Integrating access control and fire systems

Integrating Access Control and Fire Detection Systems 

Most fire jurisdictions require that all doors are automatically unlocked during a fire alarm emergency to ensure a fast exit for those inside the building and a fast entry for the firefighters to do their job. This means the door locking methods (typically electric strikes or electro-magnetic locks)—that are powered and controlled by an Access Control Unit (ACU)—must be kept unlocked during a fire alarm emergency. Fire relay is key product to execute this operation.

What is a fire relay or Output Module?

A output module or control module or fire relay is a switch that sits between the fire system control panel and the power source to the door locking methods. While there are different types of fire relays and different ways to configure them, the job of a fire relay is simple: when there’s a fire alarm, the fire relay unlocks the selected doors.

In an access control system, the fire relay is typically installed inside or near the ACU, and connects the ACU to the fire alarm control panel—as shown in this diagram. Any brand Access Control System can be integrate with Fire, some brand have dedicated port on controller, someone not. You need to verify before getting order. Below arrangement we have test in our experience centre.

Installing a fire relay can be expensive. Follow these tips to get the best pricing.

Lack of a fire relay is one of the most common and expensive surprises we see during customer site surveys. If you’re working with an existing building fire system and it doesn’t already provide a fire relay, you’ll need to get a quote from your building’s fire system provider to install one. 

Unfortunately, the cost of installing a new fire relay can vary significantly. We’ve seen fire relay quotes ranging from Rs. 4000 to Rs. 8000, but there are ways to negotiate for the best pricing. It’s best to include a fire relay as part of your lease agreement with your building management company. If that’s not an option, ask them to negotiate for a fire relay with the building fire system provider on your behalf. Your building management company will likely get better pricing.

If you are building out a new space, you can make a fire relay a part of the general contractor bid so it’s included in the fire alarm system design. Similar to the building management company, your general contractor who is in a position to give repeat business to the fire system provider is more likely to obtain better pricing. Before ordering verify contractor confidence and related document.

Each every manufacture has this module or relay to operate 3rd party equipment Like: Access Control, PA system, Fire Damper, Smoke Damper, AHU etc. If you have Edwards Fire Panel, then only Edwards’s module will be work with proper programming same as Notifier, ESSER, Autronica, GST, Gent any addressable fire brand. If you are not confirm lets contacts us we will guide you free of cost. Last month in this magazine have one article “How to Find a Qualified Fire Alarm Repair Company”, read and safe your property.

As per NFPA the control outputs from a fire alarm control unit can also be sent out on a signaling line circuit (SLC) to an addressable output module, which can open or close a contact based on information sent from the fire alarm control unit on the SLC to the COMM terminals. This is beneficial because multiple output modules can be controlled by the same SLC, which can control each module separately. For example, all output modules controlling all of the door hold opens in a building could be on the same SLC, but based on the specific input to the control unit, only specific doors can be closed. If all of these modules were on the same control circuit, the control unit would only be able to close all the doors.