Addressable Fire Alarm vs. Conventional Fire Alarm Systems

When choosing a fire alarm system for your commercial property, there are considerations in addition to meeting all code requirements.  Evaluating an addressable fire alarm system vs. a conventional fire alarm system can save you time and money.  Knowing the difference and which is best for your building will ensure the right system to provide protection against smoke, fire or gas with a code compliant system that  saves effort, time and money. 

The main difference between an addressable fire alarm and a conventional alarm system is that an addressable system provides the exact location of an activated device.  A conventional alarm system does not provide an exact location although zones can be set up for warnings in general locations.  This main difference is due to the wiring and installation of the devices to the control panel.

Wiring of Addressable Fire Alarm vs. Conventional Fire Alarm Systems

An addressable fire alarm system connects each device with a loop, with one wire connecting all devices and looping back into the control panel.  Each device has it’s own unique identifier to pinpoint an activated device such as smoke detectors and call points.  This allows for quick action to extinguish a fire quickly at the source.

Conventional fire alarm systems require each device to be wired directly to the main control panel with individual rather than shared wiring.  Zones may be established to identify general areas of an alarm although precise locations of a fire source are not displayed.  A conventional fire alarm system is more than adequate in smaller or simpler building layouts, although consulting with a fire alarm system specialist will help you to evaluate other factors such as system and installation cost, functionality and reliability.

Addressable vs. Conventional Fire Alarm System Cost

System and installation cost should both be evaluated, as a conventional fire alarm system may cost less for the control panel and devices, but installation to individually wire each device may cost quite a bit more depending on the complexity.  Added benefits of addressable systems should also be considered such as the ability to monitor air flow via smoke detection devices which prevents costly false alarms.  The cost to expand or add additional devices should also be considered for future business growth, building sales or renovations.

Addressable fire alarm systems can be more reliable in some cases and should be discussed with your fire alarm system specialist.  An experienced fire alarm system company will evaluate your building and operation requirements and recommend the system which provides the greatest value.  High Rise Security Systems is a proud distributor of Notifier® by Honeywell and many other fire alarm systems from the best names in the industry. 

High Rise Security Systems provides fire alarm system consulting, design, support, maintenance and monitoring 24/7/365.   We offer more than 30 years of experience in fire and security system integration to schools, hospitals, hospitality and commercial properties in and around Chicago.  Contact us to learn more about which system is right for you and the difference between addressable fire alarm vs. conventional fire alarm systems.

Distributors for Honeywell Fire Alarm Systems

Honeywell is a recognized name in fire alarm systems, protecting lives and property on every continent.  Notifier® by Honeywell offer fire protection to any type of building including simple, single structure low-rise properties and complex high-rises structures or mass complexes.  Honeywell offers leading fire detection technology with UL listed equipment, smart wireless connectivity and addressable fire alarm systems.  

Honeywell’s Notifier fire alarm systems include conventional fire alarm control panels available to monitor either single or multiple zones.  Addressable systems are available in the Onyx fire alarm system by Notifier, which provides sophisticated equipment to detect ignition sources to the exact location in a particular room or a specific floor of high-rise buildings. 

The National Fire Protection Association, NFPA, outlines the audible evacuation requirements during fire alarm alerts, which assist occupants to exit the building safely without panic.  Audible systems can direct people to the nearest and safest exit, preventing panic and assisting with a timely evacuation. 

Fire Alarm Service and Repair to Honeywell Systems

All service and repair to commercial fire alarm systems must be conducted by a licensed fire alarm technician, trained on the system in use.  Certified fire alarm technicians use only Honeywell approved parts and components and are experienced with Notifier fire alarm control panels.  Certified Honeywell Notifier fire alarm technicians provide peace of mind to commercial property owners ensuring your system is serviced properly and is ready to protect property and lives. 

High Rise Security Systems are Certified Honeywell Distributors

High Rise Security Systems, HRSS, is a certified Honeywell fire alarm distributor, with knowledge and experience in servicing all Honeywell fire alarm systems including Notifier fire alarm systems.  Our certified technicians use only UL listed parts and provide necessary fire alarm testing and inspections to ensure optimum working order. 

HRSS is a fire and safety system specialist, licensed in the state of Illinois and servicing any type of commercial property.  We provide total system design, implementation, service, maintenance, repair and 24/7/365 monitoring.  Contact us today to learn more about our comprehensive fire alarm services including service to Honeywell fire alarm systems.

Notifier by Honeywell Addressable Fire Alarm System

Notifier® by Honeywell is synonymous with fire safety, having installations on every continent in the world.  Notifier protects buildings of all shapes and sizes with a complete menu of fire safety equipment that can be programmed for each unique building structure.  Notifier’s addressable alarm system protects large buildings and complexes with the highest level of protection against gas, smoke and fire available today.

The control panel is the heart of any fire alarm system, and in an addressable system this is where information is gathered and where the location of the emergency is identified.  The control panel is integrated with the monitoring system to alert responding personnel of the problem, the location and the status of the emergency.  Monitoring stations may be an onsite location or an offsite monitoring service.

