The brain of a fire alarm system is known as what?

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The heart of a fire alarm system is the Fire Alarm Control Unit, the component that acts as the brain. It continuously monitors inputs from detectors and manual pull stations, applies the system’s logic to decide when an alarm should be declared, and coordinates the response. When alarm conditions are met, it triggers the notification appliances (sirens, horns, strobes), initiates any required annunciation or signaling to other systems, and can log events and faults for maintenance. It also handles circuit supervision, fault reporting, and reset procedures. Other parts have supporting roles: the power source provides energy, the notification appliances deliver the audible/visual alerts, and auxiliary devices support additional functions or monitoring. So the central control unit best fits the idea of the brain because it integrates detection, decision-making, and control of the alarm outputs.