Today, the need to equip a residential building or public building with an automatic fire alarm system is no longer in doubt. Such installations consist of a whole complex of devices and devices for various purposes, the main task of which is to detect a fire at an early stage of a fire. The core of such a system is a fire control panel, abbreviated as PPKP.
Main Functions
By definition, the control panel is a device for receiving signals from detectors, powering them, notifying personnel through sound and light annunciators, transmitting notifications to the monitoring station, and generating a starting impulse for control devices. Thus, the main functions of the control panel:
- arming and disarming;
- receiving and analyzing signals from sensors;
- monitoring the status of loops;
- power supply for current-consuming detectors;
- light and sound notification of operational personnel;
- transmission of notifications about the status of the installation to the central monitoring station;
- starting devices or control circuits for engineering equipment, fire extinguishing,alert.
Classification
The control panel is classified according to the following features:
- information capacity;
- informative;
- method of controlling detectors;
- type of communication channels.
Information capacity is characterized by the number of fire loops that the device can serve. On this basis, devices are divided into:
- up to 8 loops - low capacity;
- from 9 to 64 loops - medium capacity;
- more than 64 loops - high capacity.
Informativeness characterizes the number of notifications issued by the device, such as "Fire", "Attention", "Fault" and others. Appliances can be:
- low information content - up to 8 notifications;
- medium informative - from 9 to 16 notices;
- very informative - over 16 notices.
According to the control method, address and analog systems are distinguished. In addressable systems, each detector is equipped with a microprocessor that reports its status to the controller via a digital communication line. In an analog system, the sensor changes its resistance depending on the state, the control panel registers this change.
According to the types of communication channels, automatic fire alarm installations are divided into wired and radio channel.
Analog Radial Systems
Traditionally used receiving-control devices with analog radial loops. In each loop of such a device, several detectors can be installed that protect different rooms. When any detector is triggered, the resistance of the loop drops, and the control panel issues an alarm signal. At the same time, it is impossible to determine the exact place of ignition, the state of the entire loop is recorded. Therefore, the number of detectors in the loop is limited to 15-20 pieces, and the number of rooms protected by one loop is 10 (within one floor). The status of each loop is indicated by the color of the glow and the blinking of the LED indicator of the control panel.
Such control panels are produced in the form of complete modules that perform all the functions provided for by the standards. The main advantage of such devices is the ease of installation, configuration and operation. To ensure uninterrupted power supply, they are equipped with built-in redundant power supplies with a rechargeable battery.
As a rule, devices with radial loops are produced by a ruler, depending on the information capacity. For example, the popular control panel "Granite" is available for 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 12, 16, 24 loops. Such a model range allows the use of devices on objects of various sizes.
Address signaling
Address systems are gradually replacing analog ones, displacing them not only in large, but also in medium and small facilities. The main difference of such a system is the redistribution of signal processing functions. Measuring Factorsfire (temperature, smoke, flame brightness), their digitization and analysis are performed in the fire detector. To do this, addressable sensors are equipped with a microprocessor that operates according to a specific algorithm. The processor not only controls the fire factor, but also analyzes its state, such as dust, temperature, etc.
The control panel communicates with detectors via a digital communication line using noise-proof protocols, which virtually eliminates the possibility of error. In a digital line, each detector is assigned its own unique address, which allows you to accurately determine the location of the triggered device. The presence of a microprocessor allows you to individually configure each sensor, taking into account its dustiness, conditions in the protected room, operating mode.
The use of digital infrastructure allows the design of expandable and geographically dispersed structures of almost unlimited scale. For digital systems, it is important that the line of equipment of one manufacturer contains the entire range of necessary devices. For example, the fire alarm "Bolid" includes detectors, controllers, control panels, power supplies and other equipment.
Control lines
To control notifications, engineering equipment, transfer notifications to the monitoring station, control panels are equipped with a set of relay contacts. As a rule, their number is from three to five in non-targeted control panels. The increase in control circuits is carried out by settingadditional relay boards. In addressable systems, an increase in the number of outputs is carried out by connecting additional modules and expands the possibilities that a fire alarm solves.
"Bolid" produces a line of signal-starting and control-starting blocks that allow you to control any engineering systems. To control the alarm, block general ventilation, start fire extinguishing, etc., output contacts must be used to monitor the line for open and short circuits. The presence of such relay outputs is specified separately in the device passport.
Fire and security alarms
Security devices are similar in their functions to firefighters. Often fire alarms are combined with security. To control such a system, a fire and security control device (PPKOP) is used. The difference between such a device lies in the versatility of its loops: they allow you to connect both fire and security detectors.
When programming, each loop is assigned a specific security tactic: fire smoke, security, alarm, etc. Most modern devices are equipped with just such universal loops. For example, the popular signal control device "Signal-20" has 20 universal loops.
Power supply
An automatic fire alarm is a system that must operate continuously, 365 days a year. Therefore, the receiving devicethe control security and fire department is provided with electricity according to the first category of reliability. Not everywhere the power grids provide such a category, therefore, redundant power sources are used to power fire protection devices. They are equipped with rechargeable batteries that support the operation of the system in the absence of the main power supply. The capacity of the batteries must be sufficient for autonomous operation for 24 hours in standby mode and 1 hour in alarm mode.
