For those of you who are not super-familiar with this material, I can tell you: this is a very good and accurate treatment of the subject.
Burglar Alarm Zoning Guide
The function of an alarm panel is to gather information from sensors and respond to this information by triggering actions. While it is possible to program these responses manually, most alarm panels have a variety of responses preprogrammed and grouped based on the function and purpose of the sensor. These are called zone types. In this note, we will look into the various zone type options and what kinds of responses they can trigger, including
- What Is A Zone?
- Examples of Zones
- Zone Types
- Action On Alarm
- Triggering Devices
- Medical Alarms
- Fire Alarms
- Panic Alarms
- Burglar Alarms
- 24 Hour Non Burglary Zones
- Zone Identification
What ** * ****?
*** ******* ** * **** *** part ** * ****** *******. * sensor ** ***** ** ******* ** wired ** * *******, ***** ********** at * **** ** ***** ********* in *** *****. *** ***** ******* voltage *** * **** ***** ****** of ******* ** *** *********, ********** the *******. **** *** ****** ** the *** ** *** ******* ** closed, ******* ***** **** *** ******** terminal, *** ** *** ******, *** back ** *** ******** ********.
*** *** ********** ** ***** ** that, ******* **** ******* ** * zone *** **** ** * ****** circuit, ***** ****** ********* ***** ****** in *** **** *** *********. *********, many ********** *** ** ***** *** number ** ******* ** ** ********** circuit, ** **** ** ***** *** be ****** **** **, ** ****, one ** *** ********** *******.
******* ****** **** ** ********* *** opening ** ******** ****** ********, ****** tend ** ***** ** ** **** **** ** * ****** **** ** **** **** * ****** *** created ** **** ******* ** *** completed * ****** *******.
******** ***** ****** *** *** **** convention ** **** ***** *** ****** zones, *** *** ** ** **** that *** ******** ******** ** ******* a ****** ********** **** *** ********* sensor *** ****** ** **** ******* or * ****** *******. ***** ***** is ** ***** ********** ******* *** sensor *** *** *****, *** ***** is *** ******** ********* *** ****** of ******* *** ** ******* ******* on *********** **** *** ******** ***********.
*********** ******* ********* ******* * ******* ** damaged ** * ******** ******* ** circumvent *** ***** ** ********* *** amount ** **********, *************** ******* * ****** sensor ** * ***** ** *** wire.
Examples ** *****
** * *********** ***********, ******** * to ** ***** *** ****. ***** often ******* * ***** **** ** the ***** ****, * ****** ***** detector **** *** *****, *** * number ** ********* ***** *** * windows. ****** ********** *** **** ******** zones, **** ***** *** ********** ******* and ********* * ******* ****.
** ** ****** ***********, ****** ** zones *** ***** *****. ** ******** to *** ***** ** ***** ** a *********** ***********, ******* ***** **** have ***** ****** ****, ********* ****, environmental *******, ***. *** ****** *** office, **** ***** *** ********* **** to ******* ********** ***** ************* *** coming ****.
** **** ****** **********, **** *********, over *** ***** *** ******. ** addition ** **** ** ****** ***** have, * ******** ***** **** **** multiple **** *****, ******** ************* *****, interior *** ********* *****, ***.
**** ** ***** ***** *** **** programmed **** **** *****.
Zone *****
**** ***** *** ****** ** ****** that *** ** ******** ** * zone **** ***** *** ***** **** to ** **** *** **** ** open.
**** * ****** ******* ** ***** *********, burglar ****** *** ****** ******* * local ****** ****** **** * ***** or * *****, **** * ******* signal ** * ***** *****, ** both. **** ********** ***** ****** **** the ******* ** ******* ******** ******* on *****, ********* ******* ********* ***** of ******* ******* *** ********** ********* output *******. ****** ****** ** ******* are ******* ******** ** ********** ** not **** ** ******* **** ****** manually *** ***** ****. ***** ****** of ******* *** ****** **** *****.
** ******** ** ********** * ***** ****** such ** * *****, ******* ****** can **** ****** **** ** ******* *********** ** a ******* ******* ********** *******, ***** **** relays **** *********** ** ***** **********. Transmitting *********** **** ** ******** ** possible ***** *** ***** ** *** alarm ****** *** ******* ******* ** notify *** ******* ****** ****** ****** and ***** ***** ********** *** *********** ** be ******** *** *** **** ****** arriving ** *****. **** ***** **** ****** identifying *********** **** ************ ** ******* station, ** *** ******* ******* ********** knows ******* **** **** ** **** ** is.
****** ***** ** ***** *******:
- ******* ******
- **** ******
- ***** ******
- ******* ******
- ** **** *** ******** *****
Triggering *******
****** *** **** ** ***** ****** can ** ** ********** ** **** any **** ** ******. *** ****** of **** **** ** **** *********** ** choose ** ** ********* ** *** choice ** ****** ******. *** *******, an ********* *** ******* * ******** ****** ** send * ***** ******, * ******* alert ******, ** ****** ******** ****. A ******** ******* *** ** ********** as * ******* ******** ****, * perimeter ****, * ** **** ****, or **** * ***** ****.
