Signaling Line Circuit (SLC) isolation made easy

Fire departments and other code officials are starting to look closely at SLC isolation.  The signaling line circuit is the circuit or circuits that connect all of the inputs - detectors, pull stations, modules, etc. - to the control panel.  Circuit isolation has been part of the life safety codes for years, but it takes a real commitment to test and verify that this feature is working properly.  Basically, the code official is making sure that if one part of the circuit is shorted (unusable) that no more than one floor is affected.  As an example, if a hotel is remodeling one guest room on 4th floor and accidentally shorts one smoke detector, only that floor's detectors won't alarm until the short is repaired.  Fire alarm system manufacturers have a fairly simple fix for this issue, if your system wasn't designed this way from the start.  Isolator modules come as a stand-alone 4" square device or even integrated into a detector base.  Potter's PAD300-IB is an easy way to add isolation by simply replacing the first standard detector base with the isolator base on each floor.  To find out more about circuit isolation, or any fire alarm system features, give us a call.