Short Answer
The Ciqurix CORE Video Fire Detection system is designed to be compatible with all fire alarm systems.
Rather than requiring a specific fire alarm manufacturer, CORE provides programmable alarm and fault relay outputs that can be connected directly to a Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP) or via an Input/Output (I/O) module or Zone Monitor Module where required. This flexible integration allows the system to operate alongside both new and existing fire alarm installations.
Key Takeaways
Compatible with virtually all fire alarm control panels.
No requirement to replace an existing fire alarm system.
Alarm and fault conditions are provided via programmable relay outputs.
Can connect directly to a Fire Alarm Control Panel or through compatible interface modules.
Up to eight individual detection area triggers can be configured per detector.
Outputs can be configured to identify specific protected areas and different fire conditions.
Suitable for both new installations and retrofit projects.
How Does the Ciqurix CORE System Integrate with Existing Fire Alarm Systems?
The Ciqurix CORE system has been engineered to integrate with any conventional or addressable fire alarm installation.
When a fire event is detected, the system provides configurable relay outputs that communicate alarm and fault conditions to the fire alarm system. Depending on the design of the installation, these outputs can be connected:
Directly to the Fire Alarm Control Panel.
Through an Input/Output (I/O) Module.
Via a Zone Monitor Module.
As part of a wider integrated fire protection strategy.
This approach allows the Video Fire Detection system to become part of the existing life safety infrastructure without requiring wholesale replacement of the fire alarm system.
Highly Configurable Alarm Outputs
The interface between CORE and the fire alarm system is highly configurable. Each detector can provide up to eight individual detection area triggers, while triggers can also be combined across multiple detectors. Outputs can be configured for different fire sizes or conditions, allowing functions such as pre-alarm indications to be incorporated into the overall fire detection strategy.
This flexibility is particularly important because Video Fire Detection requires a different approach to identifying the location of a fire event.
In a traditional fire detection system, the location of the device originating an alarm will usually help responders identify where the event has occurred. With Video Fire Detection, this is not necessarily the case. A single video detector can monitor a large area and will often be physically installed some distance from the area in which a fire is detected. Directing responders simply to the location of the detector would therefore provide limited useful information.
Instead, the field of view from each CORE detector can be divided into individual detection areas, or zones. Each of these areas can be assigned to a different output relay so that the fire alarm system receives information identifying the area in which the fire has actually been detected, rather than simply identifying the detector that generated the signal.
Typically, these protected areas are viewed by multiple detectors. The same fire detection zone can therefore be covered by portions of the views from several detectors, with their triggers configured so that the appropriate information is passed to the fire alarm control panel. This allows the fire alarm system to provide responders with clear and useful information about the location of the event.
The number and configuration of outputs to the fire alarm system is therefore determined by the areas being protected and the required fire response strategy, rather than simply by the number of video detectors installed.
Why Is Universal Compatibility Important?
Replacing an existing fire alarm system can significantly increase the cost and complexity of upgrading fire detection.
By designing the CORE system to work alongside virtually any fire alarm control panel, organisations can introduce Video Fire Detection technology while retaining their existing fire alarm infrastructure.
This provides several benefits:
Reduced installation costs.
Faster project delivery.
Minimal disruption to site operations.
Easier integration into existing fire protection strategies.
Greater flexibility for consultants and system designers.
Compatible with New and Existing Fire Alarm Systems
Whether designing a new facility or upgrading an existing building, the Ciqurix CORE system has been developed to integrate with a wide range of fire alarm technologies.
This makes it suitable for projects including:
Warehouses and distribution centres
Manufacturing facilities
Waste and recycling plants
Airports and transport infrastructure
Energy and utilities
Industrial processing facilities
Cold storage environments
High-bay warehouses
Designed for Engineering Flexibility
Every industrial environment is different, and every fire alarm system has its own design requirements.
The flexibility of the Ciqurix CORE platform allows engineers to integrate Video Fire Detection into existing fire protection strategies without being restricted to a single fire alarm manufacturer. This simplifies specification, supports phased upgrades and provides greater freedom when designing fire detection systems for challenging industrial environments.
The configurable relationship between detection areas, detectors and relay outputs also allows the interface with the fire alarm system to reflect the site's fire response strategy, providing meaningful location information rather than simply identifying which video detector has generated an alarm.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Ciqurix CORE system require a specific fire alarm panel?
No. The system is designed to integrate with virtually all fire alarm systems using programmable relay outputs.
Can CORE be added to an existing fire alarm system?
Yes. In most applications, CORE can be integrated with an existing fire alarm installation without replacing the control panel.
How are alarm signals transmitted?
Alarm and fault conditions are communicated using programmable relay contacts, which can be connected directly to the Fire Alarm Control Panel or through compatible interface modules.
How does CORE identify where a fire has been detected?
Rather than relying on the physical location of the video detector, its field of view can be divided into individual detection areas or zones. These can be assigned to separate outputs so that the fire alarm system receives useful information identifying the area in which the event has been detected.
Can multiple CORE detectors cover the same fire detection zone?
Yes. Detection areas can be shared across multiple detectors, allowing the same protected area to be viewed from different positions while providing the appropriate location information to the fire alarm system.
Can CORE provide different alarm levels?
CORE's configurable outputs can be used to respond to different fire sizes or conditions, allowing functions such as pre-alarm indications to form part of the overall fire detection strategy.
Is CORE suitable for retrofit projects?
Yes. The system has been designed to support both retrofit installations and new-build projects.
Can CORE integrate with addressable fire alarm systems?
Yes. Integration is typically achieved through suitable interface modules or I/O devices specified as part of the fire alarm design.