MX Addressable Simplex technology

NGÀY ĐĂNG 21/01/2026

Võ Hồng Tiên

In the context of modern buildings increasingly demanding higher levels of safety, stability, and long-term operational capability, fire alarm systems have gone far beyond simply detecting smoke. MX Addressable is an advanced addressable fire alarm technology developed by Simplex - Johnson Controls, considered one of the most intelligent and reliable fire alarm platforms available today.

Simplex MX Addressable Technology

MX Addressable is a new generation two-wire addressable fire alarm technology developed by Simplex, the flagship brand of Johnson Controls. This technology is built on the Powered Loop Architecture, allowing for bidirectional digital communication and direct power supply to the device on the same loop wire pair.

In the MX system, each addressable device not only performs detection or alarm functions but also acts as an intelligent communication node, continuously exchanging status data with the control panel. Thanks to this, the system achieves accurate monitoring, fast response, and high stability throughout its operational lifecycle.

MX Addressable technology is implemented on Simplex ES series fire alarm panels such as 4100ES, 4010ES, and 4007ES via MX loop interface modules (ES MX Interface Modules). These modules are responsible for:

Powering the MX loop

• Monitoring digital communication between the control panel and field equipment
• Managing and controlling up to 250 addressable devices per loop, including initiators and notification devices
• Each MX loop can simultaneously connect detectors, input/output modules, and addressable alarm devices. In this, the loop current supply capability is a key factor in ensuring stable operation, especially when using high-power consuming devices such as addressable fire alarm bells and lights.

Previous generation MX modules provided a maximum current of 500 mA per loop, while the new generation ESMX modules have been upgraded to provide up to 1 A per loop. This improvement allows for:

• Increased number of notification devices that can be directly powered from the loop
• Reduced reliance on external power sources
• Enhanced scalability and reliability of the system in large-scale projects

A key feature of MX Addressable technology is its ability to simultaneously meet the requirements of both UL (North America) and EN54 (Europe) standards. This ensures the system is both highly reliable and consistent, while being flexible enough for effective deployment in markets with diverse standard requirements such as Asia, the Middle East, and Vietnam.

Core technical characteristics of the MX protocol

The MX system uses the MX Digital protocol with high noise immunity and high reliability. According to Tyco/Johnson Controls documentation, “The MX Digital communications protocol is designed for high reliability and fault tolerance, and can operate on a wide variety of existing cabling.”

The MX loop is a two-wire Class B (can be paralleled to Class A) loop with self-monitoring capabilities. Standard communication distances can reach nearly 2000m (6560 ft). Notably, isolator bases can be installed for each detector to divide the loop into separate segments, so that in the event of a short circuit, only the devices in that segment are isolated, preventing the entire system from being affected.

The MX controller features self-diagnostic and continuous monitoring capabilities. Status LEDs on the MX Loop Interface card display information such as loop status, earth monitor faults, device status, and power supply. Furthermore, MX supports Walk Test mode with automatic reset after each test, making maintenance more convenient.

MX Addressable System Device Range

The MX system offers a wide range of devices, including smoke detectors, heat detectors, multi-sensors, and monitoring/alarm modules. Specifically:

Detectors: These include photoelectric smoke sensors, electronic heat sensors, and multi-sensors. For example, product codes such as 4098-5255/5256 (smoke sensor), 4098-5257/4098-5201 (heat sensor), and 4098-5287/5288 (multi-sensor) are used in MX. MX detectors have a low-profile design and integrate a QR code on the top for soft-addressing via a mobile application.

Monitoring and Control (I/O) Modules: These include multi-input/output (I/O) modules for connecting sensors and receiving signals from external devices. For example, module 4090-5250, Relay module 4090-5259, Mini-IAM module 4090-5258, along with many monitoring modules (Monitor ZAM), circuit isolation modules (Line Isolator Module 4090-5206), and other specialized I/O modules. These modules allow MX to integrate flexibly with other devices such as sensors or peripheral systems (elevators, HVAC, etc.).

Emergency call points and peripherals: The MX system also has manual trigger points (emergency detectors) of the break-glass type for indoor and outdoor use (codes 4099-5208, 4099-5209) with short-circuit self-monitoring. In addition, there are single and double emergency call buttons (codes 4099-5214, 4099-5215, 4099-5216) for use in internal areas. Other peripheral modules include remote indicator lights (LED indicators) and A separate power supply is also supported to complete a full system.

