Fire Alarm Control Panel
The Brain of the Building

What the FACP Is

The Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP), sometimes called the Fire Alarm Control Unit (FACU), is the central processor of the fire alarm system. It is listed to UL 864 or ULC-S527 and is the only component in the system that is permitted to initiate alarm, supervisory, or trouble output signals on its own judgment. Everything else in the system — every detector, pull station, horn, strobe, relay — either reports to or is controlled by the FACP.

NFPA 72 §10 requires the FACP to be installed in a normally unoccupied space accessible to the fire department, typically just inside the main entrance or in a fire command center. It must be clearly labeled with the building address and the phone number of the servicing company.

What's Inside

Battery Sizing

NFPA 72 §10.6.7 sets the minimum standby battery requirement for the FACP. The standard number in most commercial buildings is:

The panel's service label calculates the required amp-hours for the specific configuration. Installers undersize battery capacity more often than any other mistake — and the annual battery load test is the way that gets caught.

Operating State Hierarchy

At any moment, the panel is in one of four states, in descending priority: Alarm, Supervisory, Trouble, or Normal. A higher-priority condition overrides the display of any lower-priority condition, but lower-priority events are still logged and reported to the central station. When all conditions clear, the panel returns to Normal only after an authorized user performs a manual acknowledge and reset.

References