B
“Class B” Zone (Style A)
A circuit extending from a fire alarm control device or transmitter where initiating or notification devices are connected. The zone is terminated with an End-of-Line (EOL) supervision resistor.
Back Arrow Key
A keypad function key used to back up one step in the panel Programmer or User Menu. When an error is made while entering information, press the Back Arrow key once to erase the last character entered.
Backbone Network
A network topology where devices connect to a single cable. Thickwire Ethernet networks are commonly used as backbone networks.
Backup
Used in programming for receiver one and receiver two reporting. Choosing YES for this option means that the receiver is contacted by the panel in the event the primary receiver cannot be reached.
Backup Battery
A battery used as a secondary power source in the event of normal AC power failure, normally housed in the alarm panel enclosure.
Bank, Safe, & Vault
An area operating characteristic that prevents disarming, schedule changes, and time or date changes during armed periods. This feature is typically used on bank vaults but can also be used for restricted access storage, gun rooms, or other areas where the user wants an extra level of protection.
Bandwidth
The amount of data that can be transmitted in a fixed amount of time. For digital devices, the bandwidth is usually expressed in bits per second (bps) or bytes per second. For analog devices, the bandwidth is expressed in cycles per second or Hertz (Hz).
Barrier
A door, gate, turnstile, or similar device that a system controls access to using readers and (if equipped to do so) monitors entry or exit activity through a reader-related monitor point.
Baseband
A band of frequencies and related equipment used to carry signals in an unmodulated form.
Battery
A DC voltage source used to compensate for loss of AC power. Certain UL applications have specific standby battery requirements.
Battery Standby
A means of automatically switching over to stored battery power during local primary power failure.
Baud Rate
The speed at which information can be transferred through a COM (serial) port. Standard baud rates range from 300, 1200, 2400, 4800, 5600, 9600, or 19200 baud.
Bell
An alarm bell installed on the protected premises that gives indication of an alarm condition to persons inside or nearby.
Bell Action
An output option that defines the following alarm Bell Output actions:
None: no bell action for an alarm condition on the zone.
Pulse: a repeating 1 second on, 1 second off output for the duration of the programmed Bell Cutoff time. See Bell Cutoff.
Steady: a steady, uninterrupted Bell Output for the duration of the programmed Bell Cutoff time.
Temporal Code (Code 3): A repeating audible 0.5 second on, 0.5 second off (three times) alarm followed by 2.5 seconds off. The temporal code lasts for the duration of the programmed Bell Cutoff time. For wireless LED devices, the LED flashes to provide a visual repeating alarm.
Bell Cutoff
The length of time the alarm bell or siren is programmed to ring after an alarm. DMP panels allow a programmable length of time in one-minute increments. Entering 0 (zero) allows the Bell Output to run continuously. Consult the user local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) for restrictions.
Bi-Metallic Heat Detector
A device that uses a sensing element composed of two metals with different thermal expansion coefficients so they deflect in one direction when heated and in the opposite direction when cooled.
Binary Coded Decimal (BCD)
See Rotary Switches.
Bits Per Second (bps)
A standard measure of data transmission speeds. A kilobit per second (Kbps) is one thousand bits per second. A megabit per second (Mbps) is one million bits per second.
Breakglass Station
A fire alarm box in where it is necessary to break a special element in order to operate the box.
Bridge
A network device used to connect two networks at the data link layer. Bridges are essentially unaware of the logical protocol address, although some bridges can block protocols by filtering their type codes or packet types.
Broadband
A kind of network transmission that splits the bandwidth of a communications medium to support multiple communication channels. This technique is used by cable television.
Brouter
A network device that routes the routable protocols and bridges the non-routable protocols. It essentially merges the functionality of bridges and routers.
Brownout
Low-line voltage that can cause misoperation of and possible damage to equipment.
Buffer
Temporary storage area, usually in RAM. The purpose of most buffers is to act as a holding area, enabling the CPU to manipulate data before transferring it to a device.
To move data into a temporary storage area.
Burglar Alarm System
An alarm system for detecting an unlawful structure entry.
Burglary Output
A panel output that is activated any time a burglary type zone is placed into alarm. The output turns off when the user disarms the area where the alarm occurred.
Bus
Wires that connect the devices of an alarm system. DMP bus wires include both keypad bus and LX-Bus wires. Use 18 to 22 AWG, unshielded, 4-conductor wire on the DMP bus.
Bus Topology
The shape of the Local Area Network (LAN). All devices are connected to a central cable, called the bus or backbone. Bus networks are relatively inexpensive and easy to install for small networks. Ethernet systems use a bus topology.
Butterfly Valve
A valve with a built-in tamper switch typically installed on a sprinkler system riser to allow the water to be shut off to only one section of the system.
Bypass
A manual zone shunt by a user that allows the panel to ignore any activity on the zone until it is reset back into the system. A user can bypass a zone from the User Menu any time the zone is not armed.
A user can bypass a zone while arming the system, which is helpful when a user wants to keep a door or window open or when a device is in need of service. See Swinger Bypass.
Bypass Reports
A programming option that allows zone bypasses, resets, and force arm reports to be sent to a receiver.