ZP3 Fire Control Panel User Guide
Day/night capability
Day/Night control provides separate programmes for day and night modes. Different sensor
sensitivity, alarm selection, alarm evaluation delays, and fire brigade response can be configured.
Configuration
An input/output programming facility allows any "cause-and-effect" requirement to be
configured. Each panel can have up to 896 physical outputs software linked to as many as 2000
inputs in any arrangement. All functions are 100% field programmable. This programming can be
done directly using the ZP3 panel, or via a software configuration package, i.e. Planner. Flash
memory retains all programming and data, even if the panel is powered-down.
Communication and integration
Multiple communication capability allows the panel to connect to printers, colour graphic
computers, building management systems, remote mimics and text displays, radio pagers, and
other systems. Simple integration into third-party systems is possible.
Peer-to-peer networking
The ZP3 peer-to-peer network enables up to 255 standalone systems (verified up to 100 panels
per system) to be integrated to provide system-wide alarm reporting, co-ordinated evacuation,
cause-and-effect functionality, and control, for large systems and multi-building sites. The
maximum number of panels supported by each software version is listed in Table 1.
Table 1: Maximum panels supported
Panel software
Maxiumum panels
Version 1
32
Version 2
64
Version 3
255
Principle of operation
Sensing devices, e.g. heat and smoke detectors, manual call points, etc. are grouped into zones,
and programmed with text-labels to indicate their location.
The control panel continually checks every fire and smoke sensor, callpoint, and other devices,
attached to the ZP-loop, every 2 seconds. The precision data collected is analyzed to indicate the
amount of smoke, heat and combustion products in the proximity of devices. The active scanning
process by the ZP3 panel constantly updates this information. This provides an accurate picture
of the area being monitored by the sensors, enabling the software to make intelligent decisions
about the presence or not of fire, smoke, or invisible products-of-combustion.
After making a decision that a fire exists, the ZP3 system initiates an alarm at the control panel,
displays the exact location by means of illuminated LED's and LCD text-display, and illuminates
the LED on the initiating sensors or call points. Depending upon how the particular system has
been configured, it can also issue pre-programmed commands to operate area sounders, call the
fire brigade, activate building controls such as air-conditioning shutdown, and other actions. In
addition it commands remote display panels to display the location and status of alarms, and to
carry out programmed control functions. A very large system consists of several panels
communicating with each other. These panels can be programmed to display alarms from other
panels/areas, and to automatically carry out commands issued by other panels.
Revision 11 (05/01/2010)
Page 5
