This article was machine-translated from French and is being reviewed. Prices are in Algerian dinars excl. VAT.
Conventional or addressable fire detection: the former suits a simple, modest-sized building; the latter is used when the building is large, partitioned, or you want to know the exact detector that triggered. The difference lies in what the control panel knows: the alarm zone on one side, the precise device on the other. The final choice is made after a building study. Algerian regulations and Civil Protection impose requirements that depend on the type of establishment, to be confirmed with Civil Protection and the inspection office.
In short
- Conventional: the control panel indicates the alarm zone, not the detector. Simpler equipment, suitable for small, loosely divided buildings.
- Addressable: each device has an address and the control panel identifies the one that triggered. More flexible in large buildings.
- The store survey of 06/11/2026 contains neither a fire alarm control panel nor conventional detectors: everything is priced on quote. Below are rough estimates for addressable systems.
Conventional or addressable fire detection: the principle
Conventional detection
Detectors are grouped by zone, e.g., a floor or wing. Devices in one zone are wired on the same line: a cable that runs from the control panel through each detector. A termination device at the end of the line detects a break. When a detector triggers, the control panel lights the zone indicator.
Addressable detection
Each detector and each manual pull station (the alarm button operated by hand) has an address recorded in the control panel. The devices are wired on a loop: a cable leaves the control panel, serves the devices, then returns. The control panel displays the exact device, under the label entered during programming. Addressing is done at commissioning.
Locating the alarm: a zone or a specific detector
Consider a four‑storey building, one zone per floor. In conventional mode the control panel shows “3rd floor” and someone must walk the floor to find the source. In addressable mode it might show “north corridor, 3rd floor.” This search gain matters during an intervention, especially in a building with many closed rooms.
Increasing the number of zones refines location, but each zone adds a cable run and occupies an input on the control panel.
Cabling, scalability and maintenance
| Criterion | Conventional | Addressable |
|---|---|---|
| Location | the zone | the exact device |
| Wiring | one line per zone, from the control panel | a loop that services many devices |
| Scalability | adding a detector to an existing zone is simple; adding a zone depends on free inputs on the control panel | add a device to the loop, within its capacity, then address it |
| Maintenance | test each detector in the zone; finding a defective one requires traversing the zone | the control panel identifies the faulty device and keeps a history |
| Price | On quote: no conventional equipment price in our data. | approximate figures below |
Generally, the two technologies are not mixed: a conventional detector does not connect directly to an addressable loop unless an interface is provided by the manufacturer. Switching from one to the other therefore means replacing the control panel and, most often, the detectors. For cable choice, read our guide on fire cable CR1 or C2.
For which buildings?
The conventional system suits small retail, office, workshop or a small building with few zones. The addressable system is suitable for large or multi‑level buildings with many enclosed spaces: clinic, hotel, big retail. This choice is technical: the expected system type for your facility must be confirmed with civil protection and the control office.
For a public‑facing establishment (ERP), technology alone is not enough: see our guide on fire detection in clinics or ERPs. The Alarm and Fire category of the shop lists wireless smoke detectors, wireless sirens and a fire cable.
Addressable detection: price ranges
Among our confirmed orders, 28 include addressable lines: the median is 10 devices per order, ranging from 1 to 230. Here is the approximate scale observed on these quotes, in DA HT, for the DETNOV addressable range. These are aggregated internal benchmarks, not a price list.
| Equipment | Price HT (min / median / max) |
|---|---|
| Optical smoke detector DOD-220A | 5 600 / 6 000 / 14 000 |
| Z‑200 connection base | 700 / 1 200 / 1 200 |
| Siren MAD‑464‑I | 11 750 / 12 000 à 13 000 / 14 080 |
| Re‑armable manual pull with isolator MAD‑450 | median 14,800 |
| Centrale 1 boucle compacte CAD-150-1 | 130,000 (single order) |
| 4‑loop control panel CAD‑150‑4, no battery | 270,396 (single order) |
| Central 4‑loop, other reference | 575,000 (single order) |
Each central appears only once in our orders: these three prices are isolated benchmarks, not medians, and the central is sized by study.
Example of a small installation, with prices taken from our quotes (median for detectors, bases, sirens and triggers; single price for the central; for the siren, the median is between 12,000 and 13,000 DA and we use 12,000):
| Line | Quantity × unit price | Subtotal HT |
|---|---|---|
| CAD-150-1 control panel | 1 × 130 000 | 130 000 |
| DOD-220A detectors | 10 × 6 000 | 60 000 |
| Z-200 bases | 10 × 1 200 | 12 000 |
| MAD-464-I sirens | 2 × 12 000 | 24 000 |
| MAD-450 manual triggers | 2 × 14 800 | 29 600 |
Total equipment: 130,000 + 60,000 + 12,000 + 24,000 + 29,600 = 255,600 DA HT. This total does not include cable, labor, or programming. Before selecting the control panel, check its datasheet to ensure its loop accepts these 14 devices and what backup batteries are supplied or need to be added.
Frequently asked questions
Can we switch from conventional to addressable later?
Yes, but it is not a simple extension: the control panel and usually the detectors must be replaced. Inform us during the study if the building will expand.
Is addressable more reliable?
Not by itself. Reliability depends on study, installation and maintenance. Addressable provides precise location and event history; it does not eliminate the need for a study, careful installation or regular maintenance.
Can a wireless smoke detector replace a control panel?
For a dwelling or small premises, a wireless detector is useful (Ajax vs Dahua comparison). For an ERP or clinic, it does not replace a detection and alarm system designed for the facility: central, zones, manual triggers, evacuation alarm.
Describe your site (area, levels, number of rooms) for a quote. Discover our alarm, intrusion and fire solution.