Notifier ONYX Series Fire Alarm Control Panels

The ONYX Series of control panels by Notifier have the capability to network up to 318 addressable devices with peripheral equipment such as voice evacuation annunciators.  Wireless networking is available, which is a great benefit in the instance of power loss.  The “First Vision” feature of the ONYX control panels is a valuable tool which helps firefighters by providing the current status of a fire with a graphic display.  This shows first responders just how quickly a fire is spreading and helps them determine where their best plan of attack should be to extinguish the fire. 

Linking additional devices such as closed-circuit TV, security and access control, and central locking or unlocking of doors can be networked together with the addressable ONYX series. This allows for the locking of specific doorways in cases of a security breach, identifying stranded occupants with motion sensors, and many other valuable features which quickly identify emergency situations for responding personnel.

High Rise Security Systems is a certified dealer of Notifier® by Honeywell fire alarm systems and control panels, providing UL listed equipment that meets and exceeds our client’s requirements. We are the recognized leading fire and safety firm in the Chicago area, protecting commercial properties of all shapes and sizes.  Contact us today to learn more about the Notifier addressable fire alarm system.

Difference Between Addressable and Conventional Fire Alarm Systems

Do you know the difference between addressable and conventional fire alarm system?  If you are involved in any way with building ownership, management or design, you owe it to yourself and your building occupants to learn the difference and choose the best fire protection system available for your property.

Conventional fire alarm systems consist of hardware and wiring installed to create individual zones, with no programming required.  These types of systems will provide warning to the presence of smoke, gas or fire but they provide a general location rather than an exact area of where the problem originated and exists.  This may be fine for smaller buildings or properties without numerous locations, but in large complexes or high-rise structures, this leaves too many unknowns to provide the proper response.  

Addressable fire alarm systems are programmed with communication capabilities that indicate the exact location of the origin of the fire, smoke or gas.  These systems can pinpoint the location of an emergency down to the exact room on a specific floor.  In a fire emergency, seconds count, utilizing an addressable fire alarm system may be the difference between life or death.

Testing and Programming Addressable Fire Alarm Systems

Testing addressable alarm systems is simplified as each device has its own “address”, which allows it to be tested independently of other devices.  Signals may correspond between the component and the control panel to verify all systems are operational.  Notifications are sent to the control unit whenever a break in the system is identified.

Programming is the key component to an addressable alarm system, and should be performed by a certified, fire safety technician.  Addressable systems allow for the user to program the system to provide an imminent danger alert to the area immediately affected while placing other areas on high alert.  This provides a more reliable understanding of the immediate danger and promotes a safe and orderly evacuation when necessary.

Addressable fire alarm systems increase the reliability of fire and smoke detection and reduce the instance of malfunctioning devices or false alarms. Immediate and accurate notification of the location of an emergency is vital to emergency personal and to evacuate occupants in a timely manner.

HRSS is recognized as a leading provider of fire and safety systems in the State of Illinois and throughout the Chicago area.  We are experienced in providing code compliant fire alarm systems to all types of commercial properties.  Contact us today to learn more about the benefits of addressable alarm systems.

Advantages of Addressable Fire Alarm Systems

The main goal of any fire alarm system to provide early warning to occupants so that they can evacuate safely without injury, and to provide a timely dispatch to emergency responders.  An addressable fire alarm system provides additional features such as accurately pinpointing the exact location of the origin of fire or smoke, quickly leading responders to the exact room on the correct floor of a building.   Addressable fire alarm systems are more efficient than conventional zone type fire detection systems, especially in high-rise buildings, campuses or mass complexes.

Components of an Addressable Fire Alarm System

Components of an addressable fire alarm system consist of detection sensors which alert occupants and responding personnel to the presence of fire, smoke or gas and also include notification of security breaches.   Notifications are received at a central control panel, with the identification and location of the detection sensor that was activated clearly identified.  This accurate location of each device that was activated allows personnel and responders to locate the source of the problem to generate the proper response.

This advanced notice can be the difference between life and death when seconds count, as responding personnel can immediately evacuate occupants from the dangerous areas.  Addressable alarm systems are wired with a loop design which consists of the various types of devices, each having it’s own “address”.  Addressable systems may include fire, smoke or gas detectors, alarms, visual alerts such as strobe lights, audible alerts such as evacuation speakers, suppression equipment such as sprinklers and auxiliary power supply.  Each device and piece of auxiliary equipment is connected to the control panels and central monitoring location.

With proper design and installation, and addressable fire alarm system provides the following benefits:

• Quick identification of the exact cause and location of the emergency
• Continual monitoring of the operational condition of sensors and devices
• Detection of contaminants which could affect performance
• Identification of breaks in the system wiring
• Reduction in false alarms

HRSS is a leading fire and safety systems service company, offering comprehensive services including fire system design, equipment, maintenance, repair and monitoring 24/7/365.  We are experienced with fire systems in a wide variety of commercial properties including high-rise, low-rise, campuses and complexes.  Contact us to learn more about the advantages of an addressable fire alarm system.