In many buildings, a fire alarm system plays a crucial role in the safety of people and property. A central element of this is the fire brigade information centre, or FIZ for short.
But what exactly is behind this important component of a fire alarm system and what function does it fulfil in an emergency?
What is a fire service information centre?
The fire brigade information centre is the central point of contact for the fire brigade's emergency services in the event of a fire. It is usually located in the entrance area of a building and bundles all relevant information from the fire alarm system in one place. The fire brigade information centre enables the emergency services to quickly gain an overview of the hazardous situation and initiate targeted measures.
Main components of the FIZ
The fire brigade display panel (FAT)
The fire brigade display panel is part of the fire brigade information centre and serves as the primary source of information for the emergency services. In the event of a fire, it enables quick access to critical information by clearly displaying alarm messages, operating statuses and any faults.
The display logic of the FAT is deliberately kept clear: A maximum of two messages are shown on the display at the same time - the first and the last message received from a fire detector or a detector zone. All other incoming messages can be called up quickly and easily using the arrow buttons.
The fire brigade display panel thus shows the following:
- Current alarm messages
- Faults
Precise specifications must be observed when installing the fire brigade display panel. The planning and the specific installation location must be agreed with the responsible fire brigade. The FAT must be easily accessible and sufficiently illuminated.
A range of 1,500 mm to 1,800 mm is specified for the installation height of the fire brigade display panel, whereby the optimum height is 1,700 mm.
The fire brigade control panel
The fire brigade control panel provides firefighters with a quick overview of all safety-relevant system statuses.
Good to know: Regardless of the manufacturer or system, the displays follow a standardised layout. This allows firefighters to operate the system intuitively, even under stress.
The most important status displays include
- ‘Control panel in operation’
- ‘Transmission system triggered’
- ‘Extinguishing system triggered’
The fire brigade control panel enables centralised control of all critical functions in the event of a fire. The emergency services can immediately mute acoustic alarm signals via the FBF and reset triggered fire detectors to a neutral state if required.
The fire brigade control panel also allows the precise management of individual alarm zones and the performance of regular system tests to ensure functional readiness.
Good to know: The fire service information centre is also where the fire service route maps are kept. They show the building floor plan and the routes to the respective fire alarm zones.
