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A fire interface connects a rolling shutter control panel to the building fire alarm through a potential free relay contact, so the shutter moves to its safe position on alarm. Good practice is a fail safe design, battery or UPS backup, a manual release and a witnessed test with the alarm at handover. QNAD installs and connects rolling shutters in Abu Dhabi.
- The usual link is a potential free relay contact from the fire panel.
- Design the shutter to fail to its safe position.
- Add battery or UPS backup so it still moves in a power cut.
- Keep a manual release and test it.
- Test with the real alarm at handover and keep the record.
Short answer: the fire interface on a rolling shutter is a signal link between the building fire alarm panel and the shutter control panel. When the alarm is raised, the panel gives a potential free relay contact, and the shutter runs to its safe position. If you searched for fire interface with rolling shutters in Abu Dhabi, this is the wiring, testing and handover process we follow.
It builds on our guide to fire integrated shutters. Here we stay on the interface itself. For a quote on automatic rolling shutters in Abu Dhabi, call +971 50 494 8667.
The parts of a fire interface
- Fire alarm panel output: a potential free (dry) relay contact, supplied by the alarm contractor.
- Shutter control panel input: a dedicated fire input that has priority over every other command.
- Motor and brake: sized for the shutter and able to run the safe movement under control.
- Backup power: a battery or UPS so the shutter still moves if mains power fails.
- Manual release: so the shutter can be operated by hand if the motor cannot run.
- Safety edge and sensors: so people and vehicles are protected as the shutter moves.
Step by step: how we connect it
- Review the specification. We read the fire consultant notes to see which shutters must react and what position is safe: closed, or open for escape.
- Agree the signal. The alarm contractor provides the relay contact. We agree the contact type, the cable and who owns each side.
- Wire to the control panel. The fire input is wired as a supervised or fail safe circuit where the panel supports it, so a cut cable is treated as an alarm.
- Set the safe movement. We set the speed, the stopping point and the backup power behaviour.
- Test with the real alarm. We run the shutter from the fire alarm, with the consultant or the alarm contractor present, and record the result.
- Hand over. You receive the test record, the wiring details and the service advice.
Common problems we fix
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Shutter does not react to the alarm | Wrong contact type or loose terminal | Check the relay and rewire the fire input |
| Shutter closes with no alarm | Faulty relay or a shorted cable | Test the circuit and replace the part |
| Does not move in a power cut | Dead backup battery | Replace the battery and test |
| Hard to release by hand | Release not serviced | Service and test the release |
If your shutter has a fault, see our rolling shutter repair service. For new work see rolling shutter installation.
Frequently asked questions
What is a potential free contact?
It is a relay output that only opens or closes a circuit and does not carry its own voltage. It keeps the fire alarm and the shutter electrically separate.
Should the shutter open or close on alarm?
It depends on the opening. A shutter that divides fire zones usually closes. A shutter on an escape route may open. The fire consultant sets this.
Can you test the shutter with the alarm?
Yes. We carry out a witnessed test and record the result for your handover file. We cover Abu Dhabi, KIZAD and Al Bateen.
Plan your fire interface
Call +971 50 494 8667, send a photo or book a site visit. We will confirm the interface with your alarm contractor and give a written quote.
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