Conventional Fire Alarm Panels

Conventional fire alarm panels divide a building into detection zones, with each zone wired as its own circuit. When a detector or call point operates, the panel shows which zone is in alarm, which makes them a practical choice for shops, small offices, schools and other single-site premises where the layout is straightforward.

This range covers conventional control panels from 2 up to 32 zones, including 2-wire and AlarmSense models from brands such as Advanced, C-TEC, Kentec, HAES, Zeta, Fike and FireClass. Zone counts are listed in each product title, so you can match the panel to the zones on your design and leave some spare capacity for future changes.

Choosing a conventional panel

• Zones: BS 5839-1 sets limits on the area and search distance of a detection zone, so count zones from the design rather than from the number of rooms.
• Wiring: 2-wire panels carry detectors and sounders on the same pair of cables, while 4-wire panels use separate sounder circuits. See our 2-wire fire alarm panels for that variant.
• Compatibility: check that detectors, sounders and call points are suitable for the panel you choose.

For larger or multi-storey buildings where you need to identify individual devices, see our addressable fire alarm panels. The full range is on the fire alarm panels page, and you can browse by manufacturer through C-TEC and Kentec. Maintaining an older Gent panel? See our Gent Xenex spares, including Xenex-compatible ES Detect detectors and standby batteries. Panels should be designed, installed and commissioned by a competent person in line with BS 5839-1.

Not sure which system you need? Read our guide to addressable vs conventional fire alarm systems.