Fire Detection Control Panel FMZ 4100

The Minimax fire detection control panel

FMZ 4100 is a compact function centre
with high availability, combining all the advantages of modern micro-electronics.
The reliable and reasonably priced line
technology is ideal for the monitoring of
large areas. In addition, digital information
can be transferred from each detector
thus enabling, amongst other things, individual single alarm identification. As a result of this, it is possible to combine many
small areas or rooms in only one detector
group. The activated detector can then be
clearly identified on the LC display of the
fire detection control panel.
The heart of the control panel is a micro
processor controlled analysis unit. This
unit is responsible for all monitoring and
control functions and because of its inbuilt automatic interrupt control function
it can react to alarm signals without delay.
The panel itself is monitored by a watchdog timer which is reactivated each time
data passes through the cyclic running
programme. If the trigger impulse fails to

appear, the programme controlled alarm

analysis is interrupted in order to avoid
any faulty functioning. In this case, the
alarm evaluation continues to function by
means of an emergency operational circuit. In the case of interference, maximum
only one plug-in unit will fail to function
due to the parallel operation of the different analysis units. It is also possible to
exchange defective components without
any operational interruptions occuring.
The fire detection control panel FMZ 4100
contains all of the essential performance
features of the earlier Minimax devices.
Additionally, it fulfills all requirements of a
modern comprehensive safety-information system with an integrated detector
identification system and a large LC display as well as having a report printer, status and intervention system and an interface to building adminstration systems.
These features enable an exact evaluation
of the incoming alarms so that preventative measures may be carried out quickly.

Minimax's experience collected over many

years in the field of evaluation and assessment of fire characteristics is to be found
in an extensive, error-tolerant analysis
software. The software enables the system to differentiate between alarm signals
and spurious ( parasitic) signals. By means
of a dialogue between the fire detection
control panel and himself, the user is led
through the necessary operational phases
thereby ruling out, to the greatest possible
extent, all possibility of problems arising
from incorrect operating or stress influenced abnormal behaviour in the case of
alarms or disturbances.
The fire detection control panel FMZ 4100
fulfills the highest safety requirements
which are, of course, indispensable in the
field of fire protection. The control panel
including the system's components are in
accordance with the valid guidelines,
norms and regulations especially VDE
and EN 54 and is approved by the
Verband der Schadenversicherer (VdS,
Association of German Property Insurers).

Design variants
The fire detection control panel is a modular extendable 19" unit assembly system.
Even in its smallest basic design (GAB 32),
it is capable of accomodating 2 x 32 fire
alarm groups and 32 primary control
groups, besides the central equipment
such as the power supply unit, battery and
main alarm tripping.
In the larger model (GAB 128), the system
can be extended to 3 x 128 groups by
means of additional plug-in zone modules.
In this case, a common central plug-in unit
(master system) takes over the overriding
control procedure for the otherwise autarkic plug-in zone modules (master-slave
process).
A total combination of 3072 groups can be
obtained by joining together up to 8 standing cabinets of the above type.

FMZ 4100 - GAB 32

is extendable, with each device having 32
automatic and contact giving fire alarm
groups as well as primary control groups
for the electrical monitoring and for the
operating of the important function alarm
devices such as alarm horns, release solenoids, etc.

Wall
mounted
cabinet 15U

FMZ 4100 - GAB 128

is extendable, with each device having 128
automatic and contact giving fire alarm
zones as well as primary control groups.
Upright cabinet 31U

Each group is connected to the line card

via line termination cards. Using one line
card, it is possible to supply, evaluate and
monitor 4 alarm groups for automatic fire
alarms, 4 alarm groups for contact giving fire
alarms and 4 primary control groups. A reduced version can be supplied when only
4 automatic fire alarm groups are required.
The alarm signals recorded in the fire control panel are digitalized and are then, in
comparison between normal condition and
actual condition, compared with the programmed values in the non-volatile memory. In the case of negative results, either
an alarm signal or an interference signal
(e.g. wire breakage, short circuit, detector removed) is produced. A redundant,
independent alarm circuit continues to conduct the alarm even in the case of interference or breakdown of the control system.
Important alarm devices are connected to
the quiescent current monitoring of the primary control groups.

Detector identification system

(ZID-V)
This is a system component which functions independently from the analysis unit.
It displays selectively the position and type
of the activated, defective or removed detectors.
The main component of this device is a
microcontroller which additionally and unidirectionally requests data from the detector via a secondary network. A specially
developed analysis software checks the
detectors signal for accuracy and then
evaluates it. The obtained results are transmitted asynchronously to the analysis unit
via FIFO-circuits where they are then displayed on a comprehensive 8 x 40 figure
alpha-numerical LC display.
The detector identification system, the alpha-numerical clear text display and the
report printer complement each other and
together form an important information
system thus enabling the quick introduction of decisive and appropriate measures.