Benefits and Smart Features of MX Addressable

MX Addressable offers many advantages and modern features compared to traditional fire alarm systems:

Continuous self-diagnosis and monitoring: The MX Loop Interface card has LEDs indicating the loop status (communication, ground fault, power) helping technicians quickly pinpoint the fault location. The Walk Test function allows for testing the entire system with automatic temporary shutdown (silent) and self-reset after completion. MX detectors also integrate drift compensation and can alert when sensor cleaning is needed, reducing maintenance time.

Reduced false alarms - Fastlogic algorithm: A prominent feature of MX is the Fastlogic algorithm (based on real fire data). Instead of just using fixed thresholds, Fastlogic analyzes factors such as accumulated smoke density, rate of change, and compares them to real fire patterns. As a result, the system maintains high sensitivity to actual fires while filtering out noise and atypical phenomena. Specifically, when switching sensitivity from Normal to Low, the MX control panel reduces sensitivity to atypical smoke patterns while maintaining the ability to detect normal fire patterns. Therefore, MX significantly reduces false alarms without affecting the response time to actual fires.

Soft addressing: For convenient programming, MX allows device addressing using a digital tool. Each detector has a unique QR code; technicians simply scan the code using a mobile application, enter the data (location, address), and the server automatically assigns addresses to the devices sequentially. This method avoids the risk of manual input errors and speeds up installation compared to the static addressing (DIP switches) of older systems.

Comparing MX Addressable with MAPNET II and IDNet

MX Addressable technology represents an advancement over Simplex's previous addressable fire alarm solutions:

• Number of devices per ring: MX supports 250 addresses/ring. In contrast, the older MAPNET II system was limited to 127 devices/ring; IDNet (later generation) also limited to a maximum of 250, but older hardware might only support 200 depending on configuration.
• Communication and addressing: Both MAPNET II and IDNet require fixed addresses via DIP switches. MX improves upon this with soft addressing as described above, enabling faster installation and eliminating address conflicts. Furthermore, the MX protocol supports intelligent data transmission, while older protocols simply transmit analog signals or basic data.
• Processing algorithm: MX's Fastlogic algorithm offers superior performance compared to previous basic algorithms. For example, MX intelligently analyzes multiple smoke and heat indicators to reduce false alarms. Traditional systems (MAPNET II, the old IDNet) often use fixed or simple thresholds, leading to a higher likelihood of false alarms.
• Standards and Markets: MX is designed to meet both UL (US) and EN54 (Europe) standards, making it suitable for international projects. Meanwhile, MAPNET II and IDNet primarily comply with UL standards in the US market, with few variations for EN54.

Furthermore, MX focuses on markets in Asia/the Middle East, while MAPNET II/IDNet has gradually been replaced by globalization trends.

International Safety Standards of MX Addressable

The MX Addressable system complies with leading international fire safety standards:

UL (US) Standards: MX detectors meet UL 268 (for smoke detectors) and UL 521 (for heat detectors). The MX Loop Module control panel is UL 864 listed (standard for fire alarm control panels). Therefore, MX is recognized as safe in the US market.

EN54 Standard (Europe): MX devices are also developed according to the EN54 standard for the international market. Specifically, MX smoke detectors are EN54-7 compliant, heat detectors are EN54-5 compliant, and loop modules comply with EN54-18… As Simplex states, “MX devices offer the best of both worlds,” meaning both UL and EN54 standards are met. Thanks to EN54 approval, MX is suitable for use in buildings compliant with European regulations.
Other certifications: Currently, there are no FM or CSFM approvals specifically for MX. However, with UL and EN54, MX has met most of the stringent requirements of large global projects.

Practical applications

MX Addressable systems are often deployed in large buildings where high flexibility and reliability are required.

Specifically:

• High-rise buildings, hotels, offices: The addressable system allows monitoring of each individual detector in complex areas, ensuring fast and accurate alerts.
• Hospitals, schools, medical centers: With its ability to process signals from multiple sensors and reduce false alarms, MX is suitable for environments requiring high safety standards such as hospitals.
• Factories, enterprises, industrial parks: MX detectors are designed to withstand dusty environments, fluctuating temperatures, and support integration into the factory's PLC/SCADA system.
• Shopping malls, supermarkets, warehouses: In large spaces, the need to connect many devices and provide centralized monitoring makes MX a suitable choice.

Overall, MX Addressable offers an intelligent fire alarm solution with diverse devices, suitable for buildings requiring high safety standards.