Mircom FA-300 Series LED Fire Alarm Control Panel User Guide
- June 9, 2024
- Mircom
Table of Contents
Mircom FA-300 Series LED Fire Alarm Control Panel
Introduction
About this Manual
This user’s guide provides information on the main indicators and controls
of the FA-300 Fire Alarm Control Panel. Specifically, with this manual you
will learn about what the LEDs indicate and what the buttons on the main
display do.
Refer to the Glossary on page 17 for an explanation of commonly used terms in
this manual.
Technical Support
For all technical support inquiries, please contact Mircom’s Technical
Support Department between 8 A.M. and 5 P.M. (EDT) Monday through Friday,
excluding holidays.
Local Phone: 905-695-3535 Toll-Free
Phone: 1-888-449-3535
Local Fax: 905-660-4113 Toll-Free Fax:
1-888-660-4113
Email: techsupport@mircom.com
Main Display
Refer to the diagram below for the LED indicators and control buttons locations.
The main display panel on the main fire alarm control board consists of:
- 18 common LED indicators (top half of display)
- 8 common buttons (top half of display)
- Up to 12 Initiating circuit alarm LEDs and 12 initiating circuit trouble LED indicators
- 4 indicating circuit LEDs (labeled NAC – Notifying Appliance Circuit)
- Up to 16 disconnect buttons (12 for initiating circuit and 4 for indicating circuits)
LED indicators may be amber, red, or green, and may illuminate continuously (steady), or at one of two flash rates:
- Fast flash (supervisory): 120 flashes per minute
- Trouble flash (trouble): 20 flashes per minute
Paper labels for buttons and indicators
Each display is supplied with laser printable labels. These labels slide into
the plastic label templates on the panel.The label paper for the main display
includes English and French versions (Mircom # NP-2005).
The Buzzer and LED Indicators
Common LED Indicators
-
Buzzer
The buzzer sounds if there is a fire alarm, a supervisory alarm, or a trouble in the fire alarm system. It turns off if the condition causing the buzzer to sound goes away or if the ALM/SUP/TBL/BLDG AUDIBLE SIL (buzzer silence) button is pressed. -
A.C. ON LED
The green A.C. ON LED illuminates steadily as long as the main power is above minimum level. The indicator turns off when the level falls below the minimum level and the panel switches to standby (battery) power. -
COMMON ALARM LED
The red COMMON ALARM LED will illuminate steadily whenever there is a fire alarm. If the panel is set for two stage operation, pressing the red GENERAL ALARM button will also turn on the COMMON ALARM LED. This LED will remain on until the system is reset. -
COMMON SUPERVISORY LED
The amber COMMON SUPERVISORY LED illuminates at the fast flash rate when there is a supervisory alarm in the fire alarm system. For non-latching supervisory alarms, the COMMON SUPERVISORY LED will turn off when the condition causing the alarm goes away. For latching supervisory alarms, this LED remains on until the panel is reset. -
COMMON TROUBLE LED
The amber COMMON TROUBLE LED flashes at the trouble flash rate when the panel detects any trouble condition. For non-latching trouble conditions, the COMMON TROUBLE LED will turns off when the condition causing the alarm goes away. For latching trouble conditions, this LED remains on until the panel is reset. -
REMOTE TROUBLE LED
The amber REMOTE TROUBLE LED flashes at the trouble flash rate if the panel detects a trouble at the City Tie or UDACT module, communication trouble with a remote annunciator, or a local trouble at a remote annunciator. -
FIRE DRILL LED
The amber FIRE DRILL LED illuminates steadily after you press the FIRE DRILL button. This LED remains on until you press the FIRE DRILL button again. -
AUTOMATIC ALARM SIGNAL CANCEL LED
If the panel is configured as a two-stage system, the AUTOMATIC ALARM SIGNAL CANCEL LED illuminates steadily when the Alarm timer is canceled by the activation of the AUTOMATIC ALARM SIGNAL CANCEL or SIGNAL SILENCE buttons. The LED goes out when the SYSTEM RESET button is pressed.
This LED can be configured to flash amber at the fast rate while the Auto General Alarm timer is running. If the Auto General Alarm timer times out and puts the panel into General Alarm, the LED turns off.
Note: If this LED is configured to flash, then the panel is outside of UL/ULC certification acceptability. The authority having jurisdiction must approve this selection.
