Address
Addressable devices are given an individual address so their exact location can be identified. See Analogue Addressable and XPERT Card for more information.
Addressable System
A system in which signals from detectors, manual call points or any other devices are individually identified at the control and indicating equipment.
Air Sampling Unit
A device used to detect smoke within ventilation systems.
Alarm
The state which a device enters when a fire is detected, signalling an emergency.
AlarmSense
A range of conventional devices by Apollo that utilises two-wire technology.
To find out more, visit the AlarmSense page.
Analogue
An analogue signal is one which goes up and down steplessly. Analogue fire detectors are not restricted to two states - alarm/no alarm - as conventional detectors are.
Analogue Addressable
The term used to describe a fire detection system incorporating analogue detectors which are also identified by a number or 'address'.
Analogue addressable detectors provide location-specific information on the ambient level of smoke, heat or other product of combustion (eg carbon monoxide).
ATEX
This is an approval for products designed for use in hazardous areas. See also BASEEFA.
Backplate
An accessory which provides a high degree of protection against the ingress of water or dust into the back of the detector.
Backward Compatibility
A term used to describe equipment that is compatible with older products. See also 'forward compatibility'.
Base
Apparatus upon which the fire detector is mounted.
To find out more about Apollo bases, visit the Bases page.
BASEEFA
British Approvals Service for Electronic Equipment in Flammable Atmospheres. This is the approval body, under the HSE, for products designed for use in hazardous areas. See also ATEX.
Beacon
A device used to produce a visible indication of an alarm.
To find out more about Apollo bases, visit the Beacon page.
Beam Detector
A device incorporating a transmitter (which projects a beam of infra-red light), receiver (which registers the light and produces an electrical signal) and an interface (which processes the signal and generates alarm or fault signals).
Beam detectors are designed to protect large, open spaces.
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Fire Detector
A device incorporating an electrochemical cell which senses carbon monoxide (CO) but not smoke or any other combustion products. It works by sensing the level of CO in the air.
Closed Protocol
A protocol is said to be closed if its mode of operation and timings are not published. Closed protocols mean that all components of a fire detection system must be sourced from the same manufacturer. See also 'open protocol'.
Conductor
A general tern used to describe 'cable' within the fire protection industry.
Continuity Link
The Continuity Link is a feature of the Orbis TimeSaver® Base which enables voltage testing of zone wiring prior to commissioning.
To find out more, visit the Orbis page.
Control & Indicating Equipment (CIE)
Apparatus used to control a fire protection system. Often called a 'control panel'.
Conventional
The term 'conventional detector' is used to describe a two-state fire detector ie normal state and alarm state. In conventional systems, devices are wired into a circuit or 'zone' of up to 20 detectors. An alarm is indicated by zone on the fire alarm panel. Generally used on non-addressable systems.
Deckhead Mounting Box
A robust metal or plastic unit which can be used with Series 60 or XP95 devices to protect against the ingress of water or other contaminants through the rear of the base.
Detector
A device for discovering the presence of a fire.
Digital Protocol
A digital protocol comprises a series of binary digits (1's & 0's), and is used as a method of communication between electronic devices.
DIN-Rail
Rail mounted electronic assembly housing, compliant with the German standard DIN 46277.
DirtAlert
DirtAlert is a feature of Orbis which uses a flashing yellow LED to show that the drift compensation limit has been reached.
To find out more, visit the Orbis page.
Discovery ®
An advanced range of analogue addressable devices manufactured by Apollo.
To find out more, visit the Discovery page.
Drift Compensation
A signal processing algorithm which compensates for detector contamination or environmental conditions and maintains the desired sensitivity level.
Drift compensation is a feature of Discovery and Orbis detectors
DustDefy
The DustDefy system is a feature of Orbis which prevents dust ingress while maintaining airflow.
To find out more, visit the Orbis page.
E-Z Fit Slots
These allow the TimeSaver® Base to be fixed in position without removing mounting screws, using a simple sliding action.
FastTest®
FastTest is a feature of Orbis. It is a maintenance procedure that takes just four seconds to test and confirm that smoke and heat detectors are functioning correctly.
To find out more, visit the Orbis page.
Fire Alarm Control Panel
Apparatus used to control a fire protection system and often called a 'control panel'. Usually described in standards as 'Control and Indicating Equipment' (CIE).
Fire Detector
A device which senses the combustion products of a fire - such as heat, smoke or carbon monoxide.
Fixed Temperature Detector
A device that incorporates a thermocouple or thermistor to sense temperature change. If a given (fixed) temperature is exceeded, the device goes into alarm mode.
Flame Detector
A device incorporating an infra-red or ultra-violet sensor to detect the radiation emitted by flames.
To find out more about the Apollo XP95 Flame Detector, visit the XP95 page.
Forward Compatibility
A term meaning that equipment is compatible with newer products. See also 'backward compatibility'.
Heat Detector
A device that uses a thermistor to detect abnormally high temperature changes.
Ingress Protection
An international rating system which classifies the ability of an item of equipment to withstand ingress from either solid particles or liquids. Otherwise known as the 'IP' rating.
Insulator
A material which will not pass electrical current except at high voltages.
Interface
Apparatus used to monitor or control parts of a fire protection system or external equipment.
To find out more, visit the Apollo page.
Interrupt
A signal placed on the communications protocol by a manual call point during polling of another device. The purpose of the interrupt is to minimise the time delay between operation of a manual call point and sounding of the alarm. Apollo patented.
Intrinsically Safe (IS)
A range of devices that have been specifically developed for use in hazardous areas where an explosive mixture of air and gas or vapour is or may be present. These areas typically include petroleum and chemical engineering plants and factories processing and storing gases, solvents and other volatile substances.