**** ****** ******* **** ** ***** detectors *** ****** ******** ********* *** an ********* ** **** ****, *******. Smoke ********* ************** ********* ** * ***** ******** ****.
Medical ***** *****
- ** **** *********, ****** ******* ***** is ***** ** ********
- ** ***** ** *****
***** ****** ****** ***** ***** ****** a ****** ** **** ****, ** **** they *** ****** ** ******* *** keypad during * ******* *********. ***** ****** ** a **** **** ******* ****** ******* may **** ** ********* ** **** zone, ***** ****** *** ******, ** it ****** ******* *** ***** ** home **** ******* ** ****** * medical ********* ***** ************** ********* ********* services.
****** ********** ******* *** ******* ****** are:
- ***** ******* ******* ** ********* ***** around * ********
- ******** ******* **** ** * ******** or ********
******** ********* ******** *******(****) *** ******* ***** ***** *** two *** ************* ******* *** **** and * ********* ******* **********. ***** are ******* ********* ******* **** * built ** *******. ********** ******** ****** separately *** **** **********, ** ******** to *** ******** ***** ********** ******.
****** * ***** ******** *** * strobe ****** ******* * **** *** help ********* ********** ******** *** ****** of *** **** ******, ********** ** areas ***** ***** ******* *** **** to **** **** *** ******. *******, some ************* **** ***** ******* ********** that ******* ** ***** ***** ******* itself ************* (** "**** ***") ***** a ***** ****, ******** * *******, which *** *** ** ****** **** for ** ********* ** *******. ** the ***** ************ *** * ** hour **** ****** **** ****** *** auxiliary ******, ********** *** ****** ** have * ****** ********* ** **** output, ******** **** *** ******** **** output **** *** ********* ******* *******.
Fire ***** *****
- ***********, ***** ***** * ******* ****** ** there ** * ******* **** *** wire ** *** ******
- ****** ******, ***** ****** *** ***** ** output * ********* ***** **** * burglary ****
- ** **** *********, ****** ******* ***** is ***** ** ********
- ****** ** ********
********* **** ********** (*******) *** ***** *** ****** again, *** **** ********* ** ** receives * ****** ****** **** *** smoke ******** ****** * **** ***** period ** ****. ***** *** ****** for ******* **** ** ***** ****** caused ** ******** **** *** ***** detectors.
******* ******** ****** * ** **** **** **** cannot ** ********, **** **** * normal fire ****, *** ***** **** ****** the ******, *** *** *** ******.
****** ********** ******* *** **** ***** are
- ***** *********
- ****** ******** *********
- **** *********
- ****-**-**** *********
- **********
- **** ********
***** ********* ******* **** ********** *** ********* types ** ********** *******. **** ** because *** ****** ** *** ********** device *** **** ************ ** **** as ** *** **** ** ******* they **** ** ******, *** **** kind ** ********* **** ********* ** required. * ********* ********** **** ******* a **** ********* ******** **** * carbon ******** **********, *** *******, *** this ****** ********** ** ******** *** necessary ***** *** **** ******* ** simply ******* * ****** ******* ** investigate *****. *** ******* **** ***** could **** ** **** * ****.
Panic ***** *****
- ** **** *********, ****** ******* *** panel ** ***** ** ********
- ****** *********, ******* * ****** ** central *** ** **** ****** ** keypad *****
**** ***** ******** ** ****** * audible *****, ****** ** ***** **** an ******** ******* ** ******* *** police ** *******. **** ***** **** in ********** ************* ***** ********* *** ********* and ** ********* ***** **** * clear **** ** ******. *** *******, a ***** ******* ******** **** * cash **** ********* **** *********** ***** may **** ** ** **** ** instantly ******* * ***** *** ****** to ******** *** ********* * *** level ****** **** ** ** ********* with * *****. **** ********** * ***** button ** * ** **** ******* alarm ****, * ******, ****** ***** button ** **** ********, ** **** of * ******* ******.
****** ********** ******* *** ***** ****** are:
- ******* ****** / **** **
- ********* ******
- ******** ******
- ******** ******
- **** *****
- ***** *****
Burglar ***** *****
- ****** **** **** ***** ** *****
- **** ****** ** *****
- *** ** ********
***** *************** ***** **** * ********* ****** ***** **** alarm *********. *********, *** ******* **** to * ****** **** ** ********** as * ***** ****. **** ****** a **** ** *** *** ***** from *** ****** *** **** *****, opening *** ******* *** ****. *** other ***** *** ****** **** *** moment *** ****** ** *****, *** will ** **** ***** ** ******, but *** **** *** ** ****** or ****** ** **** ***** ** necessary ****** *** ********* ******. *********, opening **** **** **** ***** ******* countdown ****** ***** **** ***** *********, allowing *** **** ** **** ** the ****** *** ***** *** ****, disarming *** ******.
