Exploring fire detection control and indicating equipment in your building’s fire protection system

FIPs provide real-time information about fire alarms and empower swift response and efficient management of fire incidents that might occur.

In your role, you will likely have specific fire safety responsibilities. So while you don’t need to be an expert in fire protection (you can leave that to our team!), it does help to know how your fire indication panels function and how they operate effectively in conjunction with other systems in your building.

Typically, two different types of FIPs can be used in a fire system design. These are:

• Conventional

Conventional FIPs monitor the ‘zones’ of a property or location. When triggered in a specific zone, the panel indicates which area of the property is experiencing the fire. Conventional fire alarms are great for smaller properties that may not have as many zones as larger buildings.

• Addressable

Addressable fire indication panels are more complex than conventional panels. These systems provide displays on the inbuilt panel that show fire and essential service experts the exact location of the fire and which specific detector was triggered. Addressable alarms are ideal for properties like shopping centres, industrial facilities, hospitals, schools and other larger buildings.

In addition to these two main types, there are also other types of fire indication panels, such as:

• Hybrid fire indication panels, which combine the features of conventional and addressable panels.
• Wireless fire indication panels that use radio signals to transmit data between the detectors and the panel.
• Networked fire indication panels, which are connected to a network and allow for remote monitoring and control.

The type of fire indication panel you’ll need will depend on specific factors such as the size and layout of your property, the potential hazards that have been outlined in a fire risk assessment any existing systems in place and any relevant code requirements that you must adhere to.

The timing for the above process varies, but the initial steps typically happen in as little as a few seconds. That speed is integral to ensuring the safety of your building’s occupants and the property itself.

Another factor to consider is any other building systems you’ll want to integrate your fire indication panel into, such as your Building Management System (BMS), security systems, video surveillance and communication interfaces to allow for easier remote monitoring and data reporting.

Integrating fire protection systems into your broader building system enhances overall fire safety by leveraging technology and improving the facilitation of coordinated responses.

Understanding how these panels work empowers you to be more confident that your fire systems are working correctly and supports you in maintaining compliance with fire safety regulations.

If you’re looking for more information on fire indication panels or fire protection systems, contact the experts at DEM Fire. We know fire and essential services.