The Fire Alarm Interface (FAI) is designed to:
Enable the deactivation of lock ports when the fire alarm is triggered, allowing doors to be opened
Ensure the safe evacuation of building occupants during a fire emergency
The FAI features a latch that holds all doors open in case firefighters need to access the building to investigate and address the cause of the alarm. This latch can be released manually by firefighters or other authorized personnel.
Before you begin
Before you begin the installation, familiarize yourself with these terms:
Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP): The central unit that monitors and controls the fire alarm system, receiving information from initiating devices, such as smoke detectors, heat detectors, and manual pull stations.
Relay Module: An intermediary device that receives signals from the FACP and transmits them to the AC62. It facilitates communication between the fire alarm system and the AC62 access control system.
AC62: Monitors and controls access to secured areas within a building. It features an integrated FAI, which receives signals from the relay module to power down lock ports and activate the door latch during a fire emergency. The AC62 FAI can also be daisy-chained to other access control units with an FAI for a more comprehensive safety system.
Best practices
Wiring: Use appropriate wiring to establish connections between the FACP, the relay module, and the AC62. Verkada provides a list of recommended wires for the AC41, AC62, and the AX11.
Test connections: Test the relay module connections to ensure proper communication between the FACP and the AC62, as well as any additional daisy-chained units.
Verify Operation: Conduct a functional test by triggering the fire alarm system to confirm that the FAI is operating as intended, powering down lock ports and activating the door latch during a fire emergency across all daisy-chained units.
Emergency features
Latch release
Firefighters (or other authorized personnel) can manually release the latch holding the doors open. This allows for better control over access to the building once the situation is under control and ensures that the doors can be closed and secured, as needed.
External power controllers
If someone is running all locks off external power controllers, they need to determine their own solution for integrating the FAI and powering down the lock ports during a fire emergency. Consult with a professional for the best approach in this scenario.
Need more help? Contact Verkada Support.