**** ****** **** * ************* ***** time. ****** ***** **** **** ** be **********.
***** ******* *** **** ** ***** *** premises ***** ****** *** ***** ** *** disarming *** ***** ****** *** *** of *** ***** ** ** ********* ****** source ** ***** ******. ***** ****** be **** ***** ** ******* *** long *** ***** **, *** ********** should ******** ******** *** **** *** then ******* ******** **** *** ****.
************ ******* ** ***** *****, *** they **** ********, ** ** ********* ** ******** with, *** ***** ****. ** * keypad *** ** ** ****** *** zones, *** ****** ** *** ** a ******** ** *** *****. *** example, ** * **** ***** **** to **** ** *** **** ** a ****** ******** ****** ******** *** keypad, *** ****** ******** ****** ** set ** * ********. **** ***, there **** ** * ***** ******* walking ** ***** ** *** ****** detector *** *** ****** ******** ***** into ***** *********, *** **** ** the **** ** ***********. *********, *** ****** ******** **** go **** ***** ********* ***********.
********* ******** *** **** ****** **** ** zone **** ** * ******* *****. These ***** **** * ****** *** sound * ***** *********** ** ********* when *** ***** ** ***** *** are ******* ** *** ***** ** disarmed.
****** ********** ******* *** ******** ***** are:
24 **** *** ******** *****
********** *** ****** ** ********* ***** zones **** ******* ** *********, **** as strobes ** ******, *** ***** ***** do *** ******* * ***** ** sound.
*** **** **** ********** **** ***** zones **** ***** ** ********* **** that ********** **** ***** ***** ** zones, *** **** ****** ** *** nature ** *** ****. *** *******, an ***** **** *** **** * temperature ****** ******* ****** * ****-** freezer ** **** * ****** ****** or * ***** *******.
**** ** **** *** ******** ***** may *** ******* ************ * ****** at ***, **** ** ******. *** example, ** ***** **** ***** **** to ******* * ***** **** ******* a ****, ***** *** ** **** by ********** *** ********* ****** ** a *****. **** **** ** *********** is **** ****** **** *** **** of *** ******* **** ** *-**** compatible lightbulbs *** *-**** ******** *******.
****** ********** ******* *** ** **** *** ******** ********** ***:
- ***** *********** *******
- ************ *********** *******
- ******** *******
- ***** *******
**** **************
*** ***** ********* ******* ***** * wide ******* ** ****** *****, ******** ********** ** ****-**** *** response ** ********* *****. *** *******, a ***** ***** ***** ******* * very ********* **** ** ******** **** a ***** ******** *****.
***** ****** ** ***** *********** ***** whenever ********. *** *******, "****** **" ** less ********, *** **** **** ****** to * ***** *********, **** “******** Bathroom ******" **. ***** ********** ****** try *** ***** ** *** * first ********* ********* * **** *** **** from * ******* ******* ***** *** the ******** **** ******** ** *****, *** design *** ***** ** **** ****** as **** ** *** ********* ** ********.
Comments (13)
Buddy Carmichael
Apr 28, 2017
Joseph Hirasawa
Apr 28, 2017I Agree!
Coming from an intrusion monitoring company's perspective, this is a fantastic article.
Good job IPVM! I really appreciate that you are covering, in great detail, the area of intrusion systems, devices & practices. Keep it up!
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Apr 29, 2017Good overview of alarm systems. Only thing that i did not see was talk about zones in addressable systems. That would have been a nice addition.
Ari Erenthal
Apr 30, 2017What do you mean by 'addressable systems'? Do you mean zone doubling or?
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Apr 30, 2017By addressable i mean systems that use a continuous bus or multiple bus's with several devices along that bus that report back individual zone status. They use modules in the field to set the address of the zone.
zone doubling seems to use different resistor values to create a second zone on a conventional zone type. Ive never used zone doubling but i did watch a video on youtube.
MM
Michael Miller
Apr 30, 2017UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Apr 30, 2017Ari Erenthal
May 01, 2017Oh. Aren't those mainly used for fire alarms? Because I was going to leave that for the fire alarm guides.
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
May 01, 2017Not sure about that. Ive seen them in box stores like target, home depot. Also see them in schools, town owned buildings etc...
We see specs calling for that type of system fairly regularly.
LT
Larry Tracy
May 04, 2017Polling loops or Vplex as Honeywell calls it is commonly used on both Burglar and Fire alarms. The Vista 128 and 256 versions have this feature. There is a separate version of these.
Radionics calls the same technology Popit.
It is a very well written article. Nice job IPVM
Ml
Mendy lewis
Apr 30, 2017Also, zone doubling with 2 different resistors on same zone port/circuit
Ari Erenthal
Apr 30, 2017CP
Chris Powell
May 03, 2017I agree, this is a very clear & thorough article. Thanks!
On the question of addressable points, they are more and more common on more sophisticated fire alarm system. But, for the same reasons (multiple points on a polling loop, etc), there are some pragmatic uses. A good example is individually identifying a long line of overhead doors along an extensive loading dock. There, a single 2-conductor wire can be run, and every door fixed with an addressable point. (run a 4c line, and you can mix powered devices like motion detectors.
Check out DSC's PowerSeries or MAXSYS panels and their PC5100 add-in addressable zone expanders and AML series of addressable devices.