The differences will be with the listings for F&G from UL, CSA or approved NRTL and mainly with the types of programmable systems that support addressable field devices. The function of the F&G system is to only provide protection to people then property through providing action and alarming to the proper authorities in the case of a fire, gas, or manual alarm detection. In the addressable F&G system smoke and fire sensors are typically a discrete input that also includes an encoded signal for each device that allow the wiring to be in a series or parallel format. This cuts down on the individual wiring scheme to allow one to know where the fire or smoke originates and what if any action to take. This also helps in identifying the detectors when the system is checked. The controller for this is generally specific to select suppliers of F&G devices, such as detronics, Siemens F&G panels, Honeywell F&G systems. These are simple systems that allow for zones and area identification for protection as part of the configuration.
The PLC based F&G system is typically for protection of equipment and the devices are wired in individually or in series but there is no need to identify which device in the loop went into alarm just that there was action taken to protect the equipment. Such as the case for a foam deluge on a storage tank to stop or prevent a fire... This would require programming to be built specifically to support the zone or area protection algorithims. There are applications built for Siemens for F&G that are listed in the US by UL but this is the exception not the norm.
Depending on the type of protection people or equipment, location Commercial or Industrial, nature of the system and jurisdiction laws the Fire Marshall may be involved with how the system works or approving the final design.
Equipment protection generally may not require the same level of interaction by other groups as does the protection of personnel.
Addressable F/G System
Re: Addressable F/G System
