Addressable alarm systems connect devices using a loop wise . This is where one wire connects all devices to the control panel , Both ends of the wire loop connect to the control panel . 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.

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. 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.

A addressable Fire Alarm system usually includes a fire alarm control panel (FACP) . FACP receives information from devices throughout the property, which is designed to detect changes associated with a fire event , including water flow or detection of smoke . A map of the building is often placed at a strategic location with the defined zones and indicators that illuminate when a zone is in an alarm condition , The main drawback is that the activated device cannot be detected, and only zone can be identified , The fire may be in only one small area , but the emergency indicators only reveal that the larger zone is in alarm , This type of system is also capable of dialing an offsite monitoring service , shutting down gas supply , turning on smoke exhaust fans , and connecting to other fire alarm panels .

A addressable Fire Alarm Control Panel employ one or more Signaling Line Circuits - usually referred to as loops or SLC loops - ranging between one and thirty . Depending on the protocol used , a Signaling Line Circuit can monitor and control several hundred devices , Some protocols permit any mix of detectors and input/output modules , while other protocols have 50% of channel capacity restricted to detectors/sensors and 50% restricted to input/output modules . Each SLC polls the devices connected , which can number from a few devices to several hundred , depending on the manufacturer , Large systems may have multiple Signaling Line Circuits