How to Get Zone Data from Multiple FA Vendors?

7/25/2024

We were looking to tie multiple fire alarm systems together from various vendors such as Honeywell, Siemens, Notifier, intermesh, etc. The end goal is to bring all the zone data for a building to a Siemens Desigo Fire Server.

Currently, the Monitoring-Only Solution Assembly (MOSA) ring will not accommodate the Honeywell, Notifier, or other non-Siemens panels to bring in a complete data stream in. We are limited to the standard supervisory signals for trouble, alarm, duct detectors, pull station, and smoke detectors as a limited set of data.

Does anyone have an interface that would bring multiple data points from other vendors' fire alarm panels to the Desigo front-end?

Siemens and Honeywell do not support each other’s components. The MOSA ring is a Siemens product. A 3rd party would be required to facilitate the interface panel.

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7 Comments

Glenn Berger

7/25/2024 08:13:29 am

There is no good solution available to make Fire Alarm Units from different mfgs to talk to each other.

Chad

7/25/2024 08:14:40 am

Nothing off the shelf. You can get contact ID out of those panels sent to any receiver that takes that format and it can be sent to multiple receivers using most Cell/IP communicators via IP. Or multiple receivers from the panels themselves if newer models.

A custom $olution would be required to import it into any other system.

Ricardo Gonzales Jr

7/25/2024 09:46:36 am

You can obtain a 'Central Station' type receiver that can accept the data but used for Non-Central Station use. This is as close as you can get to the idea. Unfortunately, the Siemens equipment can't translate DACT data.

Jack G

7/25/2024 09:56:22 am

I agree. It’s a wonder that NFPA/UL/FM, is putting up with this. Why they shouldn’t try to wrangle cooperation with their “ listing requirements” .
It definitely would be safer, more economic and better fire protection.

7/25/2024 10:42:41 am

There is pretty much universal consensus on the communications formats.

Only end users have a reason to desire that. They are not the heavy hitters, nor should they be. Too many unique "needs".

The original post is about a campus style installation, I assume, where all the buildings are owned/controlled by one entity. If they want global monitoring they need one single brand installed, there is no financial motivation for anyone to try and interface other brands.

They could set up a proprietary central station with a couple of receivers and have over all awareness just not control of the systems.

Tim

7/25/2024 12:13:11 pm

A possibility would be to provide a monitoring receiver. Just like the monitoring stations have, they can take in data from all different types of panels then they can funnel that data to whatever they want. Might be something to look into.

Mike R

7/25/2024 02:13:25 pm

This is ok to do assuming it's for view only and not replacing the existing monitoring which covers the UL requirements.
You need a MOXA (similar to MOSA just no HNET connectivity) or field server device that takes in 3rd party rs232 data. The device can then retransmit across a customers network and display on the DCC. It takes a lot of coordination with the various vendors, IT departments, and database building, but it does work.

How to Get Zone Data from Multiple FA Vendors?

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