Fire & Safety Equipment

A conventional panel, such as the MAG4 or C-TEC CFP708-4, shows which zone is in alarm. An addressable panel, such as the MAGPRO16 or C-TEC XFP501E, identifies each detector and call point individually on a loop, which points straight to the device that operated.

A two-wire system carries detectors and sounders on the same pair of cores for a zone, which reduces cabling. The ESP MAGDUO 2-wire range has 2, 4 and 8 zone panels, matching call points, sounders and sounder strobes, and panel kits that bring the parts together.

On an addressable loop the devices must use the panel's protocol. The C-TEC XFP501E is sold in CAST, Apollo XP95/Discovery and Hochiki versions, and detectors, call points and interfaces on that loop must use the same protocol as the panel they report to.

Sounders are tested to EN 54-3 and visual alarm devices to EN 54-23, and some combined units cite both, such as the C-TEC BF456C/CC/W and BF433C/CC/DR sounder VADs marked EN54-3/23. The standard a product meets is stated on its product page, so it can be checked against the specification.

Yes. Ajax FireProtect devices communicate over Jeweller radio; the EN54 FireProtect Sounder 118603.278.BL1 runs on 4×CR123A batteries, and the FireProtect Plus 38107.16.WH1 on 2 × CR2 main batteries with a CR2032 backup. The Aico Ei407 RadioLINK manual call point has a 10-year battery. Wireless devices suit buildings where running new cable is impractical.

Panel accessories include EN54-4 power supplies, relay and input/output modules, loop isolators, repeater panels, programming tools, spare keys and battery boxes. For Advanced panels there are printers, semi-flush bezels and enclosures, and for MAG panels expander cards and spare barrels.

Detectors and manual call points that start the alarm, a control panel that processes it, sounders, beacons and visual alarm devices that warn people, and a power supply. Check the product page for the EN54 section a part cites, such as EN54-7 on the C-TEC CA416 smoke detector and EN54-4 on the Haydon HAY-PSUEN54-5A power supply.

A visual alarm device (VAD) is a flashing light that warns people who may not hear a sounder, tested to EN54-23. Combined sounder VAD bases, such as C-TEC ActiV units marked EN54-3/23, put a sounder and a VAD in one base beneath the detector.