Ampac

Australian-born addressable fire detection and emergency warning systems, now part of Halma plc.

Platform overview

Ampac is an Australian fire-systems manufacturer (founded in Perth, now part of the UK-listed Halma group of safety technology companies) that designs and builds a complete fire detection and evacuation portfolio for the Australian, New Zealand and international markets. The range spans intelligent addressable fire alarm control panels, conventional panels, a marine line, the open Apollo detection ecosystem, aspirating and special detection, wireless devices, manual call points, interface modules, audio-visual notification, a full EWIS and occupant-warning evacuation range, and graphics/remote-monitoring software.

Two themes run through the platform. First, openness: Ampac panels use the open Apollo protocol (XP95, Discovery and the newer Soteria ranges) and are explicitly designed so any fire company whose technicians have completed Ampac training can install, program and service them — giving end users freedom to choose their service provider. Second, an integrated fire-plus-evacuation story: the FireFinder PLUS panel and the EvacUElite EWIS can be supplied in combination or separate cabinets, with high-level interface between them, covering both detection and orderly, phased evacuation from one vendor.

Range at a glance

Addressable control panels (FireFinder PLUS & LoopSense)

Ampac’s intelligent analogue-addressable panels run the open Apollo protocol and share a common toolset and add-on ecosystem. The FireFinder PLUS is the flagship for small-to-large systems; the LoopSense covers small-to-medium sites economically.

FireFinder PLUS is fully expandable from 1 to 8 loops and certified to AS 7240.2, AS 7240.4 and AS 4428.3:2010 (ActivFire afp2954). Each loop runs at 500 mA and carries up to 126 Apollo XP95/Discovery (and Soteria) devices. It’s offered in SP1X (up to 4 loops), SP8X (up to 8 loops) and SP16X (up to 16 loops / two network nodes) cabinets plus 10U/16U/29U rack options, with up to 1,999 programmable zones and a large graphic display. It networks peer-to-peer to up to 99 panels / 250 loops (~31,500 devices system-wide) and pairs with the EvacUElite EWIS via high-level interface for a combined fire-and-evacuation solution.

LoopSense is the compact addressable panel for small-to-medium sites, in 1- or 2-loop versions (the second loop enabled by a plug-in key) and certified to AS 7240.2/.4 and AS 4428.3:2010. Each loop runs at 500 mA with up to 126 devices and supports Apollo XP95, Discovery, Xplorer and Series 90 detectors. It features a balanced loop receive circuit, auto-learn, a 240×64 backlit graphic LCD, up to 999 programmable zones with cause-and-effect and day/night/dependency modes, a 1,000-event segmented log, and up to 30 SmartTerminal repeaters. Programming is via the front panel or LoopMaster (USB/RS232).

Conventional & marine panels

ZoneSense PLUS is Ampac’s conventional fire alarm control panel for sites that don’t require addressable detection — a versatile 4- or 8-zone panel supporting up to 40 conventional detectors per zone, with a 2-line LCD for status, faults/isolates and on-site programming. It accepts modular add-ons via an RS485 port, comes in ABS or metal cabinets, and is approved to AS 4428. A ZoneSense PLUS Agent Release variant adds gaseous suppression control, and the ZoneSense DH4 serves dedicated detection/heat applications.

FireFinder Marine is the marine-listed member of the FireFinder family for shipboard and offshore applications — marine-rated Discovery addressable and Orbis conventional detection, marine manual call points, audio-visual devices and SmartView Marine graphics — extending Ampac’s reach beyond buildings into vessels and waterfront infrastructure.

Networking

FireFinder PLUS panels form a peer-to-peer network for large or distributed sites. The Network Interface Card connects up to 99 FireFinder PLUS panels/nodes in a high-integrity, redundant network, with a maximum of 250 loops across the network — roughly 31,500 addressable devices system-wide. Network media can be two-core copper or fibre-optic (via the Fibre Optic Network Interface), and a remote fire brigade panel can be located away from the main panel. Note that not all network configurations are Standards-compliant/ActivFire listed, so the network design must be checked against the listing. The EvacUElite evacuation system has its own fault-tolerant network of up to 64 nodes.

