New Possibilities for Interfacing the EMSOK Notification System with the Smartec Vesta Fire Alarm

The EMSOK company, a Russian manufacturer of equipment for warning and evacuation control systems (WECS), presented the IFA-003 interface unit with the Smartec Vesta fire alarm system (FAS).

The functionality of this unit, equipped with two serial RS-485 interfaces, ensures connection, coordination and transmission of control signals from the Smartec Vesta PS to the EMSOK notification system. Due to the fact that the notification system interface unit is connected to the PS via RS-485, constant monitoring of the communication line integrity is ensured without additional elements (resistors). It is worth noting that the IFA-003 has compact dimensions, and its body is made of non-flammable ABS plastic. The standard software of the EMSOK signal control unit is used to configure the IFA-003.

Structurally, the IFA-003 interface unit consists of a printed circuit board with electronic components placed in a case made of non-flammable ABS plastic with 2 covers and 2 plugs. On the printed circuit board there are terminal blocks with screw connectors that allow you to connect this notification system interface unit to the Smartec Vesta fire alarm, a connector for connecting to the EMSOK signal control unit, switches for setting the address and turning on the terminator, as well as status indicators. IFA-003 has compact dimensions, low weight and is energy efficient, consuming no more than 0.36 W.

The interface of the EMSOK notification system and the Smartec Vesta fire alarm system via the IFA-003 unit has a number of advantages. It ensures continuous monitoring of the fire alarm system status: it “polls” all devices, units and zones of the system (maximum 2048 elements), and if it detects a condition that has signs of a fire or malfunction, it activates the corresponding response algorithm. At the same time, the interface unit of the notification system supports the recognition of up to 16 states of devices, 64 devices and 64 zones and the activation of up to 64 fire alarm algorithms (FAA), providing the ability to select communication lines, play recorded voice messages and send sound signals on commands from the Smartec Vesta control panel (CP).

Connection and high-speed information exchange of the IFA-003 interface unit with Smartec Vesta fire alarm elements and the EMSOK notification system signal control unit is performed using two serial RS-485 interfaces. Due to this connection scheme, the notification system interface unit continuously monitors the integrity of the communication line without using additional elements, such as resistors, and without laying multiple communication lines, as when using a "dry contact" (two for each notification direction). The presence of a secondary power source allows using the IFA-003 to power fire alarm interface products.

The IFA-003 notification system interface unit is configured for the tasks of a specific project using software included in the EMSOK central signal control unit, with which it interacts. The user interface of this software product, which operates in the Win32 environment, also includes a system configuration editor, in which you can set the parameters of the Smartec PS interface, the address of the input-output unit, a list of states that indicate a fire or malfunction, fire alarm algorithms, errors, etc. In addition, the software has a PS status viewing window.