If the panel is not configured as a two-stage system, this LED is ALM/SUP/TBL/BLDG AUDIBLE SIL (buzzer silence). It flashes at the slow rate when the ALM/SUP/TBL/BLDG AUDIBLE SIL button is pressed. -
GENERAL ALARM LED
The red GENERAL ALARM LED illuminates steadily when the GENERAL ALARM button is pressed, a General Alarm Initiating circuit is activated, or the Auto General Alarm timer times out. Once the GENERAL ALARM LED has turned on, it will stay active until the panel is reset. -
WALK TEST LED
The amber WALK TEST LED illuminates steadily to indicate that the panel is in walk test mode. If the panel is left in this mode for over an hour with no operator activity, the panel will return to normal and the WALK TEST LED will turn off. -
CPU FAULT LED
The CPU FAULT LED flashes amber at the trouble flash rate to indicate a microprocessor failure on the main board. -
AUXILIARY DISCONNECT LED
The amber AUXILIARY DISCONNECT LED flashes at the trouble rate when the AUXILIARY DISCONNECT button is pressed. It turns off when the AUXILIARY DISCONNECT button is pressed a second time. When on, the AUXILIARY DISCONNECT LED signifies that auxiliary alarm relay and relay adder modules (if disconnect is enabled) are not activated. If installed and enabled, the city tie module and the smart relay annunciator relays are also inactive. -
SIGNAL SILENCE LED
The SIGNAL SILENCE LED flashes amber at the trouble rate when indicating circuits are silenced either by the SIGNAL SILENCE button or by the Auto Signal Silence timer. It turns off when the signals are re-sounded by a subsequent alarm or when the panel is reset. -
BATTERY TROUBLE LED
The amber BATTERY TROUBLE LED flashes at the trouble rate when the battery is either low or disconnected. -
GROUND FAULT LED
The amber GROUND FAULT LED flashes at the trouble rate when the ground fault detector detects a ground fault on any field wiring. It turns off when the ground fault is cleared.
Indicating Circuit Indicators
The panel has 1 indicator for each of the 12 initiating circuits (shown in
Figure 1). Each indicator has a button and 2 LEDs, shown in Figure 2.
The Circuit Disconnect Button is described in 5.0 Circuit (Zone) Disconnect
Buttons on page 16. The LEDs are described below.
Figure 2 Alarm Circuit Indicator
Alarm Circuit Indicators
This operation applies to Initiating Circuits configured as Verified Alarm,
Non-Verified Alarm, Water flow Alarm, Sprinkler Alarm, or General Alarm
Circuits. Table 1 summarizes the indications at different events:
Table 1 Alarm Circuit Indicators
| Event | Circuit Status LED | Configuration |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit in Alarm | Steady (red) |
Pre-alarm
| ****
Fast flash rate (red)
| Verified Alarm
Sprinkler Alarm Water flow Alarm
Activated circuit reconnected (when you
press the Disconnect button a second time)
| Fast flash rate (red) for 5
seconds to indicate a pending alarm
|
Event| Circuit Trouble LED| Configuration
Open circuit (Class B)| Flashes at the trouble rate (amber)| ****
Verified Alarm
Non-Verified Alarm Water flow Alarm Sprinkler Alarm General Alarm
Open circuit or Style D/Class A trouble| Flashes at the trouble rate (amber)
Disconnected (Style D/Class A)| Flashes at the trouble rate (amber)
Circuit in Alarm| OFF
Supervisory Circuit Indicators
This operation applies to initiating circuits configured as latching or
non-latching supervisory circuits. The following table summarizes the
indications in response to different events:
Table 2 Supervisory Circuit Indicators
Event Circuit Status LED Configuration
Circuit in Alarm| Steady (amber)| Latching Sup.
Non-Latching Sup.
Activated circuit reconnected
| Fast flash rate (red) for 5
seconds to indicate a pending alarm
|
Event| Circuit Trouble LED| Configuration
Open circuit (Class B)| Flashes at the trouble rate (amber)| ****
Latching Sup.
Non-Latching Sup.