Open Apollo protocol & detection philosophy

Ampac’s addressable panels are built on the open Apollo protocol — one of the most widely deployed addressable device ecosystems in the world. The practical consequences are significant: device choice and competitive pricing, second-sourcing, broad installer familiarity, and the ability to mix the XP95, Discovery and Soteria generations on a loop. Combined with Ampac’s open service model (any trained company can program and maintain the panel), this gives building owners genuine freedom from single-vendor lock-in.

Detection intelligence is delivered both at the panel (per-detector algorithms, day/night sensitivity, dependencies, pre-alarm) and within the Apollo devices themselves — notably the Discovery range, whose detectors offer multiple selectable response modes, and the newer Soteria range, which improves optical performance, drift compensation and serviceability. The multi-criteria approach (optical + heat, CO + heat) provides faster response with better nuisance-alarm immunity.

Addressable detection range

Ampac supplies the full Apollo addressable detection portfolio across three generations, all loop-powered and addressable. Detector bases provide the interface and add functions (standard, isolating/short-circuit isolator, sounder and relay bases), allowing notification or control to be distributed at detector positions.

Special detection — flame, beam & duct

Where point smoke detection is unsuitable, Ampac offers specialist addressable detection on the same loop:

• Flame detection — triple-IR flame detectors (e.g. 801F, FV411f/FV412f/FV413f) and intrinsically-safe triple-IR variants (S271i+ / S271f+) for fast-developing flaming fires and high-risk/process areas.
• Beam detection — addressable optical beam detectors for large open volumes such as atria, warehouses and halls, where ceiling-mounted point detectors are impractical.
• Duct sampling — addressable air-duct sampling units for monitoring smoke in HVAC ductwork.
• Hazardous-area detection — intrinsically-safe (Ex) detectors, call points and interface devices (e.g. IF800Ex) with galvanic isolation for explosive-atmosphere zones.

Aspirating smoke detection — Wagner Titanus

For very early warning and challenging environments, Ampac supplies the Wagner Titanus aspirating smoke detection (ASD) range. Aspirating detectors actively draw air from the protected area through a pipe network and analyse it in a high-sensitivity chamber, giving earliest-possible warning in high-airflow, high-value or hard-to-access spaces (data centres, clean rooms, warehouses, heritage and high-ceiling areas).

The Titanus range complements Ampac’s point and beam detection where the highest sensitivity or concealed/high-level monitoring is required.

Wireless detection

For sites where cabling is impractical — heritage buildings, temporary installations, hard-to-reach areas — Ampac offers wireless addressable detection that integrates with the FireFinder/LoopSense loop:

• Reach wireless — Ampac’s wireless detection range, allowing wireless detectors and devices to participate in the addressable system.
• Xpander wireless — the Apollo Xpander wireless range: wireless detectors, call points and interfaces linked to the loop via a translator/expander, retaining addressable behaviour for mixed wired/wireless designs.

Manual call points, modules & interfaces

Ampac supplies addressable manual call points including the intelligent MCP (CP820), IP67 waterproof MCP (CP830) and isolator versions (MCP820 / MCP830) with built-in short-circuit isolation, plus an addressable door holder and apartment module for residential applications.

A wide range of addressable input/output and interface modules extends the system to plant, conventional devices and control functions:

• Panel add-on boards (FireFinder PLUS & LoopSense): fire-fan control, agent (gas) release, 8-way switch/indicator, 16-way input, 8-way relay, 8-way sounder, 8-zone conventional, 32-zone alarm indicator, zone disable/indicator, high-level-interface (HLI) expander, fire brigade board, and a front-panel printer.

Audio-visual notification

Ampac provides addressable and conventional audio-visual devices for occupant alerting at the detection level — the Discovery and XP95 AV ranges (sounders, sounder-beacon bases and visual alarm devices), remote indicators and beacons/strobes. Loop-powered sounder drivers (LPS800) and sounder/relay bases (SAB801 with LED beacon, SAM800) allow notification to be distributed from detector positions, while dedicated emergency voice and high-power occupant warning is delivered by the EvacUElite and EvacU OWS ranges.

