...An automatic fire alarm system is an active fire protection system designed to detect the unwanted presence of fire by monitoring environmental changes associated with combustion. In general, a fire alarm system is either classified as automatic, manually activated, or both. The basic modern system consists of a dependable primary power supply, a secondary or backup power supply, any number of "initiating devices" and "notification appliances." Automatic fire alarm systems can be used to notify people of the need to evacuate in the event of a fire or other emergency, to summon emergency forces aid, and to prepare the structure and associated systems to control the spread of fire and smoke. However, the use of fire alarm system in buildings and campuses in Nigeria is not encouraging at all. FUNDAMENTAL COMPONENTS THAT MAKE UP THE FIRE ALARM SYSTEM • Fire alarm control unit (panel): A fire alarm control panel is the central control device that receives information from input devices such as smoke detectors, heat detectors, manual call points, etc. The panel then processes the information to trigger output devices which are usually bells, horns, or strobes. Panels usually have a number of loops within the range of two to 20 loops. At the present time, four or six loop panels are the most common. Each loop can have a number of devices connected to it. Each device has its own address, and so the panel knows the state of each individual device connected to it. There are three types...
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