Need assistance?
Basket

Apollo XP95 Engineer’s Guide

12/08/2026 • by Alice P

Apollo XP95 is a wired, open-protocol, analogue addressable fire alarm range used with compatible addressable fire alarm control panels that operate the XP95 protocol.

The Apollo XP95 range is one of the most popular addressable fire alarm systems and has been used for over 2 decades. The range covers fire detectors (smoke, heat and multi-sensor), call points, sounders, VIDs, and VADs.

It's one of the most commonly used protocols across the UK due to its price, availability, open protocol feature and selection of compatible control panels.

How Apollo XP95 Is Wired

Apollo XP95 devices are wired on an addressable loop. Traditional systems wire each device in room/floor using zone wiring and if the fire alarm is activated/fault, fire alarm panel will say that a certain zone (not the actual device) have triggered the alarm/fault.

With the XP95 devices being addressable, the fire alarm control panel can detect the precise device with a fault/alarm

Common Apollo XP95 Models

This table covers the primary XP95 models and where ideally to use them.

Product Type

Model / Product

Product Code

Engineer Notes

Optical Smoke Detector

Apollo XP95 Optical Smoke Detector

55000-600APO

Used in cleaner indoor areas where smoke detection is suitable. This detector iscompatible with C-TEC XFP/ZFP XP95/Discovery addressable panels.

Heat Detector

Apollo XP95 Standard Temperature Detector A2S

55000-400APO

Often used where smoke detection may be unsuitable, such as areas with dust, steam or fumes.

Heat Detector

Apollo XP95 High Temperature Detector CS

55000-401APO

Higher temperature heat detector for suitable environments.

Multi-Sensor Detector

Apollo XP95 Multi-Sensor Detector, Optical / Heat

55000-885APO

Combines optical smoke and temperature sensors. Apollo describes it as suitable for areas such as hotel bedrooms, warehouses and loading docks.

Manual Call Point

Apollo Intelligent Manual Call Point

SA5900-908APO

Used to manually raise an alarm. Apollo states this model is XP95, Discovery and CoreProtocol compatible, with a built-in isolator.

Manual Call Point

Apollo XP95 I.S. Manual Call Point

55100-940APO

Used where an intrinsically safe device is required. Check full system design and barriers before specifying.

Detector Base

Apollo XPERT 7 Base

45681-210APO

Standard base used with compatible Apollo addressable detector heads.

Isolator Base

Apollo Isolator Base

45681-211APO

Helps protect loop sections during a short-circuit fault.

Isolator

Apollo XP95 Isolator

55000-720APO

Used for short-circuit isolation on the loop.

Sounder Base

Apollo XP95 Sounder Base

45681-278APO

Allows audible warning at detector base level.

Sounder Base

Apollo XP95 Sounder Base, Isolating

45681-277APO

Useful where sounder base and loop isolation are both required.

Sounder / VID Base

Apollo XP95 Sounder VID Base

45681-331APO

Combines audible and visual alarm indication at detector base level.

Open-Area Sounder

Apollo XP95 Open-Area Sounder

55000-001APO

Used where a separate open-area sounder is required.

Visual Indicator

Apollo XP95 Open-Area VID

55000-877APO

Used where visual alarm indication is required.

AV Control Module

Apollo XP95 AV Control Module

55000-852APO

Used to control and monitor conventional sounder or alarm circuits from an addressable loop.

Zone Monitor Module

Apollo XP95 Zone Monitor Module

55000-845APO

Used to connect compatible conventional circuits onto an addressable system.

Switch Monitor Module

Apollo XP95 Switch Monitor Module

55000-760APO

Used for monitoring external contacts or equipment.

DIN-Rail Interface

Apollo XP95 DIN-Rail Modules

Various

Usually mounted in panels, plant rooms or interface enclosures.

Flame Detector

Apollo XP95 Flame Detector

Various

Specialist detection for suitable flame risk applications.

Beam Detector

Apollo XP95 Reflective Beam Detector

Various

Used for large open areas where point detection may not be practical. Check product status before specifying.

If the existing system uses Apollo XP95, Discovery, CoreProtocol, conventional or AlarmSense devices, do not assume they are interchangeable.

Detector Selection

Optical Smoke Detectors

The standard XP95 smoke detectors are usually best for cleaner environments where smoke can be detected reliably.

Typical areas include:

  • Offices

  • Corridors

  • Escape routes

  • Retail areas

  • Accommodation spaces

  • Schools

  • Clean commercial areas

With regard to smoke alarms, our in-house engineers do not recommend the XP95 smoke detector for areas with dust, steam etc.

Heat Detectors

As a general rule, the XP95 heat detector, like any heat detector, is better in areas where smoke detectors may cause unwanted alarms.

Typical areas include:

  • Kitchens

  • Workshops

  • Plant rooms

  • Loading bays

  • Dusty environments

  • Areas with fumes or airborne particles

there are two types of XP95 heat alarm, therefore, our technical team recommends checking whether a standard temperature (55000-400APO) or high-temperature heat detector (55000-401APO) is more suitable for the environment.

Multi-Sensor Detectors

XP95 multi-sensor detectors combine optical smoke and heat sensing.

They are useful where the design calls for broader detection from a single device.

Apollo describes the XP95 Multi-Sensor Detector as combining independent optical smoke and temperature sensors.

Our technical team recommends using multi-sensors where the fire alarm design, building use and risk profile justify it.

They should not be used as a shortcut for poor detector selection.

What Panels Work Best with Apollo XP95?

Apollo XP95 devices must be used with a panel that supports Apollo XP95 protocol.

Our technical team recommends checking the fire alarm panel before ordering any XP95 detector, call point, sounder, base or interface.

The panel is the deciding factor.

Panel Range

Best For

Advanced MxPro 5

Commercial addressable systems, larger sites and flexible system designs

Kentec Syncro AS

Small to medium commercial addressable systems

Kentec Syncro AS Lite

Smaller standalone addressable systems

C-TEC XFP

Smaller Apollo XP95/Discovery systems

C-TEC ZFP

Larger C-TEC addressable systems

Our Technical Team's Panel Recommendations

For most new commercial systems using Apollo XP95, our team recommends looking first at Advanced MxPro 5 or Kentec Syncro AS.

For smaller addressable systems, our technical team recommends C-TEC XFP where an Apollo XP95/Discovery panel is required.

For larger sites, our technical team recommends Advanced MxPro 5, Kentec Taktis or C-TEC ZFP, depending on the number of loops, networking requirements and system design.

For like-for-like work, our technical team recommends matching the panel and protocol already installed on site wherever possible.

That helps avoid compatibility issues, commissioning problems and unnecessary changes to the fire alarm design.

Engineer Takeaway

Apollo XP95 is a reliable and extremely popular addressable range for commercial fire alarm systems. Our technical team recommends XP95 where the panel supports Apollo XP95 protocol and the system design calls for addressable fire detection.

It's a widely used protocol, meaning that parts can be easily sourced and replaced; in fact, at Fire Detection Shop, we have ample stock of the XP95 range.

If you are replacing or extending an existing Apollo system, our technical team recommends confirming the panel, protocol and product code before ordering.

Want to put together a new XP95 fire alarm system? Check out our fire alarm builder.

Similar posts
Trustpilot