Honeywell Fire Force 8 Manual

							INSTALLATION & OPERATION MANUAL
FireForce 8 
NOTIFICATION APPLIANCE CIRCUIT EXPANDER
P/N 52257:B • ECN 06-683 • 09/27/2006 
						

							2 FireForce 8 Installation & Operation Manual  P/N 52257:B  09/27/2006
Fire Alarm System Limitations
While a fire alarm system may lower insurance rates, it is not a substitute for fire insurance!
An automatic fire alarm system—typically made up of 
smoke detectors, heat detectors, manual pull stations, audible 
warning devices, and a fire alarm control panel with remote 
notification capability—can provide early warning of a develop-
ing fire.  Such a system, however, does not assure protection 
against property damage or loss of life resulting from a fire.  
The Manufacturer recommends that smoke and/or heat detec-
tors be located throughout a protected premise following the 
recommendations of the National Fire Protection Association 
Standard 72 (NFPA 72), manufacturers recommendations, 
State and local codes, and the recommendations contained in 
the Guides for Proper Use of System Smoke Detectors, which 
are made available at no charge to all installing dealers.  
These documents can be found at http://www.systemsen-
sor.com/html/applicat.html.  A study by the Federal Emer-
gency Management Agency (an agency of the United States 
government) indicated that smoke detectors may not go off in 
as many as 35% of all fires.  While fire alarm systems are 
designed to provide early warning against fire, they do not 
guarantee warning or protection against fire.  A fire alarm sys-
tem may not provide timely or adequate warning, or simply 
may not function, for a variety of reasons: 
Smoke detectors may not sense fire where smoke cannot 
reach the detectors such as in chimneys, in or behind walls, on 
roofs, or on the other side of closed doors.  Smoke detectors 
also may not sense a fire on another level or floor of a building.  
A second-floor detector, for example, may not sense a first-
floor or basement fire.  
Particles of combustion or “smoke” from a developing fire 
may not reach the sensing chambers of smoke detectors 
because:
• Barriers such as closed or partially closed doors, walls, or 
chimneys may inhibit particle or smoke flow.  
• Smoke particles may become “cold,” stratify, and not reach 
the ceiling or upper walls where detectors are located.  
• Smoke particles may be blown away from detectors by air 
outlets.  
• Smoke particles may be drawn into air returns before 
reaching the detector.  
The amount of “smoke” present may be insufficient to alarm 
smoke detectors.  Smoke detectors are designed to alarm at 
various levels of smoke density.  If such density levels are not 
created by a developing fire at the location of detectors, the 
detectors will not go into alarm.  
Smoke detectors, even when working properly, have sensing 
limitations.  Detectors that have photoelectronic sensing 
chambers tend to detect smoldering fires better than flaming 
fires, which have little visible smoke.  Detectors that have ion-
izing-type sensing chambers tend to detect fast-flaming fires 
better than smoldering fires.  Because fires develop in different 
ways and are often unpredictable in their growth, neither type 
of detector is necessarily best and a given type of detector 
may not provide adequate warning of a fire.  
Smoke detectors cannot be expected to provide adequate 
warning of fires caused by arson, children playing with 
matches (especially in bedrooms), smoking in bed, and violent 
explosions (caused by escaping gas, improper storage of 
flammable materials, etc.).  Heat detectors do not sense particles of combustion and 
alarm only when heat on their sensors increases at a predeter-
mined rate or reaches a predetermined level.  Rate-of-rise 
heat detectors may be subject to reduced sensitivity over time.  
For this reason, the rate-of-rise feature of each detector 
should be tested at least once per year by a qualified fire pro-
tection specialist.  Heat detectors are designed to protect 
property, not life.  
IMPORTANT!  Smoke detectors must be installed in the 
same room as the control panel and in rooms used by the sys-
tem for the connection of alarm transmission wiring, communi-
cations, signaling, and/or power.  If detectors are not so 
located, a developing fire may damage the alarm system, crip-
pling its ability to report a fire.  
Audible warning devices such as bells may not alert people 
if these devices are located on the other side of closed or 
partly open doors or are located on another floor of a building.  
Any warning device may fail to alert people with a disability or 
those who have recently consumed drugs, alcohol or medica-
tion.  Please note that:
• Strobes can, under certain circumstances, cause seizures 
in people with conditions such as epilepsy.  
• Studies have shown that certain people, even when they 
hear a fire alarm signal, do not respond or comprehend the 
meaning of the signal.  It is the property owners responsi-
bility to conduct fire drills and other training exercise to 
make people aware of fire alarm signals and instruct them 
on the proper reaction to alarm signals.  
• In rare instances, the sounding of a warning device can 
cause temporary or permanent hearing loss.  
A fire alarm system will not operate without any electrical 
power.  If AC power fails, the system will operate from standby 
batteries only for a specified time and only if the batteries have 
been properly maintained and replaced regularly.  
Equipment used in the system may not be technically com-
patible with the control panel.  It is essential to use only equip-
ment listed for service with your control panel.  
Telephone lines needed to transmit alarm signals from a 
premise to a central monitoring station may be out of service 
or temporarily disabled. For added protection against tele-
phone line failure, backup radio transmission systems are rec-
ommended.  
The most common cause of fire alarm malfunction is inade-
quate maintenance.  To keep the entire fire alarm system in 
excellent working order, ongoing maintenance is required per 
the manufacturers recommendations, and UL and NFPA stan-
dards.  At a minimum, the requirements of NFPA 72 shall be 
followed.  Environments with large amounts of dust, dirt or 
high air velocity require more frequent maintenance.  A main-
tenance agreement should be arranged through the local man-
ufacturers representative.  Maintenance should be scheduled 
monthly or as required by National and/or local fire codes and 
should be performed by authorized professional fire alarm 
installers only.  Adequate written records of all inspections 
should be kept.  
     Limit-C1-2-2007 
						

