Combo Fire/Burglary Panels
The word customer in this article is referring to the building owner/company/manger
A combination Fire/Burglary system is a panel that can do both Fire Alarm Monitoring and Burglary/Intruder detection. Most newer security panels can do both Fire and Burglary but there are not very many fire alarm panels that can also do burglary. Some of these security panels may only be UL listed/rated to do residential fire alarm while listed/rated for commercial burglary (ex: Lower end Honeywell/Ademco Vista Panels, Bosch B-Series), while some may also be UL Listed/Rated to do commercial Fire Alarm (ex; Honeywell/Ademco Vista 32/128, Bosch G-Series). Combo panels usually have less fire functions then a Fire Alarm Panel but still usually has most of the basic fire alarm features. A lot of commercial buildings choose to use combo panels because it sometimes costs less to have 1 panel that does both rather then 2 panels. All panels that are UL listed for residential fire alarm are combo panels. There are currently no panels that are only UL listed for residential fire and not residential security. Some combo systems may have separate keypads for fire and burglary by using separate areas/partitions for fire and burglary, while others may have one keypad for both on one area. This is mostly based on customer preference.
Common use in Retail
One thing you may notice is that most retail and grocery stores will typically always have combo panels. Of course the choice of what of panel a building uses is based on building owner preference, cost, codes, bidding, and company policy, but many retail stores may use combo panels because of cost effectiveness. One example is how Walmart always uses Bosch combo panels in America, it seems this may be Walmart company policies and contracts.
Technical information
Most security panels are 12VDC, most combo panels are not an exception, for this reason most installs will use NAC booster panels to allow for 24VDC Notification Appliances. Some panels such as the Bosch B and G series panels don't have bell supervision so NAC boosters with supervision or Bell Supervision Modules might be used in this case to comply with NFPA 72.
NFPA 72 requires 2 paths of monitoring for Commercial Fire Panels. A lot of Intrusion panels only have one path. In this case commutation cards such as Cellular, PSTN/Phone Line, AESNet, or Ethernet Cards could be used either with multiple or along with the onboard panel communicator .
Common Criticisms with Combo Panels
Many fire enthusiasts have a dislike toward combo panels such as Bosch panels due to them feeling like these panels are cheaper and of a lower quality then actual fire alarm panels. Many technicians also have this same opinion.
Technicians also have criticisms over these panels because the system install could be of a low quality, although this is the fault of the installers and not usually of the actual system.
A criticism one may have about a combo panel is that most run on 12VDC instead of 24VDC requiring NAC booster panels.
Due to a lot of burg panels not having a lot of the components of a Fire Alarm Control Panel that are required to comply with codes like NFPA 72, a lot of these combo panels will have to have additional cards or panels to comply with local codes. Due to this reason, combo panels dont seem worth it to a lot of buildings/customers and they choose to not use combo panels and have separate fire and security panels because having separate in there case is more cost effective then having one system. And more this reason combo panels are not in large buildings and are not very common outside of retail stores.