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FIRE DETECTION, FIRE ALARM
AND FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS

AVAC - MKIII FIRE ALARM CONTROL PANEL

The ITIM Systems AVAC MKIII Fire Alarm and Control Panel is a good looking, compact, fully monitored, single circuit, Fire Alarm Control Module.

Developed as a sealed module, to provide high reliability in a marine environment, it is well suited for use in dusty mine vehicles and other rough environments.

It includes sealed Touch Switch, Test and Alarm Controls, with easy to read System Status Display, backlit by LED light bars, for ease of use and high reliability.

It incorporates effective audible and visual fire alarms and system fault warnings, with a system Normal, dimmer for night time use, and two stage system Isol/Reset function which enables visual fire alarms and fault warnings to operate, even with the audible alarms isolated.
This panel is simple to install with all wiring terminating on the rear of the module. An optional mounting base can be supplied for surface mounting, where dash mounting is impractical.

THERE ARE SIX (6) SYSTEM STATUS CONDITIONS, INDICATED BY BACKLIT LED LIGHTBARS, AS FOLLOWS:

FIRE - If a fire condition is detected, the visual FIRE alarm indication flashes red, the modulated audible fire alarm operates, the remote alarm output is switched on; the alarm is latched on until Isolated or Reset.


ALARM TEST - Depressing the Alarm Test Switch simulates an alarm at the sensor input & tests all panel fire alarm functions. FAULT - If a fault develops which could inhibit Alarm operation, such as a Fault in the detector circuit, or a low battery supply voltage, the amber FAULT indication illuminates; the audible alarm sounds with a steady fault warning, which latches on until Isolated or Reset.
FAULT TEST - Depressing the Fault Test Switch simulates a fault at the sensor input & tests fault monitoring & warning circuits.
ISOLATED - Depressing the Isol/Reset switch once, isolates the audible and remote alarm outputs, and resets remote detector and panel alarm latches. The amber ISOLATED indication will illuminate, while the Visual Alarms remain operational. Depress the Isol/Reset switch again to return panel to Normal.

NORMAL - The green, NORMAL indication, should normally be illuminated. This indicates the system is in a healthy state, ready for operation.
Operation of the DIM switch, dims the Normal indication for night time use.

ON A REGULAR BASIS CHECK THAT THE GREEN NORMAL INDICATION IS ILLUMINATED.

SYSTEM OPERATION :

IF THE FIRE ALARM OPERATES:

  1. Check that nobody is in Engine Room
    and confirm that a fire condition exists.
  2. Close off the engine room,
    shut all doors, hatches and air vents.
  3. Close all fuel and oil lines.
  4. Turn off engines.
  5. Isolate battery and power supplies.
  6. Release fixed fire extinguisher system.


Caution: Do Not Enter the engine room after releasing the Extinguisher System. Leave sealed to prevent loss of gas and allow time for any hot spots to cool.

WEEKLY TESTING On a weekly basis, test the AVAC MKIII Fire Alarm and Control Panel.

1. TEST THE ALARMS -
Depress the top (Red) Alarm Test Switch: The red ALARM TEST indication will illuminate. There will be a short Alarm Verification Delay and the red FIRE indication will flash.
The audible alarms will sound with a loud modulated alarm.
The Remote Alarm output will operate. The Alarms will latch on until manually isolated.

2. ISOLATE AND RESET THE ALARMS -
By depressing the ISOL/RESET Switch twice.
The yellow/green Isol/Reset Switch is a two stage switch. When depressed once, the amber ISOLATED indication will illuminate. In this condition, the Audible Alarms and Remote Alarms are isolated. The visual alarms remain active.

If a detector operates when the panel is isolated, the FIRE indication will flash red.
If a Fault condition develops when the panel is Isolated the amber FAULT indication will illuminate. Local and Remote detector latches are reset, each time the switch is pressed.
Return the panel to NORMAL, by pressing the Isol/Reset switch again.

3. TEST THE FAULT MONITORING -
Depress the yellow Fault Test Switch.
The amber FAULT TEST indication will illuminate followed a short time later by the amber FAULT indication accompanied by the steady Fault tone, audible warning.
The Fault Warning will latch on until manually reset.

4. ISOLATE AND RESET THE FAULT WARNING -
by depressing the green ISOL/RESET Switch twice. The visual Fault Warning remains active, when the panel is isolated. If a fault exists that could inhibit detector operation, the amber FAULT indication will illuminate.

ON A REGULAR BASIS CHECK THAT THE GREEN NORMAL INDICATION IS ILLUMINATED.

INSTALLATION GUIDE:

The rear of the AVAC MKIII Fire Alarm
and Control Panel features a system wiring
drawing with an eight way plug-in,
numbered terminal for connection of-
- Remote Alarms
- Detector Circuit
- Two Power Supply Circuits.

(All circuits are 2 wire circuits with 1.5mm2
stranded conductors recommended).

Terminals 1 & 2 are the Remote Alarm Output,
1 = -ve 2 = +ve Switched Power, 500 mA max.

Operates whenever the Fire Alarm Operates.
Is Isolated by Isol/Reset Switch.

Terminals 3 & 4 are the Fully Monitored
Detector Loop circuit, 3 = Det-ve, 4 = Det+ve.


The Detection circuit consists of a two core cable from these terminals to the first Detector,
it is then looped to the second detector, then third and fourth etc.
The End of Loop (EOL) Resistor is connected across the detector wires after the last detector in the loop. The value of the EOL Resistor varies according to the supply voltage. 5k ohms on 12 volt DC or 10K ohms on 24 volt DC.
A Detector or switch closing across the loop causes the Fire Alarm Panel to Latch into the Alarm Condition. An open circuit or high resistance termination on the detector loop causes the panel to latch into Fault Condition. A low battery voltage also causes a Fault Condition.

Terminals 5 & 6 and 7 & 8 are Duplicate Power Supply Inputs.
Each act as a back-up to the other and are internally isolated and protected.

The panel can be powered from 12 or 24 volt DC batteries, connected via a 5 Amp fuse or circuit breaker, with the EOL Resistor changed to suit. (5k ohms when 12 volt, 10k ohms when 24 volt).
The system will function normally with a single battery supply connected into either power supply input, but should be permanently powered. Current draw 50mA in normal, 300mA in alarm.

MOUNTING The AVAC MKIII Fire Alarm Panel measures 125 x 125 mm and sits 25 mm high. It should be mounted in the wheelhouse or control position, on a flat surface in a conspicuous position.

Cable Access is required into the terminals on the rear of the AVAC MKIII Panel.
Mark centre of rear terminal and cut cable access hole: 60mm holesaw recommended.
Mark pilot holes for mounting screws 2mm outside of centre.
An optional surface mount box is available for when dash mounting is impractible.

Pass cables through access hole from behind and cut to equal length (approximately 200mm) Identify each cable and terminate into rear plug-in terminal.
Use of crimp cable pins is suggested. Check connections and secure cables with strain relief.
Screw Panel into position and fit snap caps.

DETECTORS The detector loop will operate with most types of thermal, smoke or flame detectors or manual switches etc that close a contact across the detector loop, on operation.
The detector loop is protected and will power remote detectors up to 100mA.


 

Innovative Technology for Industry and Marine
P.O. Box 218 Red Hill, Qld 4059, Australia
4 Cramond Street, Wilston, Qld 4051, Australia
ISD + 61 7. Phone (07) 3356 1276. Fax (07) 3356 5693