Virtual Zones

A virtual zone is associated with a mapping gate. Each mapping gate can have a number of triggers, and each trigger can be set off in multiple ways (for example, by events caused by other hardware or virtual zones). If the mapping gate is on, the virtual zone is usually open; if the mapping gate is off, the virtual zone is closed. The effect of the zone opening or closing depends on the zone type and, in more complex scenarios, if the zone is used in triggers.

Mapping gates can also have timers. Those timers are independent of the virtual zones timers. In some scenarios, it is valid to define separate timers for both a mapping gate and a virtual zone associated with that mapping gate.

The mapping gate for a virtual zone must be created and configured before you create the virtual zone. If you delete a mapping gate, then all of the virtual zones that are assigned to that mapping gate are automatically deleted.

See Mapping Gates for more information on mapping gates.

See Triggers for more information on triggers.

Virtual zones are reported to ARCs like hardware zones of the same type, if so configured. Virtual zones can be isolated or inhibited, like hardware zones.

Virtual zones have associated timers. By default the timer configuration value is zero, which means that the zone timer is inactive and the virtual zone being open or closed follows the mapping gate being on or off. If, however, the timer configuration has a value greater than zero, a timer is started when the virtual zone opens, and the virtual zone auto-closes after the time expires, even if the associated mapping gate is still in the on state. In this case, the virtual zone can open again only if the associated gate first closes and then opens.

Virtual zones are floating zones. If the X-BUS configuration is changed (for example by adding another I/O expander or by changing the rotary switch address of an existing I/O expander) all of the floating zones in the range used by the expander are moved up, including the virtual zones.

Virtual zones have by default the same attributes as hardware zones of the same type. Attributes for virtual zones can be configured in the Inputs page or through the keypad.

The maximum number of virtual zones is hardware-dependent:

• SPC 4xxx supports 4 virtual zones
• SPC 5xxx supports 20 virtual zones
• SPC 4xxx supports 100 virtual zones

Select Configuration > Advanced > Cause & Effect > Virtual Zones to display the Virtual Zones List page.

The Virtual Zones List page displays the following information for your virtual zones:

ID	Unique ID for the virtual zone on the SPC Panel.
Zone	The zone number that is associated with the virtual zone. The zone number is reported in the event strings that are sent to ARCs.
Description	The name of the virtual zone.
Type	The type of the virtual zone.
Area	The area to which the virtual zone is assigned.
Mapping gate	The mapping gate assigned to the virtual zone. If this mapping gate is deleted, the virtual zone is automatically deleted.
Timer	The value of the timer of the virtual zone.