Every commercial, industrial, or institutional building today has a fire alarm system. The importance of fire alarms has been hammered down into our minds almost since we were born. They teach us about them in schools and are frequently featured in films, so we instinctively understand their purpose.

However, most people know exactly how they work or even what they actually do. They have plenty of other functions apart from letting us know something´s burning somewhere. Moreover, there are different ways to install fire alarm cables and systems for specific situations and structural layouts.

Before we go into more technical details, let´s first describe the primary purpose of having an alarm system installed and how they help protect property and lives.

Alarm Systems Detect Fires

There are three ways to detect fire. Fire alarms can usually be operated by a manual pull, making workers the first line of protection against a fire before it reaches electronic means of detection. Smoke detectors sense small particles in the air that emanate from combustion. They provide an excellent protection level as they can set the fire alarm off whenever the level of particles in the air reaches a certain threshold. However, they are not recommended in rooms that often see vapor or soot as they activate smoke detectors unnecessarily. For these environments, correctly regulated heat detectors are more suitable.

Alarm Systems Alert Occupants

Automated detection systems are a way of gathering data. Whenever heat or smoke is detected in areas where they should not occur, they send an audible and visible alarm signal that is impossible to ignore so all occupants can implement emergency protocols simultaneously and without delay. To make sure everyone in the building can hear the alarm the second it goes off, smoke and fire alarms must be 15dB louder than the average ambient or surrounding noise.

Alarm Systems Are Essential For Risk Management

As mentioned before, alarm systems give a clear indication of when to start implementing emergency protocols and risk control measures. Automated systems can also perform tasks aimed at stopping the spread of fire and smoke, like automatically shutting doors and isolating zones. They can also power off ventilation and all HVAC systems in order to contain harmful elements from spreading. An efficient fire alarm system, combined with carefully designed emergency protocols and training, can significantly reduce potential damages and downtime.

Alarm Systems Notify Authorities

Depending on the smoke or fire alarm system installed, authorities can get notified manually or by an automated system. Conventional fire alarm systems usually notify occupants, so they take the appropriate measures and contact authorities. In contrast, more complex addressable fire alarm systems can be connected to consoles that send a signal directly to the fire department and greatly reduce response time.

These main purposes are addressed in different ways depending on the structural layout of the buildings and the type of wiring of the system. There are two ways fire alarm cables and systems can be laid out: addressable and conventional systems.

What Are Conventional Fire Alarm Systems?

The first fire alarm systems that hit the market are what we now know as conventional alarm systems. The general principle was installing independent fire detection systems and connecting each to a console via a shielded fire alarm cable.

Conventional fire alarm systems are usually installed in small buildings, but it also works in larger locations. For example, a multi-story building would wire each floor with multiple detectors and connect the circuit to the panel through a single fire-resistant alarm cable.

The problem with this approach is that when the alarm goes off, the operator would have no way of knowing where the fire is located, only that it is happening on that floor. Moreover, if a fire or other event damages the fire alarm cables, the system will only be able to indicate that it lost contact with the whole area.

Conventional consoles and systems are simpler and less expensive since there is not much programming required. However, due to the fact that each element or zone must be wired independently, costs can go up in terms of fire alarm cables and installation costs.

What Are Addressable Fire Alarm Systems?

Newer systems are designed to provide a more granular approach to fire prevention by wiring all sensors and hardware in a single loop. Each detector, sprinkler, alarm, and suppression equipment will have its own address and will all be connected to a control panel.

The main advantage of addressable systems is that they can pinpoint the origin of the fire alarm by giving out the corresponding address and can also track the progress of the fire or suppression efforts in real time. In the case of addressable systems, if a sensor or wire gets damaged, the console will still be able to pinpoint the location of the fire or at least which component lost its signal.

Risk management is a lot easier with addressable fire alarm systems as authorities do not have to spend time searching for the alarm source. Instead, they can immediately develop a strategy and implement localized suppression efforts without delay.

Addressable fire alarm systems require specialized hardware that needs programming. As a result, they can be comparatively more expensive than conventional systems. However, they require less wiring, and the installation and maintenance costs tend to be lower.

As you can see, each approach has its advantages and disadvantages depending on the size and structural layout of the building. Conventional systems are still preferred in smaller facilities with lower fire risks, while addressable systems are indispensable to protect larger areas. Authorities always appreciate the use of setups that provide as much information as possible, allowing them to save precious time, lives, and money.

If your business needs to install the best fire protection system for its needs, or if you want to upgrade your infrastructure, contact our wire experts. We provide the best fire alarm cables for any application and layout. Browse through our products, or contact our team at sales@ewcswire.com.