Extinguishing control
for the fire extinguishing system
The system component extinguishing
control is used to control single and multi-

Alarm and graphics reporting system

zone fire extinguishing systems. It functions independently from the other systems of the fire detection control panel
and therefore has its own display and
operating panel.
Each extinguishing zone is controlled and
monitored by an autarkical functioning extinguishing control card. All the important
components which are necessary for the
trouble-free functioning of an extinguishing
system (e.g. detectors, release and alarm)
devices are connected to the extinguishing
control system. In the case of alarm, the
extinguishing control system registers and
analyses the detector signal, sounds
the fire alarm and activates the pre-programmed control function as well as the fire
extinguishing system.

Programming
The fire detection control panel FMZ 4100
can be programmed for different applications. For this purpose a special configuration programme has been developed
which transforms the physical values of
entered characteristics (e.g. alarm threshold, short circuit threshold, etc.) into a
language understandable for the microcontroller. In this way, the user has the
maximum amount of flexibility which, for
instance, is required when extending
already existing systems.
Programming is greatly simplified by the
use of modern pull-down-menu-techniques and easy-to-understand input instructions.

Secondary groups
The fire detection control panel FMZ 4100
can be equipped with free programmable
relays in order to enable further alarm organization, for example: the disconnection
of the air conditioning, the interruption of
the manufacturing process, the opening of
smoke vent flaps, etc. 2 break contacts
(b-contacts) and 2 make contacts (a-contacts) with a maximum contact load of 2
amperes are available for each relay. The
operating and logical combination of the
relays is determined for each specific system by means of the Minimax configuration programme. The standard functions
are as follows: operating tripped by alarm,
pre-alarm and interferences as well as the
disconnection of fire detector groups.

ZID-V detector

Serial interfaces
The fire detection control panel FMZ 4100
has standard serial interfaces for connection to external equipment, e.g. alarm and
graphics reporting system or printer, as
well as enabling communication with a
superordinate administration system. An
additional microcontroller circuit which has
been especially developed for the operating of repeater panels as well as externally situated control devices can exchange
information with the fire detection control
panel via a serial interface. There are 768
programmable outputs available for the
operating of the LEDs in a repeater panel.
Additionally, the microcontroller has a serial interface for data transmission, e.g. for a
desk-top printer. The fire detection control
panel FMZ 4100 offers further interfaces
for fire brigade control panels as well as for
the so-called public main alarm. An alarm
signal can be automatically transmitted further to an external service, e.g. fire brigade,
by means of the main alarm function. Additional VdS standard interfaces are available for the connection of fire detection
equipment from other manufacturers to the
FMZ 4100 extinguishing control system.

Special applications
Spark extinguishing systems
The possibility of realizing special applications of fire detection and extinguishing
technology were taken into consideration
during the development of the fire detection control panel FMZ 4100. These special applications are, for example, spark
extinguishing systems for the wood industry, fire suppression systems for paint
spraying plants as well as for the protection of equipment in computing centres. If
one takes the spark extinguishing system
as an example, it can be seen that this system can be connected to the control panel
without any special or additional analyzing
electronics. All the requirements necessary for operating a spark extinguishing
system such as adjustable extinguishing
times for each extinguishing area, monitoring of the extinguishing agent supply,
electrical monitoring of heat tapes and
leak detectors are to be found in the standard programme of the control panel. It is,
therefore, guaranteed that the evaluation
of spark alarms as well as the operating of
the automatic extinguishing system will be
carried out with virtually no delay.
Gas detectors
A gas detector is an autonomous subsystem that can be easily integrated in the
FMZ 4100 fire detection control panel.
Owing to the increasingly complex chemical processes used in industry, gas detection at an early stage is often the main
element of a safety scheme and is accordingly very suitable for combination with
fire detection and fire systems. A display
continuously indicates the gas concentrations in the gas detectors. If the gas concentration measured exceeds a preset limit, external equipment can be activated
via secondary control lines. All measured
data is passed on to the FMZ 4100 where
it is recorded. This assures the traceability
of events even after a lengthy period.

Scheme of control panel FMZ 4100

Fire brigade
operating panel

Report
printer
Building
management
system

Serial
interface

Alarm and
graphics reporting system
Repeater
panel
Slave control
panels

Network
interface

Operator panel
extinguishing
control
Manual
release
Second
release
Extinguishing
delay
System
monitoring