							FireForce 8 Installation & Operation Manual  P/N 52257:B  09/27/2006 3
Installation Precautions
Adherence to the following will aid in problem-free installation with long-term reliability:
WARNING - Several different sources of power can be 
connected to the fire alarm control panel.  Disconnect all 
sources of power before servicing.  Control unit and associ-
ated equipment may be damaged by removing and/or insert-
ing cards, modules, or interconnecting cables while the unit is 
energized.  Do not attempt to install, service, or operate this 
unit until manuals are read and understood. 
CAUTION - System Re-acceptance Test after Software 
Changes: To ensure proper system operation, this product 
must be tested in accordance with NFPA 72 after any pro-
gramming operation or change in site-specific software.  Re-
acceptance testing is required after any change, addition or 
deletion of system components, or after any modification, 
repair or adjustment to system hardware or wiring. All compo-
nents, circuits, system operations, or software functions known 
to be affected by a change must be 100% tested.  In addition, 
to ensure that other operations are not inadvertently affected, 
at least 10% of initiating devices that are not directly affected 
by the change, up to a maximum of 50 devices, must also be 
tested and proper system operation verified.  
This system meets NFPA requirements for operation at 0-49º 
C/32-120º F  and at a relative humidity  93% ± 2% RH (non-
condensing) at 32°C ± 2°C (90°F ± 3°F).   However, the useful 
life of the systems standby batteries and the electronic com-
ponents may be adversely affected by extreme temperature 
ranges and humidity.  Therefore, it is recommended that this 
system and its peripherals be installed in an environment with 
a normal room temperature of 15-27º C/60-80º F. 
Verify that wire sizes are adequate for all initiating and indi-
cating device loops.  Most devices cannot tolerate more than a 
10% I.R. drop from the specified device voltage. Like all solid state electronic devices, this system may 
operate erratically or can be damaged when subjected to light-
ning induced transients.  Although no system is completely 
immune from lightning transients and interference, proper 
grounding will reduce susceptibility. Overhead or outside aerial 
wiring is not recommended, due to an increased susceptibility 
to nearby lightning strikes.  Consult with the Technical Ser-
vices Department if any problems are anticipated or encoun-
tered. 
Disconnect AC power and batteries prior to removing or 
inserting circuit boards.  Failure to do so can damage circuits. 
Remove all electronic assemblies prior to any drilling, filing, 
reaming, or punching of the enclosure. When possible, make 
all cable entries from the sides or rear.  Before making modifi-
cations, verify that they will not interfere with battery, trans-
former, or printed circuit board location. 
Do not tighten screw terminals more than 9 in-lbs.  Over-
tightening may damage threads, resulting in reduced terminal 
contact pressure and difficulty with screw terminal removal. 
This system contains static-sensitive components.  
Always ground yourself with a proper wrist strap before han-
dling any circuits so that static charges are removed from the 
body.  Use static suppressive packaging to protect electronic 
assemblies removed from the unit.
Follow the instructions in the installation, operating, and pro-
gramming manuals. These instructions must be followed to 
avoid damage to the control panel and associated equipment. 
FACP operation and reliability depend upon proper installation.
Precau-D1-9-2005
FCC Warning
WARNING: This equipment generates, uses, and can 
radiate radio frequency energy and if not installed and 
used in accordance with the instruction manual may 
cause interference to radio communications. It has been 
tested and found to comply with the limits for class A 
computing devices pursuant to Subpart B of Part 15 of 
FCC Rules, which is designed to provide reasonable 
protection against such interference when devices are 
operated in a commercial environment. Operation of this 
equipment in a residential area is likely to cause interfer-
ence, in which case the user will be required to correct 
the interference at his or her own expense.Canadian Requirements
This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class A limits 
for radiation noise emissions from digital apparatus set 
out in the Radio Interference Regulations of the Cana-
dian Department of Communications.  
Le present appareil numerique nemet pas de bruits radi-
oelectriques depassant les limites applicables aux appa-
reils numeriques de la classe A prescrites dans le 
Reglement sur le brouillage radioelectrique edicte par le 
ministere des Communications du Canada.  
Acclimate Plus™, HARSH™, NIS™, Notifier Integrated Systems™, NOTI•FIRE•NET™, and ONYXWorks™ are all trademarks; and FlashScan®, NION®,
NOTIFIER®, ONYX®, UniNet®, Ver iFi re ®, and VIEW® are all registered trademarks of Honeywell International Inc. Echelon® is a registered trademark and
LonWorks™ is a trademark of Echelon Corporation. ARCNET® is a registered trademark of Datapoint Corporation. Microsoft® and Windows® are
registered trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation. LEXAN® is a registered trademark of GE Plastics, a subsidiary of General Electric Company.
©2006 by Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use of this document is strictly prohibited. 
						

