Focus Pro - Fire Alarm Reporting Features

Although we consider the ability to produce a fire alarm evacuation directly from the HRX terminal to be a really powerful feature which is not found in many other T&A systems, we also recognise that different companies have different needs and requirements. Hopefully one of the following methods will benefit both new and existing Focus Pro customers.

• Method 1: Manually triggered - generated within the Focus software
• Method 2: Manually triggered - from a desktop Icon, generated from the Focus software database
• Method 3: Automatically triggered - generated within the Focus software running as a Service
• Method 4: Automatically triggered - generated from the HRX terminal directly to up to two dedicated serial printers

The HRX3000 and HRX5000 terminals are capable of generating their own Fire Alarm report based on the data they hold on employees clocking's independently of the Focus software. This means that even if communication to the software is broken, a fire report can still be generated. NOTE: It is also possible to use a biometric Hand Punch terminal connected to an HRX5000 to utilise it's Fire Alarm Reporting functionality and other features. The Hand Punch is connected to the HRX5000 terminal via an RS232 serial cable. All of the enrolment and clocking IN and OUT is conducted at the Hand Punch in the normal way. However, it is the HRX5000 that actually records the clocking's and also sends a verification message to the display on the Hand Punch.

Of course you may still generate a Fire Alarm Printout direct from the software however, this obviously requires the software to be running and a valid connection to any designated network printer/s for it to be successful. The Focus User must also have the rights to carry out a Fire Alarm Printout.

The software way of producing a report is simply by pressing the Fire Report button on the Focus toolbar. A report will then be sent to the designated printer/s.

It is possible to connect a serial laser printer to an HRX3000 or 5000 via a TCP/IP network. The process involves the use of a pair of RS232-Network converters, one at the HRX and one at the printer. The document below shows connection and configuration information for use with an HRX5000.

TCP/IP Printer to HRX Terminal connection details.

Focus Fire Report desktop shortcut setup details.

Your HRX terminal keeps track of Employees as they clock IN and OUT and maintains a record of those employees who are clocked IN. A fire alarm panel can be connected to the terminal so that if and when the fire alarm is activated, the clock will automatically generate a list of all those employees who are clocked IN on the system.

The clock requires a 'voltage free' connection from the alarm panel. The installer of the Fire Alarm panel should make this connection for you. As an alternative, or as a 'test switch', you can connect a 'push to make' switch instead of, or in parallel with, the Alarm Panel connection. Suitable switches can be supplied by us if desired.

The Fire Alarm Printout lists Employees present, Fire Muster Group Number with a Page Break at the end of each group to allow for separating the printout into lists for separate Fire Alarm Muster locations. This report can be suitably customised from within the software.

The printer is connected to the clock using our Fire Alarm Printer cable. This is a Serial RS-232 printer cable which requires to be plugged into a Serial RS-232 port on your printer. This is normally terminated at the printer end in a DB-25 socket. You may need to refer to your printer manual for the details of the pin outs. If your printer does not have a serial RS-232 port you must use a 'Serial RS-232 to Parallel Converter' plugged between our serial cable and the printer Parallel (sometimes referred to as Centronics) printer port.

A new feature has been included in Focus Pro version 2.532, which is available when used in conjunction with the latest version of firmware for the HRX3000 and HRX5000 terminals.

As already mentioned, both the HRX3000 and HRX5000 have an input terminal for connection to a fire alarm panel or a manually operated button. The input is used to trigger an evacuation report which is sent to a hardwired serial printer.

However, a newly introduced feature means the input can now also trigger a 'fire alarm transaction' within the HRX terminal. Just like a clocking IN or OUT transaction, the fire alarm transaction is collected by the Focus Watch Service. As soon as the fire alarm transaction is received, the Watch Service automatically generates the Focus software based fire alarm report. This report can of course be pre-configured to be sent to multiple printers across the network of an organisation.

Contact Us for more information.

TCP/IP Printer to HRX Terminal connection details.

Focus Fire Report desktop shortcut setup details.