Manual fire alarm activation: Difference between revisions

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== Manual call points ==

In Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Asia, pull stations are generally not used; instead of, a '''manual call point''' is used, which is usually referred to as an MCP, call point, break-glass point, or Fire Point within the [[fire protection]] industry and as a "transmitter" in Japan. They are used to allow building occupants to signal that a fire or other emergency exists within the building. When activated they will raise a plastic [[flag]] out of the top to tell which alarm was activated. They are usually connected to a central [[fire alarm control panel|fire alarm panel]] which is in turn connected to an [[alarm]] system in the building, and often to a local fire brigade [[dispatcher]] as well. The first modern MCP arrived in Europe in 1972 and was developed by KAC.<ref name="KAC">{{cite web|url=http://www.kac.co.uk/final/home.htm |title=KAC Home Page |publisher=Kac.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2009-07-16}}</ref>

Manual call points are used to initiate an alarm signal and operate using a simple button press or when glass is broken revealing a button. They can form part of a manual alarm system or an automatic alarm system. There will be an indicator on the monitoring unit for visual indication to locate the call point easily, and there should be a visual identifier of the unit which triggered the alarm, typically a mechanical flag that operates on a latch and must be manually reset, e.g. by a key.