Fire Alarm systems perform several functions vital to limiting life and property losses during fires. They can provide fire detection, early warning for evacuation, and local fire brigade (Emergency Response Team) or public fire department notification.
Generally a fire alarm system is installed for protection of life, property and mission. In order for a fire alarm system to be useful, it must be able to perform these functions:
- Detect the presence of a fire.
- Notify the occupants
- Notify the fire department (usually through a central station connection)
- Operate other fire safety functions, e.g., release magnetically held open smoke doors.
The following is a list of the basic components that can be installed together to make up a typical fire alarm system:
- Alarm Initiation Devices
- Manual Fire Alarm Boxes
- Waterflow Initiating Devices
- Heat Detectors
- Smoke Detectors
- Radiant Energy Sensing Fire Detectors
- Other Fire Detectors
- Notification Appliances
- Bells
- Horns
- Speakers
- Sirens
- Strobes
- Combination units
- Fire Alarm Control Units
- System Operating Configuration
- Conventional fire alarm systems
- Addressable fire alarm systems
- Analog-addressable fire alarm systems
- Remote On-Site Annunciation
- Point Lighted
- Alphanumeric
- Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD’s)
- Graphic
- Batteries
- Standby Power