fire alarm SNAC

[electrofelon]

I have plans for a fire alarm system and the one line diagram has a device labeled "SNAC" that appears to be some sort of remote loop combiner or 'sub' FACP. It is not in the drawing legend. Can someone tell me what this is? I googled and came up with a "supplementary notification appliance circuit panel" which I assume is what it is due to the acronym used. The description of this device certainly isnt helping me understand what this is. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Smart $]

...

 

[mgookin]

Honeywell makes one and they describe it as an amplifier for powering horns & strobes:

The GFPS-9 is a notification appliance circuit and auxiliary power expander that provides up
to 9 amps of filtered, 24 volt power for powering notification appliances and auxiliary
devices. The GFPS-9 provides its own AC power connection, battery charging circuit, and
battery connections. Used with security and fire alarm control panels, the GFPS-9 enables you
to connect and distribute power to many more devices than your panel may normally allow.

http://www.columbusfire.net/support/PDF/GFPS-9 Manual.pdf

 

[gadfly56]

I have plans for a fire alarm system and the one line diagram has a device labeled "SNAC" that appears to be some sort of remote loop combiner or 'sub' FACP. It is not in the drawing legend. Can someone tell me what this is? I googled and came up with a "supplementary notification appliance circuit panel" which I assume is what it is due to the acronym used. The description of this device certainly isnt helping me understand what this is. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

As mcgookin says, it may refer to what is commonly referred to as a "booster" panel, designed to supply power only to the notification appliance circuit. At a guess the acronym is "SupplementaryNotificationApplianceCircuit".

It may also refer to a kind of module found on addressable systems that allows you to provide power to notification appliances in a remote location without putting in a full-blown panel. The Silent Knight SD500-ANM (AddressableNotificationModule) is an example of one such. The signal line circuit (SLC) and 24 vdc are brought to the module that is then triggered by some logic input from the panel.

Banging the drum for a pet peeve of mine, it would be helpful if architects and engineers would make at least a passing attempt to use the NFPA 170 standard for fire protection symbols.

 

[electrofelon]

That was my first thought that it was basically a booster due to the number of devices. The one line shows both input and notification devices going into/out of it. Ill call the EE and ask him for clarification, just wanted to get as much background as I could first as I am not a big fire alarm guy.

 

[iwire]

Suplmental Notification Appliance Circuit panel

Yes it is just a fancy power supply for horns strobes door holders smoke detectors.

Typically you can run four class A circuits from them

They have batteries and charger.

The inputs trigger it and usually provide the trouble monitoring.

The last Lowes I did had 13 of them.

 

[gadfly56]

Suplmental Notification Appliance Circuit panel

Yes it is just a fancy power supply for horns strobes door holders smoke detectors.

Typically you can run four class A circuits from them

They have batteries and charger.

The inputs trigger it and usually provide the trouble monitoring.

The last Lowes I did had 13 of them.

The largest I ever did was about 500K square feet. I had an even dozen Wheelock power supplies and about 350 ceiling mount horn/strobes, all synced of course. It looked like you were inside a giant flash cube when it went off. Even though the audible coverage was calculated to be insufficient, it was numbingly loud.

 

[electrofelon]

Suplmental Notification Appliance Circuit panel

Yes it is just a fancy power supply for horns strobes door holders smoke detectors.

Typically you can run four class A circuits from them

They have batteries and charger.

The inputs trigger it and usually provide the trouble monitoring.

The last Lowes I did had 13 of them.

Thanks guys. So one more thing: what is the general shop/jargon term for these things? Booster panel? And I assume I'll need to request one that is good for x number of devices?

 

[iwire]

Thanks guys. So one more thing: what is the general shop/jargon term for these things? Booster panel? And I assume I'll need to request one that is good for x number of devices?

Around me I think most guys would know it by 'NAC Booster', 'NAC Panel' or even SNAC.


They are nice because most are configurable to do different tasks.

You typically have four outputs, you can set one up to power horns during alarm, another output could be set up for continuous 24VDC to power smokes, or 24VDC to power mag locks that drops out during alarms etc.

Inputs can be different as well, in some cases you literally run the existing horn / strobes circuits into the boosters input and that will trigger the boosters output during alarm. Or you can trigger it with just dry contacts. Usually all configurable with DIP switches.

 

[MichaelGP3]

Honeywell makes one and they describe it as an amplifier for powering horns & strobes:

The GFPS-9 is a notification appliance circuit and auxiliary power expander that provides up
to 9 amps of filtered, 24 volt power for powering notification appliances and auxiliary
devices. The GFPS-9 provides its own AC power connection, battery charging circuit, and
battery connections. Used with security and fire alarm control panels, the GFPS-9 enables you
to connect and distribute power to many more devices than your panel may normally allow.

http://www.columbusfire.net/support/PDF/GFPS-9 Manual.pdf

They didn't describe it as an amplifier, and you shouldn't either. It can lead to some confusion for someone just learning the terminology.

 

[mgookin]

They didn't describe it as an amplifier, and you shouldn't either. It can lead to some confusion for someone just learning the terminology.

... auxiliary power expander ... enables you
to connect and distribute power to many more devices than your panel may normally allow.

That's an amplifier where I come from. How do you describe it? It expands the output of the FACP to power more than the FACP could otherwise power.

 

[iwire]

... auxiliary power expander ... enables you
to connect and distribute power to many more devices than your panel may normally allow.

That's an amplifier where I come from. How do you describe it? It expands the output of the FACP to power more than the FACP could otherwise power.

It's not an amplifier where I am.



Many fire alarm systems are voice evac systems and they do use amplifiers to drive speakers. To call the SNAC panel an amplifier would only lead to confusion.

 

[mgookin]

It's not an amplifier where I am.



Many fire alarm systems are voice evac systems and they do use amplifiers to drive speakers. To call the SNAC panel an amplifier would only lead to confusion.

That makes it a matter of confusing nomenclature. I agree. Thanks.