A distributed intelligent fire alarm control panel with a microprocessor based advanced detection and protection system. With its flexibility, unique design and ability to utilize both intelligent and conventional devices, makes it a very reliable system for life safety use. It adopts the use of a multi-line LCD screen for ease of viewing of events and controls, RTOS (Real time operating system), for real time monitoring and display of events, and a graphical display for user-friendly menu and control operation as well as ease of identifying information being sent by field devices to the fire alarm controller