Field termination card

extinguishing system
control
EMI
protection

Multi-zone
extinguishing control system

Field termination
card for primary
control zones
EMI protection

Automatic
release

CO 2 low pressure system

CO 2 / Argon high
pressure system

FMZ 4100 multi zone

CO2 extinguishing control panel

Fire protection for

paint spraying plants

Fire brigade
key box

Mimic panel

Fire brigade
main alarm

Operator panel

Group LEDs

Line
card
Master CPU
peripheral evaluation
and control

Field termination card

for detector
groups
EMI protection

Automatic
detectors

Field termination card

for primary
control groups
EMI protection

Optical / acoustic
alarm

Contact giving
detectors

Trigger solenoid
valve
Air condition
off

Relay
control
card
Slave CPU 1
evaluation and control

Relay
card

Detector
identification
system
System
Gas detection
Gas line card

Concentration
display and
operating panel

Other extinguishing systems

Deluge Foam-/Powder Spark Pre-action Sprinkler Argon extinguishing system

Minimax detector collection

Machinery
off
Smoke vent
unlock
Field
termination
card
detector
identification

Detector
identification
for automatic and
contact giving detectors

EMI protection

Gas detector

Termination
and
control
card

Optical / acoustic
alarm
Machinery
off

Digital system monitoring

Evaluation and control system

Quiescent current monitoring

Detector identification system

Non monitored lines

Extinguishing control system

Gas detection system

Fire protection for EDP installations

Repeater panel

Interface to slave module

Processor card

Master plug-in card

Field termination
card detector
identification
Interface to master module

Detector identification card

Relay card

Relay control card

Extinguishing control card

Fire detection and extinguishing control panel

for 384 groups

Field
termination
card for
detector
groups

Field termination
card for primary
control groups

Line card for 4 automatic, contact

giving and primary control groups

Field termination
card for detector
groups

Line card for

4 automatic
groups

Technical Data
Fire Detection Control Panel FMZ 4100 GAB 32, GAB 96, GAB 128
Specific System Data
Power supply
Operating voltages
Control voltage of external devices
Emergency power supply
Control relay rating
Control signal of main alarm
Permissible ambient temperature
Permissible ambient air humidity
Place of installation
VdS approval
FM approval

230 V /110 V, 50/60 Hz, (+10 %, -15 %) switchable by jumper at power supply
15 V, 12 V, 5 V
24 V DC
24 V DC (2 x 12 V maintenance free and sealed batteries, independent of
position, deep-discharge resitant, capacity range application specific)
30 W/60 VA /1.5 A / 250 V
24 V DC, constant or pulses, adjustable from 1 to 10 seconds
-5 - +40 C
12 g /m3
dry operating areas with restricted access
G 29013
OY4AO.AY

Specific Data

FMZ 4100 GAB32

FMZ 4100 GAB96

FMZ 4100 GAB128

Max. number of groups

Serial interfaces RS 232C
Number of control relays with full complement
Housing type

32/ 32/ 321

2
80
wall-mounted 15U
swivel frame
RAL 7032, grey, structured
approx. 48 kg
IP 42
525 x 709 x 275

96/ 96/ 961

3
224
upright cabinet 31U
swivel frame
RAL 7032, grey, structured
approx. 135 kg
IP 54
800 x 1600 x 500

128 /128 /1281

2
296
upright cabinet 40U
swivel frame
RAL 7032, grey, structured
approx. 160 kg
IP 54
800 x 2060 x 600

Colour
Weight of complete unit (without batteries)
IP rating
Dimensions in mm (W x H x D) 2
Line cards 3
Automatic detector groups
Detection Group voltage
Detection Group quiescent current
Detection Group alarm current
Detection Group terminating resistance
Alarm resistance (detector)
Permissible max. line resistance
Permissible max. number of detectors per group

9V
approx. 5 mA
9 mA (spark extinguishing system: 15 mA) 4
1800

470
- 1000

50

10 manual call points or 60 sprinkler monitoring modules 5

Contact giving detector groups

Detection Group current
Detection Group quiescent voltage
Detection Group alarm voltage
Detection Group terminating zener diode
Detection Group alarm zener diode
Permissible max. line resistance
Permissible max. amount of detectors per groups

approx. 2.2 mA
3.9 - 4.1 V
2.7 V 4
ZPD 4V3 (spark extinguishing system BZX 4V3)
ZPD 2V7 (spark extinguishing system BZX 2V4)6
50

10 5

Primary control groups

Detection Group current
Control voltage
Detection Group quiescent voltage
Max. load
Detection Group terminating resistance

approx. 2.6 mA
24 V DC
approx. 2.6 V
2 A ( limited by fuse)
1000
/1 Watt

Fire extinguishing control system

3
4
5
6
7

For 32, 96 or 128 automatic and contact giving groups and primary control groups
Other cabinet sizes available
A reduced version can be supplied when only automatic fire alarm groups are required
Other current/voltage threshold values programmable
VdS standard value
For evaluation of different interferences in sparc extinguishing systems, e.g. continuous extinguishing, water supply fault, 3 additional thershold voltage values are monitored
Technical data for groups of the extinguishing control system are similar to the line card
The right is reserved to modify any specification without prior notice.

Minimax GmbH & Co. KG

Industriestrasse 10 /12
23840 Bad Oldesloe
Germany
Phone: +49 45 31 8 03-0
Fax:
+49 45 31 8 03-2 48
E-mail: info@minimax.de
www.minimax.de

VdS
Certified acc. to
ISO 9001

F 15e/2.96/2/01.05/HMB

No. S 89201

Printed in Gernmany

4 groups for automatic detectors 7

4 groups for contact giving detectors 7
4 primary control groups7
8 free programmable relays for non monitored groups