Pertronic

New Zealand fire alarm panel manufacturer with a strong Australian footprint and a reputation for serviceability.

Platform overview

Pertronic Industries is a New Zealand manufacturer of fire detection and alarm systems with a strong presence across Australia and New Zealand (and a US operation). Its platform spans the F220 intelligent analogue-addressable control panel (the earlier F100A and F16e are now discontinued), the intelligent-addressable detector and module range, a panel-integrated occupant-warning system, extinguishing agent release, the Net2 network, and the FireMap graphics and FireUtils configuration software. The range is engineered first for AS/NZS codes and is ActivFire-listed.

Two ideas define the platform. First, scale and capability concentrated in the panel: the F220 carries up to 20 loops and several thousand devices in one cabinet, with a 7-inch colour display, rich cause-and-effect logic and a panel-integrated occupant-warning amplifier. On some competing platforms, those features require separate equipment. Second, AS/NZS-native, locally-supported design: Pertronic designs, builds and supports its products in the region, with short support lines, region-specific engineering, and tight alignment with Australian and New Zealand standards (AS 7240, AS 4428.16) including a straightforward upgrade path from the large installed base of legacy F120A systems.

Heritage note: Pertronic Industries is a New Zealand fire-systems manufacturer (Wellington) with a strong presence across Australia and NZ. The F220 is the current flagship and the direct successor to the long-serving F120A; a UL-listed F220 variant serves the US market.

Range at a glance

Control panels

Pertronic’s panels share a common detector loop, device range and configuration philosophy, scaling from a conventional small-building panel to a 20-loop networked flagship.

The F220 is the flagship: a modular, expandable, networkable intelligent fire panel and the direct successor to the F120A. It is built on a 32-bit RISC processor running Linux, with a 7-inch 800×480 colour LCD that uses colour-coded screens (alarm, fault, pre-alarm, disablement) and large 5 mm alarm text to make panel status unmistakable. It carries 2 to 20 IA loops (in two-loop increments) and concentrates very high capacity in a single cabinet.

The F100A (compact analogue-addressable) and the F16e (conventional) were earlier Pertronic panels and are now discontinued: Pertronic lists both as historic products no longer available for new installations, and notes that the F100A does not comply with the current AS 7240.2. Both remain installed in existing buildings, and Pertronic says spare parts may be available. The legacy F120A (predecessor to the F220) is also widely installed, with the F220 providing the upgrade path.

The intelligent-addressable (IA) loop

Pertronic panels use an intelligent-addressable detector loop: a two-wire circuit carrying intelligent detectors, modules, manual call points and addressable alarm devices, with short-circuit isolation to keep the rest of the loop operational under a fault.

The spur capability and CLIP-protocol support are particularly useful for retrofits: existing conventional or legacy cabling and devices can often be reused when converting a site to the F220, reducing upgrade cost and disruption. Each addressable device is supervised and individually identified, so the panel pinpoints the location of an alarm or fault to the device.

Detection: sensors & algorithms

The F220 uses intelligent analogue-addressable detectors: each sensor reports its measured value to the panel, which applies the alarm decision with environmental compensation and configurable sensitivity. Pertronic’s intelligent detector range covers the common sensing types:

Detection behaviour is highly configurable per point: multi-level alarm thresholds, day/night sensitivity, pre-alarm/early-warning sensing, drift compensation and maintenance (“dirty detector”) alerts, plus AS 1670.1-compliant alarm acknowledgement, delay and verification facilities. Addressable bases provide the interface and add functions (standard, short-circuit isolator, relay and sounder bases), so notification or control can be distributed at the detector position. (Pertronic also publishes device-compatibility tables listing all loop-compatible alarm devices for each panel.)

Loop modules, call points & isolators

The IA loop carries a full range of addressable input/output and interface devices for monitoring plant, interfacing conventional devices and driving control functions. Each module is supervised and individually addressed, and cause-and-effect logic links inputs to outputs across the panel and network.

Integrated occupant warning system (OWS)

A defining feature of the F220 in the AS/NZS market is that occupant warning is built into the fire panel rather than provided as separate equipment. The panel can host EA60 and EA120 amplifiers delivering up to 360 W of supervised 100 V-line audio per panel, with a built-in signal generator, emergency microphone facilities and a text-to-speech tool for creating custom voice messages. This integrated occupant-warning capability is ActivFire-listed to AS 4428.16:2020 grade 3 (afp-3779).

Building occupant warning into the fire panel simplifies design, wiring and compliance for typical Australian and New Zealand buildings. There is no separate occupant-warning cabinet to specify, power and interface, and supervised speaker lines and the text-to-speech message tool support clear, building-specific evacuation messaging. For larger or intercom-heavy projects, the F220 integrates with broader emergency-warning equipment as required.

