Control Panels Control Panels and Centers and Centers

In the residential installation, these Control Panels and Centers are used to activate and deactivate a
detector circuit powered by standard household power (120 V), with a backup battery power source to
take over in the case of a power outage.

 Many of the units have lights that indicate when the circuit is on and they may have a test
alarm button so that the entire system can be tested.
 It includes an outside key-operated switch and an inside switch at the door. This type of
control panel will sound the alarm if any attempt is made to disconnect the outside wall
plate.
 A push-button interior alarm switch is installed when the outside control panel is used.
One inside alarm switch may be installed for the entire system, or several may be
installed to operate individual doors and windows.

 A control panel with a time-delay exit and entry feature -- This control delays the
operation of the system, allowing the occupant to leave or re-enter the building without
setting off the alarm.

In commercial installations, the main control panel performs more complex functions. It consists of a
keypad, video console, backup battery, and transformer. Remote sensing devices are connected to the
main panel. The system typically includes CCTV cameras and monitors.

Alarms

The alarm set off by the various systems may be a bell inside and/or outside the building, a bell inside and
a horn outside, a horn inside and/or outside, or a horn with a light (beacon). The alarm system can be
connected directly to the fire or police station in many locales.

The best arrangement of an alarm system is to have an inside bell or horn with an exterior horn and a
light. The more noise the systems make, the more likely it is that neighbors will hear it and call the police
—and the more likely it is that whoever breaks in will leave without taking anything.
Electronic Access Control Systems

An electronic access control system is usually used by large companies to control employee entrance by
identifying an authorized individual and allowing that person access to a restricted area. Access control
can deny an unauthorized employee or outsider access to a restricted building or space.

 This allows management to increase employee productivity by preventing unrestricted traffic to

different building areas and tracking employees’ movement.

These are the Types of electronic access control methods

Cardkey - A commonly used access control method that requires the insertion of a coded electronic
(similar to an encoded credit card) into a wall-mounted receptacle that decodes the key and activates
the door lock only for the proper key.

Keypad - A wall or door-mounted keypad that allows the employee to access after the individual has
properly entered the keypad code. These control devices can operate independently or be connected to
a central control panel.

Photo identification - requires the employee to punch a coded number on a keyboard. Within
seconds, a picture of the person who is assigned that code, is flashed on the screen for the guard to
check. It operates by the same principle as the instant replay technique used on television and uses the
same equipment.

Biometric identification – the latest technology which is an automatic assessment and recognition of
a unique body feature (e.g., fingerprint, eye, and face recognition) or personal action (e.g., voice
recognition).

Security Personnel

 Security guards are personnel that provides security in many buildings by serving as a physical
presence that tends to deter crime and improper activities.
 Guards are positioned at strategic points in the facility so they have an overlapping view of
monitoring activities. They might sit at a control desk near the main entrance of the building and
monitor or control access.
 The central console of surveillance equipment might be used to assist the guard in monitoring
events.
 Guards might also be used for occupant or vehicular traffic control in emergencies.

Emergency Power Systems

Emergency power - is electricity that is generated locally on a limited basis to supply electricity to critical
devices during a general power outage.
- Emergency power can be provided by a backup battery system or emergency standby generator system.
Typically only small devices such as emergency lighting and alarm and communication panels operate on
battery backup systems.

2 Major parts of the power system

1. a generator - produces electricity

2. engine - drives the generator

3.

An automatic transfer switch (ATS) – is a large system that monitors utility power from the utility line.
When utility power fails, the backup system will start within 15 to 30 s and automatically transfers to
generator power. Once utility power returns, the ATS monitors that the power is stable and transfers back
to utility power when it is acceptable.

Emergency generators are designed to produce either single- or three-phase power:

 Three-phase generators produce 120/208 or 277/480 V

 Single-phase generators are 120 or 120/240 V.

