What is the primary purpose of a Digital Alarm Communicator Transmitter (DACT) in a fire alarm system?

What is the primary purpose of a Digital Alarm Communicator Transmitter (DACT) in a fire alarm system?

• A. To provide local audible notification
• B. To transmit alarm signals to a supervising station over a telephone network
• C. To power field devices
• D. To interface with HVAC controls

Answer: (B)

The main idea behind a Digital Alarm Communicator Transmitter is to relay fire alarm events from the building’s fire alarm control panel to a supervising (monitoring) station over telephone lines or a digital network. It acts as the remote messenger, dialing the monitoring center when an alarm occurs and also sending supervisory or trouble signals as needed. This is how the monitoring company knows there’s an incident even if no one is at the site. It does not provide local audible notification, which comes from the building’s notification appliances; it does not power field devices, which is the role of the fire alarm power supply; and it isn’t used to control HVAC systems, which would be a separate building interface function.

The main idea behind a Digital Alarm Communicator Transmitter is to relay fire alarm events from the building’s fire alarm control panel to a supervising (monitoring) station over telephone lines or a digital network. It acts as the remote messenger, dialing the monitoring center when an alarm occurs and also sending supervisory or trouble signals as needed. This is how the monitoring company knows there’s an incident even if no one is at the site. It does not provide local audible notification, which comes from the building’s notification appliances; it does not power field devices, which is the role of the fire alarm power supply; and it isn’t used to control HVAC systems, which would be a separate building interface function.