Fire Alarm Systems

Choose conventional for a smaller building where knowing the zone in alarm is enough, and addressable where the panel should pinpoint the exact device. A conventional panel such as the ESP MAG4 reports alarms by zone, while an addressable panel such as the C-TEC XFP501/X identifies each detector and call point on its loop, which speeds up finding a fire or a fault in a large building.

It is a conventional system in which detection and sounders share one cable per zone instead of separate circuits. The Fike TwinflexPro2 505-0004 uses a single screened 2-core per zone for both, supporting 32 Twinflex devices per zone, and the ESP MAGDUO2, MAGDUO4 and MAGDUO8 are two-wire panels too. Use detectors and sounders made for the panel, as two-wire devices are system-specific.

No, the panel and the devices must use the same protocol. C-TEC XFP panels include versions for Apollo XP95/Discovery (XFP501/X), CAST (XFP501/CA) and Hochiki ESP (XFP502/H), and the Advanced MX-5401N is an MxPro 5 panel for Nittan Evolution devices. Check the protocol of the existing detectors before you replace or extend a panel.

Yes. The Ajax EN54 Fire Hub Jeweller (125733.315.BL) is a wireless control and indicating panel with a 10.1in touchscreen, supporting up to 200 Ajax devices and 40 fire zones. It works with Ajax EN54 FireProtect Jeweller detectors, sounders and VADs, such as the 118605.277.WH1 visual alarm rated EN54-23. Wireless suits buildings where running cable would be disruptive.

Add VADs wherever people may not hear a sounder, such as rooms used by deaf or hard of hearing people, or noisy areas. Sounder VADs such as the C-TEC BF433C/CC/DR (100 dB, EN54-3/23) combine both, and Hochiki, Klaxon and Vimpex beacons add the visual signal on its own. Your fire risk assessment and system design decide where VADs are needed.

A resettable call point uses an element that is reset after activation, while a break-glass call point needs its glass replaced. Resettable models include the Nittan EV-MCP2-IP24, an addressable call point to EN54-11, and the KAC M1A-R470SF-STCK-01, also EN54-11 certified. Call points are placed on escape routes and at exits so anyone can raise the alarm by hand.

A fire panel runs from the mains with standby batteries, and larger systems can add an EN54-4 power supply. Examples include the ESP BPS5EN 5A EN54-4 PSU, the Haydon HAY-PSUEN54-5A at 27.6V 5A, which takes 2 x 7Ah SLA batteries, and 12V SLA batteries such as the ESP BAT18 (17.0Ah). Size the standby batteries from the panel manual.

Yes, Aico alarms for homes. Mains-powered alarms with battery backup, such as the Ei146e optical smoke alarm (Kitemarked to BS EN 14604) and the Ei144e heat alarm, link by RadioLINK through the Ei168RC base. The Ei208 is a carbon monoxide alarm with a sealed 10-year lithium battery, and the Ei170RF kit adds a strobe and vibrating pad for deaf and hard of hearing occupants.

They are parts for aspirating smoke detection, which draws air through a pipe network to a detector. Airsense lists red ABS pipe, 45 and 90 degree bends, unions, end caps and sampling point assemblies such as the 9-10928, and Xtralis by Honeywell lists sampling point kits such as the 059-001-W and network cables. Follow the system design, as the pipe layout and sampling holes are set for the installation.