notify occupants to evacuate,
• Operate emergency control functions like closing fire doors and shutting down elevators, and
• Operate suppression equipment.

All fire alarm systems contain passive smoke and heat detectors. They can be separate detectors or combined into a single unit. There are multiple technologies behind how smoke detectors work; the most common technologies include ionization and photoelectric.

Some systems also include initiators such as pressure switches and water flow switches. These switches and the detectors mentioned above are examples of passive initiators – they perform their duty in the background, without any manual intervention.

However, a fire alarm system also has manual initiators, which are triggered manually by a person. The most common manual initiator today is a pull switch, where a person simply pulls or pushes in then pulls a small handle down on the station to trigger the alarm.

The number and type of detectors are best for your business depends on a number of factors, such as ceiling height, square footage, your locality’s fire code and more. Generally, as fire emergencies can start in a number of ways, it is recommended to utilize a variety of detection methods.

Once an emergency is indicated, the control panel initiates the notification system. This is a series of appliances that provide audible and/or visual notification. Some notification units provide just one type of notification while others are a combination unit delivering both audible and visual notification.

The number and type of notification units best for your business depends on a number of factors, such as square footage, building layout, your locality’s fire code and more.

Reliable power is needed to ensure reliable operation. Fire alarm systems require two sources of power. The primary power can be provided either by electricity, engine-driven site generator, energy storage system or co-generation system. Secondary power can be provided by either batteries, generator or energy storage system.

Compu-Gen Technologies’ team of fire prevention system technicians provide the expertise and equipment needed to protect your business while remaining compliant with fire code.

And, we offer an entire suite of solutions to create a holistic system for you including video and other security systems, managed IT support, telecommunications, point of sale systems and merchant services.