A
“Class A” Zone (Style D)
A circuit extending from and returning to a fire alarm control device or transmitter to which alarm actuating device normally open contacts are connected for alarm signal initiation. See “B” zone.
Abort
When an authorized system user manually disarms the panel after a burglary alarm occurred and before the panel’s Bell Cutoff timer expires. This is mainly used when the zone trip was accidental, such as when an armed door is opened and police or fire response is not needed. See Cancel.
Abort reports are sent before the bell cutoff timer expires, whereas cancel reports are sent afterward. DMP includes an S Message (S45) for each abort report (or S49 for cancel). Other companies commonly refer to S Messages as an Event Code, but DMP provides the area name, zone name, and user name, whereas Event Codes don’t typically provide the code definitions, which requires an operator to look it up in a customer’s area and zone lists.
Abort Report
A report sent by the panel following an alarm report to indicate the alarm has been cancelled by an authorized user and no dispatch is required. DMP panels use this feature to help reduce false alarms.
AC Noise
Electric noise of a rapidly alternating or pulsating nature. This can interfere with DMP bus in some cases.
AC Power Supply
A power unit that supplies AC power, like a generator, transformer or inverter.
Access
The ability or opportunity to enter an area or to obtain knowledge of certain information.
Access Code
A combination of ID or PIN numbers and door locations related to a defined schedule. These combinations are programmed into an access system to grant or deny access to system users.
Access Control
The regulation or restriction of persons through the entrances and exits of a defined area or premise.
Access Control Card
A card containing coded information. The card is placed in or near a card reader. The card is read and access is granted if the information from the card is valid for that specific time, day and location.
Access Keypads
A programming option that allows door access reports to be sent to a receiver. A report is sent with each door access made from selected keypads. Keypads at addresses not selected still operate the door strike relay but do not send door access reports.
Access Point
A door, gate, or other barrier through which people or vehicles can gain access to a defined area.
Account
A residence or business whose alarm system is maintained or monitored by an alarm company.
Account Number
The number that identifies all reporting systems to the monitoring center. The account number is included along with any reports the panel sends to the receiver.
Acknowledge (ACK)
The confirmation that a message or signal has been received, such as pressing a button or selecting a software command.
Action
A zone programming option that selects the action of any outputs activated by changes in the zone condition. The four action options including the following
steady
pulse (1 second on, 1 second off). Some DMP wireless LED devices display this as quick flashes.
momentary (1 second on for one time only)
follow (on when the zone is off normal, off when the zone restores)
Active Star
A network with a multi-port repeater at the center. Each device connects to the repeater. Active stars do not perform network addressing. Network packets seen on one branch of the star are seen on all branches.
Activity Report
A record of openings, closing, alarms, and other signals received from a protected premise and maintained by the monitoring center. They may also be generated from DMP products such as Remote Link, System Link, Entré and Dealer Admin for user and panel events.
Actuator
A manual or automatic switch that initiates an alarm transmission to the monitoring center when activated.
Address (Keypad Bus)
A switch setting on a keypad, zone expander, or other device that reflects its assigned position on a data bus. For example, zone expanders are addressed so that the panel is associates its onboard zones with their programmed location and characteristics held in memory.
Address (IP)
A sequence of bits used to identify devices on a network. Each network device requires a unique address. Addresses fall in two categories: physical hardware addresses and logical protocol addresses.
Addressable Device
An alarm system component with discrete identification that can have its status individually identified or used to individually control other functions.
Addressable System Smoke Detector
System smoke detectors that, in addition to providing alarm and trouble indications to a control unit, are capable of communicating a unique identification location address.
Ah
See Ampere-hour.
Air Sampling-Type Detector
A detector that consists of a piping or tubing distribution network from the detector to the area(s) that need to be protected. An aspiration fan in the detector housing draws air from the protected area back to the detector through air sampling ports, piping, or tubing. At the detector, the air is analyzed for fire products.
Alarm
A condition where one or more armed zones in the system have faulted. Almost all alarms sound some form of audible device locally, except in the cases of silent, panic, holdup, or ambush alarms.
Alarm Bell
A bell or siren installed on the protected premises that indicates an alarm condition to persons inside or nearby.
Alarm Circuit
An alarm system electrical circuit that produces or transmits an alarm signal.
