There are two main types of smoke alarm panels available. Conventional smoke alarm panels have been around for years, so you might see them in older buildings. They work by responding to changes in an electrical current, such as when a smoke detector identifies smoke and changes the current in response. Once the smoke alarm panel detects this current, it sounds the alarm. The conventional smoke alarm panel is installed in different zones—such as the first floor, second floor, etc.—so it’s often also called a zoned panel.（4/8/16 zones optional）
The newer type of fire smoke alarm panel is called an addressable smoke alarm panel. This fire system runs off modern technology, since it features a microprocessor that sends data from devices in the building to the smoke alarm panel, rather than just sensing changes in electrical currents. Every device in the building’s fire detection system has its own address, so the addressable smoke alarm panel can identify which device the signal is coming from. This makes it easy to locate the device that has sent signals to the fire panesl.