Extinguishing agent release

Pertronic provides an Extinguishing Agent Release Controller (ARC) for gaseous and other suppression systems, designed for installation with the F220 (and earlier Pertronic panels) or third-party fire panels. The ARC monitors the fire panel for alarm signals and manages the release sequence:

• Configurable release logic: in the default “Double-Knock Auto” mode the controller requires two separate alarm signals before activating, reducing the risk of inadvertent discharge; single-knock and other modes are selectable.
• Programmable timing: Alarm Input, Auto Discharge Delay, Manual Discharge Delay and Release Output Hold Time are all programmable.
• Control stations: an RS-485 bus connects an Agent Control Station and up to nine Local Control Stations for status indication and manual release/hold/abort at the protected area.

Net2 networking

For large or distributed sites, F220 panels connect over Net2, Pertronic’s fast, fault-tolerant fire network. Net2 supports up to 160 panels, with up to 130 covered by its ActivFire listing, with each network segment able to use copper (RS-485) or single-mode or multi-mode fibre to suit distance and resilience requirements. The network is fault-tolerant, so a single cable fault does not bring down communications, and panels share point status and panel condition across the system for coordinated, building-wide response. Net2 is listed to AS 7240.13 for networked fire systems.

The high node count makes Net2 well-suited to large multi-building estates (campuses, hospitals, education and large commercial sites) built from many networked panels, while smaller sites run a single standalone panel.

Operator interface, mimics & FireMap

The F220’s 7-inch 800×480 colour LCD uses colour-coded screens and large alarm text so operators can read system status at a glance during an event, and a deep history log (10,000 all-event entries plus dedicated logs) supports investigation and maintenance. Remote indication and control are extended through up to 8 full-function mimic panels and up to 32 LCD remote displays per system, and the ARC2-AAN annunciator provides remote alarm/auxiliary annunciation compatible with the F220, F100A, F16e and F120A.

Above the panels, FireMap is Pertronic’s graphic monitoring and control software, a map/site-plan-based head-end presenting zones and devices for building-wide visualisation and control. Together the colour panel display, mimics and FireMap give clear operator information from the individual point up to the whole estate.

Cause-and-effect control & plant interface

The F220 includes powerful programmable control for fire-mode plant operation: up to 999 logic blocks, 200 timers, 400 fan (fire-fan) controls and 400 deluge controls. This lets the panel coordinate smoke-control fans and dampers (AS 1668.1 / AS 1670.1), sprinkler/deluge interfaces, lift homing, door release and other ancillary functions through the loop modules and panel relays, with cause-and-effect logic linking initiating points to control outputs across the panel and Net2 network. Combined with the integrated occupant warning and extinguishing control, this allows a single F220 to manage detection, evacuation, suppression and fire-mode building control in a coordinated sequence.

Configuration software & integration

Panel configuration is performed with FireUtils, Pertronic’s Windows configuration suite, which builds and downloads the site-specific program, supports loop diagnostics and device management, and streamlines commissioning. For building-management integration, the F220 provides bidirectional Modbus (allowing a BMS both to read status and, where permitted, issue commands) and read-only BACnet for supervision by third-party head-ends. FireMap provides Pertronic’s own graphical monitoring layer. These interfaces let the F220 sit within a larger managed building or campus while keeping fire functions under the certified fire panel’s control.

Power, cabinets & environment

The F220 is offered with 5 A, 11 A or 22 A power supplies to suit load (loops, occupant-warning amplifiers and ancillary outputs), with internal battery capacity up to 55 Ah depending on cabinet. Cabinets range from 10U to 40U, including weatherproof IP65 versions for external or harsh locations, allowing the panel, loop cards, amplifiers and batteries to be housed to suit the installation.

Approvals & standards

Pertronic’s products are independently tested and ActivFire-listed for the AS/NZS market:

• F220 control & indicating equipment: AS 7240.2 (and AS 7240.4 power supply); CSIRO ActivFire listed (afp-3054).
• Integrated occupant warning: AS 4428.16:2020 grade 3; ActivFire listed (afp-3779).
• Net2 networking: AS 7240.13 (networked fire alarm systems).
• Legacy panels: the F100A and F16e were listed to AS 4428.1:1998 and are now discontinued; the F100A does not comply with the current AS 7240.2. A UL-listed F220 variant serves the US market. Confirm the current listing for each component and configuration.

Applications & summary

Pertronic’s current F220 covers small to large buildings and multi-building estates networked over Net2, with the discontinued F100A and F16e still found on smaller existing sites. That spans commercial and retail, education and health campuses, aged care and residential, industrial sites, and any project upgrading from a legacy F120A. The integrated occupant warning and extinguishing control, the high single-panel capacity, and the weatherproof cabinet options make it adaptable across building types and environments.