Alarm Control
A device that allows an alarm system to turn on and off and provides electrical power to operate the system. Every alarm system requires an alarm control.
Alarm Indicating Device
An audible or visual signal used to signify an alarm signal, such as a bell or strobe.
Alarm Initiating Device
A device that initiates an alarm when actuated. These devices, depending on their type, can be operated manually or actuated automatically in response to smoke, flame, heat, or water flow.
Alarm Module
An add-on device to monitor a series of sensors and initiate warning devices if required.
Alarm Panel
The main controlling CPU in the alarm system where all zones, phone lines, and devices are connected.
Alarm Receiver
A device used to receive alarm events from alarm panels. Receivers are usually located and maintained at a monitoring center.
Alarm Signal
An audible or visual signal produced by the alarm panel that indicates the existence of an alarm condition. The alarm signal may be a bell, siren, or visual device (local alarm), or it may be a message transmitted to a monitoring center alarm company on leased telephone lines, the Internet, or the switched network. Every alarm system requires an alarm signal.
Used to refer to the actual signal sent to an alarm receiver.
Alarm Silence
A keypad menu function that allows authorized users to silence alarm bells or sirens during an alarm condition on the system. Users can also enter their user code and press the command key directly from the status list. This is an exclusive function of DMP panels that permits silencing alarm bells without disarming the system.
Alarm System
A combination of compatible initiating devices, control panels, and notification appliances designed and installed to produce an alarm signal in the event of emergencies.
Alarm Verification
A feature of automatic fire detection and alarm systems to reduce unwanted alarms where automatic smoke detectors must report alarm conditions for a minimum period of time or confirm alarm conditions within a given period of time after being reset, to be accepted as a valid alarm initiation signal.
When a valid burglar alarm has occurred and been manually verified by the user. The alarm system also transmits a VERIFY message to the monitoring center. DMP panels use this feature to help reduce false alarms.
AlarmVision®
A patent-pending technology that allows cameras to communicate with the control panel and trigger alarms and actions, the same way an intrusion sensor would.
All/Perimeter
A system arming type that allows the system to be configured into two areas: a perimeter and an interior. Exterior doors and windows are assigned to the perimeter, while inside devices, such as PIRs and doors, are assigned to the interior area.
Alphanumeric
Used to describe a combination of letters and numbers.
Alternating Current (AC)
An electric current that reverses its direction regularly and continually. The voltage alternates its polarity and current flow direction from negative to positive. AC current flows back and forth in the conductor and is expressed in cycles per second or Hertz (Hz).
Ambient Temperature
The temperature of the air immediately surrounding a device or object.
Ambush
A silent, invisible alarm signal sent to the monitoring center that indicates a user is being forced to disarm the system. DMP panels use a unique ambush code number to prevent false alarms.
Ambush (Duress) Code
A special code entered to indicate a duress condition that directly threatens the user. The ambush signal is sent when ambush is programmed as YES in the panel and a code for user number one is entered at the keypad. This code does not activate signaling devices at the premises. DMP panels use this feature to help reduce false alarms.
Ambush Output
A panel output that is programmed to activate any time an ambush code is entered at a keypad. The output is turned off through the Sensor Reset option in the User Menu. This output is used to lock down areas, activate strobes, or more.
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
A federation of trade, technical, professional organizations, government agencies, and consumer groups that coordinates standards development, publishes standards, and operates a voluntary certification program. ANSI/SIA CP-01-2000 Control Panel False Alarm Standard.
American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII)
A commonly used coding scheme that uses eight bits of data to encode alphanumeric and special control characters. This is common to most computer platforms.
American Wire Gauge (AWG)
The U.S. standard for specifying the diameter of a wire conductor. The larger the number, the smaller the wire.
Ampere (Amp)
The unit of measurement for the rate of electrical current flow, characterized by the symbols I (in Ohm’s law formulas) or A. One Amp is the current flowing through one ohm of resistance at one volt potential.
Ampere-hour (Ah)
A measurement of a battery capacity. One Amp of current flowing for one hour equals one Ampere-hour.
Amplitude
The magnitude of an electrical signal. Measured by subtracting an electrical signal minimum voltage from its maximum voltage.
Analog
A method of data transmission where the data is continually modulated to represent transmitted information.
