In every recent (digital) F/A system that I had to install, the manufacturer provided digital address modules that had DIP switches on them to provide a unique digital address.
Typically these addresses were limited to 128 -- per digital loop. ( Though loop is a mis-nomer: the digital systems no longer required loop geometries. Each device in the system was polled -- digitally -- time-sliced -- around the clock to affirm its status.
These modules were required for every tamper switch -- but were quite unnecessary for smoke, heat, etc. detectors. Those items -- also provided by the F/A system manufacturer had integral digital addresses -- DIP switches.
The tamper switches were manufactured and installed by OTHER manufacturers -- not the fellas that engineered the F/A system.
The digital ID modules consisted of a series of contacts -- and associated logic -- such that it could detect and 'translate' trouble faults and alarm conditions back to the main brain -- digitally.
This meant that the F/A panel would read out trouble or alarm "at position 13" -- and also send that info out to the alarm monitoring firm -- thence to the emergency responders.
The tamper switch leads were never longer than ten inches - - typically just eight inches.
The digital modules were flexible enough to interact with ANY F/A (active) element -- with their overwhelming usage being trouble or fault reports.
Actuall alarm conditions were expected to come by way of:
Sprinkler water flow detection
Smoke heads
Heat heads
Duct detectors (for smoke entering forced air circulation)
Pull stations -- the classic device that all school brats loved to pull down.
Tamper switches evolved when it was discovered how many arsonists were shutting off the sprinkler mains before business -- and how many pranksters would fiddle with the mains/ especially at the back flow preventer out near the street.
BTW, fiddling with the various contraptions needed to monitor the position of such massive valves is quite a chore.
After enough fiascos, my employers backed away from F/A installations. (While one went whole hog and set up a separate F/A division.)
It was ultimately realized that journey men make for lousy fire alarm installers. This transition also occurred as the F/A crowd stepped up technical education, standards and certifications. And by such barriers, got their competition to leave the field.
[ It's just as well, you would not believe the lousy installations that some ECs were sticking into service. Top management hadn't a CLUE as to how F/A systems worked -- and how DIFFERENTLY they worked. They are not really an NEC item. They can't cause fires. They are totally oriented towards detecting fires and faults. It really is a different field.]