							4 FireForce 8 Installation & Operation Manual  P/N 52257:B  09/27/2006
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							FireForce 8 Installation & Operation Manual  P/N 52257:B  09/27/2006 5
Table of Contents
Section 1 Introduction   ............................................................................................................ 7
1.1: General Description ....................................................................................................................................... 7
1.2: Functional Description................................................................................................................................... 7
1.2.1: Normal Quiescent Operation ............................................................................................................... 7
1.2.2: Alarm Condition .................................................................................................................................. 7
1.2.3: Reset .................................................................................................................................................... 7
1.2.4: Trouble Condition ............................................................................................................................... 8
1.2.5: Normal AC Power Failure ................................................................................................................... 8
1.2.6: Delayed AC Power Failure .................................................................................................................. 8
1.2.7: Battery Operation ................................................................................................................................ 8
1.3: Electrical Operating Characteristics .............................................................................................................. 9
Section 2 Installation   ............................................................................................................ 11
2.1: Mounting Instructions.................................................................................................................................. 11
2.2: Electrical Connections ................................................................................................................................. 11
2.3: Function of Input/Output Connections ........................................................................................................ 11
2.3.1: AC Connections................................................................................................................................. 11
2.3.2: Battery Connections .......................................................................................................................... 11
2.3.3: 24 VDC Out Terminals (Power Limited) .......................................................................................... 11
2.3.4: Earth Ground ..................................................................................................................................... 12
2.3.5: Trouble Relay .................................................................................................................................... 12
2.3.6: Power Fail .......................................................................................................................................... 12
2.3.7: Extender Output Circuit Wiring (Power Limited)............................................................................. 12
2.3.8: Reference EOL Resistor (Power Limited)......................................................................................... 13
2.3.9: Input signal wiring (Power Limited) ................................................................................................. 13
Section 3 Function of Switches, LEDs and Jumpers  ......................................................... 15
3.1: Programming Switches   .............................................................................................................................. 15
3.2: Function of LED Indicators  ........................................................................................................................ 16
3.3: Jumper Functions ......................................................................................................................................... 16
3.3.1: Jumper J1  .......................................................................................................................................... 16
3.3.2: Jumper J2  .......................................................................................................................................... 16
3.4: Optional Class A Adapter ............................................................................................................................ 16
Section 4 Operation  ............................................................................................................... 17
4.1: Start-up Procedure ....................................................................................................................................... 17
4.2: Operating Instructions ................................................................................................................................. 17
4.2.1: Alarm Condition ................................................................................................................................ 17
4.2.2: Trouble Condition ............................................................................................................................. 17
4.2.3: Testing and Maintenance ................................................................................................................... 17
4.3: Battery Applications .................................................................................................................................... 17
4.3.1: Battery Capacity ................................................................................................................................ 17
Appendix A: Compatible Devices  ........................................................................................ 19
A.1: Compatible Notification Devices  .............................................................................................................. 19
A.2: Synchronized Horns and Strobes ................................................................................................................ 20
Appendix B: FireForce 8 Battery Calculation Chart   .......................................................... 21
Appendix C: Wiring Drawings   ............................................................................................. 23
C.1: B-W479 Wiring Diagram: Notification Circuit Expander   ........................................................................ 23
C.2: B-W479-1 Wiring Diagram: Synchronized Horn & Strobe .......................................................................24
C.3: C-M822, Assembly Drawing, FireForce 8 Cabinet .................................................................................... 25 
						

