Jargon Buster

ABC Dry Powder

ABC Dry Powder is a fire extinguisher agent which is suitable for use on class A, class B and class C fires. It is also suitable for electrical fires.

Addressable Fire Alarm Systems

An addressable fire alarm panel ccommunicates directly with each device. In the event of a fire, the fire panel will display the exact device (detector or call point) that signaled the alarm, allowing the fire to be located more quickly.

Adjustable Back Check

Back check is a function within the door closer that provides resistance to prevent the door leaf from being violently thrown open. Door closers with adjustable back check usually have a valve located on the front of the door closer unit which allows both the angle and the resistance of the back check to be adjusted.

Also see Back Check

Adjustable Latching Action

Most doors that are fitted with door closers have latches fitted to them. The adjustable latching action of a door closer allows the closing speed during the last 15° of the closing cycle to be adjusted independently from the rest of the closing cycle.

This added functionality allows the door closing speed to be tweaked at the time the door will meet extra resistance from the latch allowing the door to close fully.

AFFF Foam - Aqueous Film Forming Foam

AFFF Foam is a water based fire extinguisher agent which is suitable for use on class A and class B fires.

Aico Ltd

Aico Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ei Electronics and is one of the UK's leading residential fire detection and CO detection specialist.

The Aico product range consists of:

Alkaline Battery

Alkaline batteries use an alkaline electrolyte instead of the normal zinc chloride and acidic ammonium chloride electrolytes usually found in zinc-carbon batteries. They generally have a higher energy density and longer shelf life.

Also see Lead Acid Battery | Lithium Battery | Zinc Chloride Battery

Amigo Fire Escape Ladder

The Amigo ladder is a fire escape ladder which is designed to be permenantly installed beaneath the escape window. Its unique storage box doubles as a step during an evacuation.

ANSI - American National Standards Institute

ANSI facilitates the development of American National Standards (ANS) by accrediting the procedures of standards developing organizations (SDOs). The Institute oversees the creation, promulgation and use of thousands of norms and guidelines that directly impact businesses in nearly every sector.

ANSI is also actively engaged in accrediting programs that assess conformance to standards – including globally-recognized cross-sector programs such as the ISO 9000 (quality) and ISO 14000 (environmental) management systems.

Anti-arson Letterbox

Anti-arson letterboxes are designed stop the threat of arson attack by containing any flammable materials which may be pushed through a letterbox and then automatically extinguishing any fires that are started with the use of a heat sensitive extinguisher system.

Anti-tamper Seal

An anti-tamper seal is designed to act as a deterrent against misuse of equipment but also doubles as a visual indication that the piece of equipment has not been used.

Anti-thrust Latch

An anti-thrust latch provides additional security for final exit doors. The latch cannot be retracted using unauthorised means or by applying force and will only retract using the correct method.

Anton Group

Anton Group are a leading supplier of quality hand held instrumentation to the HVAC (heating, ventilating and air conditioning) market.

The Anton product range includes:

Automatic and Semi-Automatic Defibrillators

Automatic:

Designed for use by laypersons (ideally with basic training on how to use the AED but the units will give visual and audible instructions allowing practically anyone to use them successfully), these units will issue shocks as and when needed automatically.

Semi-Automatic:

Designed for use by healthcare professionals who are familiar with and can understand ECG (electrocardiogram) readings, these units will detect when a shock is required and alert the user who will then make the decision on whether or not the shock should be issued. Semi-automatic units also have a pacemaker function for occasions where the victims heart rate is too slow (bradycardia).

Automatic Gain Control

Over time dust will build up on the lenses of the system which will attenuate the beam. To compensate for this the system has Automatic Gain Control (AGC). This allows the beam to operate for longer without the need for cleaning by compensating for any change in the signal strength of the beam due to dust build up. Eventually the AGC will hit a limit, and will require cleaning – as with all optical beam smoke detectors. Over time buildings will settle slightly, or expand and contract as the seasons change. AGC is also used to compensate for this where the alignment of the beam is affected as a result. Again, this would cause a change in signal for which the beam will try and compensate for.

Automatic Synchronisation

The sounders with a sweep or tonal sound will all be in synchronisation.

Auxiliary Output

This is a relay with normally open and normally closed contacts which are triggered in a fire condition.