Open circuit or Style D/Class A trouble| Flashes at the trouble rate (amber)
Disconnected (Style D/Class A)| Flashes at the trouble rate (amber)
Circuit in Alarm| OFF
Property and Building Safety Circuit Indicators
This operation applies to initiating circuits configured as property and
building safety circuits. The following table summarizes the indications in
response to different events:
Table 3 Property and Building Safety Circuit Indicators
Event Circuit Status LED Configuration
Circuit Active| Steady (amber)| ****
Property and Building Safety
Activated circuit reconnected
| Fast flash rate (red) for 5
seconds to indicate a pending alarm
Event| Circuit Trouble LED| Configuration
Open circuit (Class B)| Flashes at the trouble rate (amber)| ****
Property and Building Safety
Open circuit or Style D/Class A trouble| Flashes at the trouble rate (amber)
Disconnected (Style D/Class A)| Flashes at the trouble rate (amber)
Circuit Active| OFF
Trouble-only Circuit Indicators
This operation applies to initiating circuits configured as Trouble-Only
Circuits. The following table summarizes the indications in response to
different events:
Table 4 Trouble-Only Circuit Indicators
Event Circuit Trouble LED Configuration
Open circuit (Class B)
| Flashes at the trouble rate (amber)| ****
Trouble Only
Open circuit or Style D/Class A trouble
| Flashes at the trouble rate (amber)
Disconnected (Style D/Class A)
| Flashes at the trouble rate (amber)
Short Circuit
| Flashes at the trouble rate (amber)
Signal Circuit Indicators
This operation applies to indicating circuits of any type. The Circuit
Trouble Indicator flashes amber at the Trouble Rate to indicate short-circuit
or open-circuit trouble, or if the circuit is Disconnected.
Table 5 Signal Circuit Indicators
| Event | Circuit Trouble LED | Configuration |
|---|---|---|
| Open circuit | Flashes at the trouble rate (amber) | **** |
Signal
Short Circuit| Flashes at the trouble rate (amber)
Disconnected| Flashes at the trouble rate (amber)
Main Display Buttons
SYSTEM RESET Button
The SYSTEM RESET button resets the fire alarm control panel and all
circuits.
SIGNAL SILENCE Button
Pressing the SIGNAL SILENCE button when the panel is in alarm deactivates
any silenceable signal devices in the fire alarm system. Non-Silenceable
signal devices are unaffected. If you press the SIGNAL SILENCE button a second
time, or if there is a subsequent alarm, the signals will re-sound. If the
panel has been configured with a Signal Silence Inhibit timer, this button
will not work until the timer times out. This button also does not work if you
have pressed the FIRE DRILL button.
In a two-stage system, the SIGNAL SILENCE button silences the stage 1 and
stage 2 alarms.
FIRE DRILL Button
Pressing the FIRE DRILL button will simulate a fire alarm by activating the
fire alarm signals without transmitting an alarm to the central station. To
cancel the fire drill, press the button again. If the fire alarm system goes
into a real alarm while you are performing a fire drill, this button will not
turn off the signals or activate any programmed relays.
AUTOMATIC ALARM SIGNAL CANCEL Button (or ALM/SUP/ TBL/BLDG
AUDIBLE SIL button for single stage system)
If the Panel is configured as a two-stage system, pressing the AUTOMATIC
ALARM SIGNAL CANCEL button while the Auto General Alarm timer is running
(there is an alarm in the panel, but it is still in the first stage), cancels
the timer and illuminates the amber AUTOMATIC ALARM SIGNAL CANCEL LED
steadily, thereby acknowledging the alarm.
If the Panel is not configured as a two-stage system, this button becomes
ALM/SUP/TBL/BLDG AUDIBLE SIL (buzzer silence). Press ALM/SUP/TBL/BLDG AUDIBLE
SIL to silence the buzzer.
GENERAL ALARM Button
Press the GENERAL ALARM button to immediately send the panel into General
Alarm or total evacuation. It also re-activates the signals if they have been
silenced during General Alarm. The General Alarm condition remains active
until the SYSTEM RESET button is pressed.
AUXILIARY DISCONNECT Button
Pressing the AUXILIARY DISCONNECT button activates the auxiliary disconnect
function. Pressing the button again de-activates this function.
LAMP TEST Button
Pressing and holding the LAMP TEST button causes all front panel LEDs to
illuminate and sounds the buzzer. Use this button to test that all LEDs in the
main display are working. If you hold the LAMP TEST button for more than ten
seconds, the COMMON TROUBLE LED will illuminate.
ALM/SUP/TBL/BLDG AUDIBLE SIL Button (or MENU for single stage
systems)
If the Panel is configured as a two-stage system, press the
ALM/SUP/TBL/BLDG AUDIBLE SIL (buzzer silence) button to silence the buzzer.
The buzzer resounds if there is a subsequent event. Pressing the button when
the buzzer is not sounding has no effect.