Emergency Lighting

Emergency lights enable building occupants to safely escape the building in the event of a power failure.
Equipped with backup batteries, these lights are capable of powering exit and emergency lights for more
than an hour. Emergency lighting is a critical element of a safety system in the event of a power failure.
Emergency illumination is typically required in all buildings where the existing system serves an
occupant load of 100 or more.

Emergency Action Planning

Emergencies and other threats to life and property can be caused by both human-made and natural events

They can occur rapidly and without warning. Emergency plans and procedures must be established to
protect building occupants and employees from serious injury or loss of life and property from further
damage in the event of an actual or potential major disaster.

Building emergency action (BEA) plan

- provides for immediate, positive, and orderly action to safeguard life and property in the event
of any emergency or disaster (except enemy attack).

- The BEA plan should address emergencies that the employer may reasonably expect in the
workplace.

- It establishes policies, procedures, and an organizational structure for response to emergencies

and identifies the roles played by various personnel.

BEA plan consists of:

Emergency management team

- It is formed to address ongoing emergency planning and coordination efforts, including issues
regarding road closings, access to buildings, and emergency evacuation procedures, and provides
updated security information to employees

- During an emergency, the designated leader of this team puts into service immediate actions and
ensures that response efforts are coordinated with the various groups responsible for public and
employee safety. This team directs emergency actions from the

Emergency operations center

- a designated central communication room.

An Incident response team

Medical, firefighting, and/or hazardous material handling personnel respond to the incident and
then report to the emergency operations center, where the emergency management team takes
further action.

Building evacuation plan

- a central part of the BEA plan that ensures orderly evacuation of building occupants by
establishing emergency escape procedures and escape route assignments.

- A decision to evacuate is made by the designated leader of the emergency management team
based typically on the worst-case scenario of the incident.

Consideration for evacuation is given to the specific threat (e.g., fire, bomb threat, explosion,
hazardous material incident, and so on), its extenuating circumstances, and the recommendation
of local governmental officials.

Typically, every building or building area (in large buildings) has an

Evacuation team

- to assist in emergency evacuations.

- Members of the team include floor monitors and stairway monitors, who act in response to the
specific emergency and coordinate safe evacuation

Floor monitors - check rooms and other enclosed spaces for occupants who may be trapped or
otherwise unable to evacuate the area.

Stairway monitors - direct occupant egress on stairways

Monitors (and fellow employees) - assist handicapped occupants who may need extra
assistance. Once evacuation is accomplished, the monitors verify that all employees are in safe
areas. Normally, one monitor for every 20 occupants provides sufficient supervision.

At the time of an emergency, monitors and other employees should know what type of evacuation is
necessary and what their role is in carrying out the plan. In cases where there is a serious emergency
inside the building (e.g., uncontrolled fire, indoor toxic chemical and nuclear release, explosion, bomb
threat, and so on), total and immediate evacuation of all occupants may be necessary.

Essential personnel

-These are the employees who have been se1ected in advance to remain behind to care for
essential operations. They perform these tasks until evacuation becomes absolutely necessary.
 - Essential operations may include monitoring of power supplies, water supplies, and other
essential services that cannot be shut down for every minor emergency.

- Essential operations may also include tending to chemical or manufacturing processes that must
be shut down in stages or where specific employees must be present to assure that safe shut down
procedures are accomplished

To complete the BEA plan emergency escape routes should be included

Emergency Floor Plan

- These floor plans and signage should be displayed in corridors and stairways of the building to
educate and guide building occupants. The designation of refuge or safe areas for evacuation
should be determined in advance and identified in the emergency floor plan.

Before implementing the BEA plan and on a re-occurring basis, a sufficient number of personnel to assist
in a safe and orderly emergency evacuation of occupants (e.g., employees, visitors, and so on) should be
designated and trained. This training generally involves a review of the BEA plan, technical training in
equipment use for emergency responders, and evacuation drills. Essentially, employees must know what
is expected of them in a potential emergency situation to ensure their safety from fire or some other
emergency.