Which is better, a conventional or
addressable fire alarm system?
Choosing
a fire alarm system isn’t just about adhering to legal requirements; it’s also
about saving time, money and effort.
The most common types of alarms that businesses use are conventional and addressable alarm systems.
Both
types of alarm link input devices (such as call points and smoke/Heat
detectors) to a main control panel. The main difference between the two is that
with addressable fire alarm systems, you can pinpoint exactly which device has
been activated.
How do addressable and conventional alarms differ?
Every
device connected to the addressable system has its own unique address. When a
fire is detected, the device’s address shows up on the main control panel,
telling you exactly which device has been activated. This will enable you to
find the exact location of a fire and extinguish them quickly.
With
a conventional system, there is no way of pinpointing the exact location of the
fire. However, by wiring your building into different zones, you can get a
general idea of where the fire is. For instance, if you have two floors, you
could wire the first as ‘zone 1’ and the second as zone 2. So if a fire occurs
in zone 1, you know that the fire is somewhere on the first floor.
Wiring
differences
Addressable
alarm systems connect devices using a loop. This is where one wire connects all
devices to the control panel. Both ends of the wire loop connect to the control
panel.
With
a conventional alarm, each device will be connected to the control panel via
its own wire, rather than a shared one. One end of the wire will be touching
the device, and another touching the control panel.
Which is the cheaper option for you?
Conventional alarm panels cost
a lot less to buy but are more expensive to install. This is because each
device that is being connected needs its own wire. With addressable systems,
one wire loop will connect several devices. This means conventional systems
require more wire and more man hours during the installation phase.
Additionally, addressable
systems have a range of other facilities that can help save money. For
instance, addressable alarm panels monitor the air flow through smoke detectors
to prevent the occurrence of false alarms, which can be costly to a
business.
Which is more reliable?
The addressable alarm panel is
also the more reliable of the two. This is because the wire connects to the
control panel at both ends (see the diagram above). If one end of the loop
becomes severed, signals can still be sent to the control panel via the other
end of the loop. Loop isolation modules are also used to separate devices on
the loop. This means that if one device becomes disconnected, it won’t disable
the circuit. With a conventional system, if a wire has become severed, the
device will become disconnected.
Overall
Functionally, the addressable fire alarm unit is superior, which can help prevent costly activities and save time when detecting a fire. It’s also cheaper and easier to install. But in terms of buying price, a conventional system is cheaper, and will meet the functional needs of small premises where a sophisticated system is not necessary.