IS devices must be approved by a body such as BASEEFA/ATEX.
Ionisation Detector (Ionization - US)
A smoke detector incorporating a radioactive isotope to ionise air and cause a small current flow between an inner (reference) and outer (smoke) chamber. Smoke entering the outer chamber causes an imbalance in the current flow which in turn causes the detector to change to the alarm state.
Ionization Detector
See above.
Isolator
A device which senses and isolates a short-circuit on an Apollo analogue addressable loop.
LED
Light Emitting Diode.
Line Type Detector
A device for detecting the products of a fire along a defined line in the protected area. An example of a line type detector is aBeam Detector.
Loop
A wiring configuration in which the cables carrying power and signals start and end at the control panel. Used in analogue addressable systems. Detectors and interfaces may be connected at any point of the loop.
Non-Addressable System
A system in which signals from detection and alarm devices are indicated by zone at the control and indicating equipment. Also known as a 'conventional system'.
Obscuration
A term used to describe the amount of light blocked out by smoke particles between the transmitter and receiver of an optical smoke sensing device.
Open Protocol
This term describes a protocol that has been designed for compatibility with apparatus from other manufacturers of electronic equipment. See also 'closed protocol'.
Optical Detector (Photoelectric - US)
A smoke detector using light scatter or obscuration techniques to detect smoke.
Orbis™
Orbis is a range of conventional devices.
To find out more, visit the Orbis page.
Photoelectric Detector
See 'Optical Detector'
Point-Type Detector
A device for detecting the products of a fire at a defined point within the protected area. Most smoke detectors are point type detectors.
Protocol
The term 'protocol' is the method that electronic devices use to communicate with each other.
Quiescent
The state in which a device is operating normally, in non-fire conditions.
Rate-of-Rise Heat Detector
A device that incorporates 2 thermistors, 1 internal and 1 external, to sense temperature. If the temperature increases quickly, the thermistors register different temperatures and the detector changes to the alarm state.
RDM (Radio Detector Monitoring)
A range of Apollo devices utilising radio linked technology compatible with XP95. Now obsolete.
Recommended Working Life
The recommended working life of Apollo detectors is 10 years when used in dry, non-corrosive atmospheres and provided that they are regularly inspected, tested, cleaned and recalibrated correctly.
RemovAlert™
This is a patented feature of the Apollo AlarmSense range of detectors and means that the AlarmSense control panel is alerted if a detector is removed from its base without authorisation.
Repeater Panel
An indicating panel which mimics the displays and other features of a main control panel. The panel can either be active ie able to control all or part of the system, or passive ie to simply provide information.
Retro Mode
If it is difficult to fit the XP95 Beam Detector's transmitter and receiver on opposite walls, they can be placed adjacent to each other. One or more reflectors need to be fitted to the opposite wall to reflect the beam emitted from the transmitter to the receiver.
Série 50
A range of conventional devices, designed to comply with French standards.
SensAlert
SensAlert is a feature of Orbis which uses a flashing yellow LED to indicate that the sensor is not operating correctly.
To find out more, visit the Orbis page.
Series 20
A range of conventional devices manufactured by Apollo from 1986 - 1996.
Series 30
A range of conventional devices manufactured by Apollo from 1984 - 1996.
Series 60
A range of conventional devices manufactured by Apollo.
Series 65
A range of conventional devices using a wide operating voltage, manufactured by Apollo.
To find out more, visit the Apollo page.
Series 90
Apollo's first range of analogue addressable devices manufactured from 1987 - 1996.
Single Quadrant Terminals
These are four terminals grouped together for ease of installation of the Orbis TimeSaver Base.
To find out more, visit the Orbis page.
Smoke Detector
A device which utilises optical, optical/thermal or ionisation techniques to detect smoke particles.
Solo Test Equipment
Apparatus used for the in-situ testing and maintenance of fire detectors.
Sounder
A device used to produce an audible indication of alarm.
StartUp
StartUp is a feature of Orbis which uses a flashing red LED to confirm that the devices are correctly installed.
To find out more, visit the Orbis page.
Strobe
A device used to produce a visible indication of alarm.
SynchroPulse™
This is a patented feature of the Apollo AlarmSense range of detectors. This technology means that pulsing sounders are synchronised when they are in alarm.
TimeSaver Base
The Orbis TimeSaver Base is a completely new design that provides installers with an open working area and single quadrant terminals.
To find out more, visit the Orbis page.
Transient Rejection
Transient rejection uses algorithms to filter out temporary abnormal readings, helping to reduce false alarms.
Two-Wire
A system that allows detection and alarm devices to be connected to the same pair of wires.
To find out more, visit the AlarmSense page.
Wide Angle Optics
Wide Angle Optics are a feature of Orbis and give a good response to fires generating white or black smoke.
To find out more, visit the Orbis page.
XP95
A range of analogue addressable devices manufactured by Apollo. Detectors are addressed using a unique, patented mechanism - the XPERT card.
To find out more, visit the XP95 page.
XP95 Test Set
A diagnostic tool used to identify faults on any XP95, Series 90 and Discovery loops. The test set can also be used to test individual devices.
XPERT Card
A unique, patented addressing method to accurately identify a detector's location. The coded XPERT card is inserted into the base which can then be read by any XP95 (or Discovery or XPlorer) detector once it is plugged in. Using this method, all the electronic components are in the detector but the location information is held in the base. The XPERT card simplifies and speeds up installation and commissioning.
XPlorer
A range of analogue addressable devices with limited functionality, manufactured by Apollo.
Zone
A zone is an area within a fire detection system and is defined by local standards such as BS 5839–1.