FIRE PANEL
There are two main types of fire panels available. Conventional
panels have been around for years, so you might see them in older buildings. They work
by responding to changes in an electrical current, such as when a smoke detector
identifies smoke and changes the current in response. Once the fire panel detects this
current, it sounds the alarm. The conventional fire panel is installed in different
zones—such as the first floor, second floor, etc.—so it’s often also called a zoned
panel.
The newer type of fire panel is called an addressable panel.
This system runs off modern technology, since it features a microprocessor that sends
data from devices in the building to the panel, rather than just sensing changes in
electrical currents. Every device in the building’s fire detection system has its own
address, so the addressable fire panel can identify which device the signal is coming
from. This makes it easy to locate the device that has sent signals to the fire panel.