Evacuation — EvacUElite EWIS

EvacUElite is Ampac’s new-generation Emergency Warning Control and Indicating Equipment (EWCIE) with a fully integrated Emergency Intercom System (EICIE) — a complete EWIS with warden-intercom. It receives signals from the fire detection system (high-level interface to FireFinder PLUS, or low-level hardwired inputs from third-party panels) and broadcasts alert/evacuation tones and messages for orderly, phased evacuation. It is approved to AS 4428.16:2020 Grade 1, AS 4428.4:2016 and AS 7240.4:2018, with LPCB approval.

It uses a modular card-frame architecture in self-contained cabinets, with a 9-inch colour touchscreen GUI. Audio is fully digital end-to-end, including across the network: tones are generated in software and pre-recorded messages stored as audio files, with audio-mapping software routing any source to any amplifier to support phased evacuation sequences. A PC configuration tool includes a sequence builder and simulator to test evacuation sequences before commissioning.

• The Warden Handset loop is a notable feature: a two-wire fault-tolerant loop (with a short-circuit isolator in each handset) reduces cabling versus traditional four-wire designs, keeps all handsets operational under a short-circuit, and pinpoints a break between two WIP addresses. A combined EvacUElite / FireFinder PLUS cabinet provides a single-supplier fire-and-evacuation solution; the legacy EV3000 EWIS preceded EvacUElite.

Occupant warning systems (OWS)

For buildings requiring occupant warning rather than a full warden-intercom EWIS, Ampac’s EvacU OWS range provides scalable single- or multi-zone sounder/voice systems that integrate with FireFinder PLUS and LoopSense. The range is complemented by Ampac’s loudspeaker portfolio (SPK range, ceiling, surface-mount, horn, sound-projector and flameproof BEx speakers) and visual alarm devices (ceiling and wall VADs, dual ceiling VAD beacons) for compliant audible-plus-visual notification.

Graphics, remote monitoring & programming software

SmartView is Ampac’s graphical event management system — a high-level graphics head-end presenting site plans, zones and device status for monitoring and control of FireFinder PLUS systems and networks (with a SmartView Marine variant for vessels). Nimbus Connect provides remote monitoring, giving authorised users off-site visibility of system status. Together they cover graphical supervision and remote oversight for single buildings and estates.

Panel configuration uses two Windows tools: ConfigManager PLUS programs the FireFinder PLUS (with many pre-engineered functions to speed and standardise configuration), and LoopMaster programs the LoopSense (auto-learn, loop statistics, dirty-device tools and configuration wizards). Both connect via USB or RS232 and reflect Ampac’s open model — programming access is licensed to trained technicians rather than locked to a single service company.

Approvals & standards

Ampac’s AS/NZS-market products are independently tested and ActivFire-listed:

• FireFinder PLUS — AS 7240.2, AS 7240.4 and AS 4428.3:2010; ActivFire afp2954. EN 54 and UL variants exist for export.
• LoopSense — AS 7240.2:2004, AS 7240.4:2004 and AS 4428.3:2010.
• ZoneSense PLUS — AS 4428 (conventional control and indicating equipment).
• EvacUElite EWIS — AS 4428.16:2020 Grade 1, AS 4428.4:2016 and AS 7240.4:2018; LPCB approved.
• Detection — Apollo XP95/Discovery/Soteria devices and Wagner Titanus aspirating carry their respective AS/EN listings; confirm the device listing for each configuration.

Applications & summary

The breadth of the Ampac portfolio lets one vendor cover detection and evacuation across a wide spectrum of buildings: from small sites on LoopSense or ZoneSense PLUS, through commercial, education, health and industrial buildings on FireFinder PLUS, to large multi-building estates on a networked FireFinder PLUS plus EvacUElite EWIS. Specialist needs are met by Wagner aspirating (data centres, clean rooms, warehouses), flame/beam detection (atria, process areas), Ex devices (hazardous areas), wireless (heritage/temporary), and the FireFinder Marine line (vessels).

Its defining strengths are the open Apollo protocol and open service model (device choice, second-sourcing, freedom to choose a servicer); a complete, AS/NZS-native and ActivFire-listed fire-and-evacuation offering under one roof — including the EvacUElite EWIS with integrated warden-intercom and the EvacU OWS range up to 500 W; a deep detection portfolio spanning point, beam, flame, aspirating and wireless; and the SmartView/Nimbus graphics and remote-monitoring layer. Backed by the Halma group, Ampac offers Australasian engineering and support with the reach to serve export, marine and multi-standard projects.

Further reading

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