Analog System Smoke or Heat Detectors
A system detector that returns many levels of information to the control panel. Alarm decisions are made by the panel, not the detector.
Annunciator
A keypad or other lighted or audible display at the protected premise that indicates system, zones, and armed status conditions.
Anti-Passback
A programming option that requires a user to properly exit (egress) an area they have previously accessed. If they fail to exit through the proper card reader location, they are not granted access on their next attempt. See Egress.
Any Bypass
A panel programming feature that allows low-level users to bypass zones during the arming sequence without having to enter a higher level user code.
Area
Part of a protected premise, such as the front office, that is programmed to operate separately from the other parts of the premises. Areas can have their own keypads, zones, account numbers, and arming and disarming schedules.
Area Arming
A panel operation mode that provides for one or more individual areas to be individually armed and disarmed.
Area Schedules
A programming option that allows the user to assign an individual schedule to each area within the system. This allows each area to open and close on independent schedules. When area schedules are turned off, all areas follow the same schedule.
Arm
To turn on the protection in a protected premise.
Armed
A condition that one or more areas can be placed in. When an area is armed, a change in the state of zones in the area causes the panel to activate an alarm. Fire, panic , and other 24-hour zones are considered always armed.
Armed Output
A programming option that allows an output to activate when an area arms.
Armed Rings
The number of rings the panel counts before answering the phone line when all system areas are armed.
Arming Zone (AR)
A DMP zone type that allows the user to use keyswitches to arm and disarm areas within a system. This is done by entering the area number(s) to be controlled into the arming zone programming area section.
Asynchronous Communication
A data transmission mode that transmits individual characters or bytes, one at a time, along with individual start and stop bits.
Audible Alarm Device
A noisemaking device, such as a siren, bell, or horn, used to indicate a local alarm.
Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)
The organization, office, or individual responsible for approving equipment, an installation, or a procedure. The AHJ may be a federal, state, local, or other regional department or individual, such as a fire chief, fire marshal, chief of a fire prevention bureau, labor department, health department, building official, electrical inspector, or other individual who has statutory authority. For insurance purposes, the AHJ may be an insurance inspection department, rating bureau, or other insurance company representative.
Authority Level
A level of access to the system and its functions that is assigned to each user code or user profile. Each area requires at least one user with Master authority to add, change, or delete other users.
Auto Arm
To automatically turn on the burglary protection in one or more areas through the use of schedules. These schedules allow the user to set the time of day for the arming to occur. If you are using the automatic arming feature, along Closing Check, the arming does not take place until the expiration of a 10-minute closing check delay. See Closing Check.
If the area is disarmed outside of any schedule, the Closing Check sequence occurs one hour after the area is disarmed. At arming, faulted zones are handled according to the bypass option selected. If a closing report is sent to the monitoring center, the user number is indicated as SCH (Schedule) on the receiver.
Auto Disarm
To automatically turn off the burglary protection in one or more areas through the use of schedules. These schedules allow the user to set the time of day for the disarming to occur. If an opening report is sent to the monitoring center at disarming, the user number is indicated as SCH (Schedule) on the receiver.
Automatic Fire Alarm System
A system of controls, initiating device, and alarm signals where all or some of the initiating circuits are activated by automatic devices, such as smoke detectors. This refers to fire alarm systems that electronically detect smoke or abrupt temperature changes associated with a developing fire. Early detection and reporting to a monitoring center allow fire authorities to respond quickly and minimize damage.
Automatic Recall Test
A signal generated by the panel that is sent to the monitoring center. This signal indicates that the panel communicator is working properly and is able to send signals to the monitoring center receiver.
Automation Software
Monitoring center software that receives signals from an alarm receiver and displays alarms on a screen to allow the proper authorities to be dispatched.
Auxiliary Fire Alarm System
A connection to the municipal fire alarm system to transmit a fire alarm to the municipal communications center. Fire alarms from an auxiliary alarm system are received at the municipal communications center on the same equipment and by the same alerting methods as alarms transmitted by municipal fire alarm boxes located on streets.
Auxiliary Zone (A1, A2)
Zone type(s) similar to a Night zone typically used to protect restricted areas within a protected premises.
Average Ambient Sound Level
Sound pressure level measured over a 24-hour period.
Away
A panel arming option where all areas of the system are armed. This option is used when the user leaves the premises and no person is left inside.