If the Panel is configured as a single stage system, press the MENU button to
select the command menu when a CFG-300 Service Tool with LCD is connected.
Otherwise, this button has no effect.
Circuit (Zone) Disconnect Buttons
There are circuit (zone) disconnect buttons for all initiating and indicating circuits on the fire alarm control panel. These buttons are located beside their respective indicating LEDs.
Pressing a circuit disconnect button disconnects that circuit from the system and turns on its trouble indicator. While a circuit is disconnected, the panel will ignore all changes in the status (alarms and troubles) of that circuit. Circuit disconnect buttons are toggle switches; therefore, pressing an activated button a second time will reconnect the circuit.
Disconnecting an active latching initiating circuit such as alarms, water-flow alarm, sprinkler alarm, general alarm, and latching supervisory does not affect its status until the panel is reset. Disconnecting active non-latching initiating circuits including non-latching supervisory and trouble-only causes them to behave as if the alarm situation has disappeared. Disconnecting an active indicating circuit immediately deactivates the circuit.
When an initiating circuit disconnect button is pressed a second time, the panel checks the state of the circuit. If the circuit is active and will cause a false alarm, the Status LED flashes for ten seconds at the fast flash rate (red for alarm or amber for supervisory) without processing the input. If the circuit is not re-disconnected by then, it will be processed as a new input.
Glossary
Alarm Condition
Occurs when devices such as detectors, pull stations, or sprinklers are
activated. In a single stage system, this condition will activate all
signalling devices throughout the building. In a two stage system, this
condition will activate an alert signal and the General Alarm timer.
Circuits
Refers to an actual electrical interface and can be classified as
initiating (detection), indicating (signal), or relay. The terms “circuit” and
“zone” are often used interchangeably in the fire alarm industry.
Fast Flash Rate
120 flashes per minute is the rate at which an LED will flash to indicate a
supervisory alarm.
General Alarm Timer
In a two stage system, the general alarm timer begins timing when the panel
is in the alert stage. When the general alarm timer times out, the system will
go into a general alarm, where all signals in the building will sound.
Indicating Circuit
A circuit in a fire alarm system that is connected to audible or visual
signalling devices.
Initiating Circuit
A circuit in a fire alarm system that is connected to detectors, pull
stations, or sprinkler flow switches.
Latching Circuit
A circuit that, when activated, will cause a condition on the panel that
cannot be cleared until the panel is reset.
LED
The light-emitting diodes (LEDs) of the FA-300 ar colored either amber,
red, or green. When lit, LEDs provide information regarding the status of the
panel.
Property and Building Safety Condition
Occurs when dampers open or close, when supply and return fans are running,
etc.
Non-latching Circuit
A circuit that, when activated, will cause a condition on the panel that
will be cleared once the circuit is deactivated. This term is used to describe
supervisory and trouble circuits.
Non-Silenceable Circuit
A signal circuit that cannot be silenced by pressing the Signal Silence
button.
Relay Circuit
A circuit in a fire alarm system that connects relay devices (e.g. fan damper
relays, etc).
Remote Annunciator
A device that visually indicates, either by LCD or LEDs, the floor or zone
where the alarm originated.
Single Stage System
A type of fire alarm system that immediately sounds all the signals
throughout the building when an alarm is detected in any part of the system.
Silenceable Circuit
A signal circuit that can be silenced by pressing the Signal Silence
button.
Supervisory Condition
Occurs when the system detects open circuits, short circuits, and grounds.
A supervisory condition is one that would interfere with the operation of the
fire alarm system.
Trouble Condition
Occurs when an abnormal condition such as a problem in the wiring, battery
or power circuits exists in the fire alarm system.
Trouble Flash Rate
20 flashes per minute is the rate at which an LED will flash to indicate a
trouble condition.
Two Stage System
A type of fire alarm system that causes an alert signal to sound when an
alarm is detected in any part of the system. An alert signal advises
designated persons of a fire emergency. If the alert signal is not
acknowledged within five minutes of its initiation, an alarm signal will
automatically sound throughout the building.
Walk Test
A test performed by a technician to ensure that each detection device is
connected to the panel and working properly.
Zones
A fire alarm protected area that consists of at least one circuit. The
terms “circuit” and “zone” are often used interchangeably in the fire alarm
industry.
© Mircom 2016
Printed in Canada
Subject to change without prior notice
www.mircomgroup.com
References
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