							Table of Contents
6 FireForce 8 Installation & Operation Manual  P/N 52257:B  09/27/2006 
						

							FireForce 8 Installation & Operation Manual  P/N 52257:B  09/27/2006 7
Section 1: Introduction  
1.1  General Description
The FIREFORCE 8 is a notification appliance circuit extender panel designed to extend the power 
capabilities of the existing notification appliance circuits and provide power for other ancillary 
devices.
An FIREFORCE 8 panel consists of two notification appliance circuit inputs and four class B, style 
Y, two class A, style Z, or two class B and one class A notification appliance circuits. Two class B 
(1 class A) circuits will always be controlled by the first input, the other two class B (1 class A) 
circuits may be operated from either input. Each of these output circuits is capable of providing 3.0 
amps of power limited notification appliance power and are supplied from an 8 Amp, 24 VDC 
power supply. Using the optional Class A Adapter, PN 31076, four class A outputs at 2.5A each 
may be obtained. Outputs may follow the inputs, or be programmed to provide temporal outputs for 
a steady input They can also be programmed to provide strobe and horn synchronizing signals 
when none are on the input. The internal sync. signals can permit horns and strobes to be connected 
to a single wire pair on each output, controlled by the two inputs, or they can be separated and 
operated on individual outputs. All inputs and outputs are supervised for open or shorted 
conditions. EOL resistor values can be changed by connecting a sample EOL resistor to the unit. 
This allows compatibility with existing NAC circuits. An internal battery charger is also provided 
with the FIREFORCE 8 to provide standby battery operation. The panel is mounted in a rigid sheet 
metal enclosure with the dimensions of  (12 5/8W x 18H x 4 1/2D). 
1.2  Functional Description 
1.2.1  Normal Quiescent Operation  
In the normal quiescent condition the green Power On LED is illuminated indicating AC line 
operation.  The yellow TRBL LEDs are off indicating that all supervision circuits are normal.
1.2.2  Alarm Condition 
Whenever an alarm condition occurs at the Main FACP the resultant 24V output from its indicating 
circuit will energize the connected polarity sensing inputs.  This input will then activate the 
notification appliance output circuits on the FIREFORCE 8 according to how they are 
programmed. Input 1 will always control Outputs 1 and 2. Input 2 normally controls Outputs 3, and 
4 (Default) however this pair of outputs can be programmed to operate from Input 1. The 
FIREFORCE 8 notification appliance circuits will follow steady, march time, temporal or coded 
signals from the main control panel, and will pass on strobe and horn synchronization signals if 
they are present on the input. 
When the unit is programmed to generate synchronization signals, combined horn and strobe 
synchronization signals are placed on each selected output pair and turned on and off by the inputs 
in the manner described as default above.
NOTE:When the unit is programmed to generate synchronization signals and have all four outputs 
controlled by input 1, the strobe synchronization signals are placed on all four outputs when input 1 is 
active. When input 1 and 2 are active, the horn synchronization signals are combined with the strobe 
synchronization signals on all four outputs. In this manner, horns and strobes can be connected to 
same pair of wires on any output, and be controlled separately. 
						