Its defining strengths are very high single-panel capacity (up to 3,180 detectors and 1,980 modules across 20 loops); a large network node count (up to 160 panels on Net2, 130 under its ActivFire listing); occupant warning integrated into the fire panel (EA60/EA120, up to 360 W, AS 4428.16); a modern 7-inch colour operator interface backed by FireMap graphics; rich cause-and-effect logic for fire-mode plant control; an IA loop that supports spurs and legacy CLIP devices for cost-effective upgrades; and responsive, NZ-based local support with a direct F120A upgrade path. Together they make Pertronic a complete, locally-engineered fire-and-evacuation platform rather than a single panel.

Servicing Pertronic F220 panels under AS 1851

A routine service on a Pertronic system follows the AS 1851-2012 detection and alarm system schedule like any other panel: frequent checks of the panel, its power supply and its brigade connection, with progressively deeper testing of field devices, ancillary controls and batteries at the longer intervals. Work from the edition the building is maintained to and the site’s cause and effect matrix.

The F220 gives you a fair amount of help. Pertronic’s datasheet lists an automatic system test of the charger, batteries and sensors that can be scheduled for a set time and day, sensor pre-alarm and maintenance warnings, a dedicated walk test screen, and the ability for authorised users to test every output from the keyboard. Individual sensors, loop devices, zones, alarm routing, logic blocks and network inputs can be disabled for maintenance, and the colour disablement screen makes it easy to confirm nothing is left isolated before you leave. History logs hold up to about 20,500 entries and can be saved to a USB stick or pulled into FireUtils, which can also export maintenance and analysis reports. Each power supply log entry records system, charge and battery voltage, charge current and temperature, which is useful evidence when a battery is marginal.

For brigade signalling, the F220 drives the alarm signalling equipment through its brigade transmitter interface, so coordinate the test with the monitoring provider and confirm both alarm and fault signals arrive. Size replacement batteries from the actual load; Pertronic publishes an F220 battery size calculator for this.

Common faults and defects on Pertronic F220 systems

Most call-outs on an F220 are the same faults you meet on any analogue-addressable loop system. The panel identifies the device, loop or circuit involved, so start with the event log and the device text descriptor before you open anything up. Treat the following as general approach rather than Pertronic-specific procedure, and follow the F220 technical manual for exact fault messages.

• Earth faults: usually damaged cable, water in a junction box or a device base, or a screen landed in the wrong place. Isolate circuits one at a time to find which one is carrying the fault, then split that circuit to narrow it down. Weatherproof and external field wiring is a common source.
• Loop open or short circuit: an open loop keeps working from both ends but loses its redundancy; a short causes the nearest isolators to open and drop a section. Check which devices have gone missing to bracket the fault between two isolators. On spurred systems using the 8SAAIB isolator board, remember each spur is isolated separately.
• Device missing or type mismatch: typically a head removed during fit-out, a wrong replacement detector type, or a duplicate or wrong address. Confirm the installed device against the configuration before changing the program, and keep the FireUtils site file current.
• Battery and charger faults: aged or undersized batteries, loose terminals or a failed charger. The PSU log and the scheduled battery test help show whether the problem is the battery or the supply.
• Network and comms faults: on Net2 a single cable or fibre break should not stop communications, but it still needs fixing promptly. Mimics and remote displays on RS-485 buses fault on termination and cabling problems.
• Dirty or drifting detectors: pre-alarm and maintenance warnings flag sensors approaching their limits. Clean or replace them before they cause nuisance alarms, particularly in kitchens, car parks and dusty plant areas.

Where a fault is intermittent, export the history log and ask Pertronic technical support to review it. Linux diagnostic logs can also be exported through FireUtils for their engineers.

Who can service Pertronic, spares and end of life

Pertronic works with fire contractors, consultants and engineers through its own sales and support offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, plus New Zealand. Routine testing to AS 1851 needs no special software, but changing a site’s configuration is done with FireUtils, and in practice programming is limited to technicians Pertronic has trained. Confirm current training and access requirements with your local office before you take on a site that will need program changes. For remote help, Pertronic offers a screen-sharing tool called Pertronic SOS that lets its support engineers walk you through FireUtils on your own laptop.

Several older panels are now historic products. Pertronic states the F120A is no longer sold or manufactured, its CPU is out of production, and only a handful of master boards remain for field replacement. The F100A and the F16e conventional panel are also listed as discontinued and no longer available for new installations, with spare parts possibly available on request. In each case Pertronic points to the F220 as the replacement, and offers an F120A to F220 upgrade kit. If an F220 joins a network that still contains F120A or F100A panels, Pertronic says the whole network must move to Net2.

• Record the panel model, firmware and configuration file at every annual service.
• Flag F120A, F100A and F16e panels in the client’s defects or recommendations report as ageing equipment with limited spares.
• Price an upgrade before a failure forces one, so the client can budget for it.
• Ask Pertronic which loop wiring and field devices can be kept on the upgrade; the F220 supports legacy CLIP devices on its loop.

Raising end of life early is fairer to the client than finding out on the day a master board fails and no replacement exists.

Further reading

Frequently asked