							8 FireForce 8 Installation & Operation Manual  P/N 52257:B  09/27/2006
Introduction Functional Description
1.2.3  Reset 
The FIREFORCE 8 will return to the quiescent condition automatically upon restoration of the 
Main FACP to normal operation 
1.2.4  Trouble Condition  
A trouble condition is indicated by a TRBL LED illuminating and the common Form “C” 
TROUBLE FAIL relay contacts transferring.  The trouble signal will be transmitted to the Main 
FACPs by opening the Indicating Circuits that are used to control the FIREFORCE 8. An alarm 
from the main control panel will override a trouble condition. 
The FIREFORCE 8 monitors its output notification appliance circuits for an open or shorted 
condition. Notification appliance circuits with a short circuit trouble can not be activated.
A trouble is indicated by any one of the following conditions:  
1.2.5  Normal AC Power Failure
When the AC fails or falls below 100VAC at the 120VAC setting or 190VAC at the 240VAC 
setting, the FIREFORCE 8 will go into the Trouble condition. It will switch to Battery Operation, 
deactivate the Trouble and Power Fail relays, extinguish the AC On LED (LED 8), and transmit the 
trouble over the input Signal Circuits.
1.2.6  Delayed AC Power Failure
When S7 AC 6HR is set (Dialer Operation) An AC failure will be handled in the same manner as 
above EXCEPT the TROUBLE relay will not transfer, and the failure notification will not be 
transmitted over the input Signal Circuits until the failure has existed for 6 hours. The POWER 
FA I L relay will transfer in order to provide an external trouble indication.
1.2.7  Battery Operation 
Indicated by the extinguishing of the green Power On LED.
Standby operation occurs whenever the main power source fails or falls below 100VAC @ 120VAC 
setting or 190VAC @ 240VAC setting. In this situation the FIREFORCE 8 will automatically 
transfer system operation to the standby battery set without the loss of any alarm condition present 
prior to the transfer. The FIREFORCE 8 panel will transfer back to the main power source when 
the operating voltage returns to 105VAC @ 120VAC setting or 194VAC @ 240VAC setting. 
Should the battery become disconnected, have a blown fuse, or develop low voltage, the 
FIREFORCE 8 will indicate a Battery fault and light LED 2.  Replace batteries when required. 
Indicator Name Trouble Condition
LED 8 PWR ON A brown-out or black-out AC line condition
LED 7 AUX TRBL A low or missing output, or a short circuit on the AUXilliary 
output
LED 6 BATT TRBL A low or missing battery
LED 5 GF TRBL An earth fault on external wiring
LED 4, 3, 2, 1 SIG(4,3,2,1) TRBL A short circuit or an open on a supervised notification appliance 
circuit 
						

							FireForce 8 Installation & Operation Manual  P/N 52257:B  09/27/2006 9
Electrical Operating CharacteristicsIntroduction 
1.3  Electrical Operating Characteristics  
Input Voltage 120 VAC @ 3.3 Amps or 240 VAC @ 2 Amps (Jumper selected)50/60 Hz. 
Input Control Signal 10VDC to 30VDC, or 12V to 28V Full Wave Rectified, Polarity Reversing.
Output Voltage 24 Volt DC  @ 8Amps
NAC outputs 1- 4 3.0 Amps Maximum per output.
NAC outputs 1- 4
With optional Class A adapter2.5 Amps Maximum per output.
AUX Power 0.15 Amps under all conditions. 2.0 Amps if load is removed during 
operation from battery.
Total System Current Total loading on all outputs shall not exceed 8 Amps. 
						

							10 FireForce 8 Installation & Operation Manual  P/N 52257:B  09/27/2006
Introduction Electrical Operating Characteristics