What does it mean to SHUNT a building by going through the fire panel?

Shunting a building through the fire panel typically refers to a procedure done in fire alarm systems. In this context, "shunting" means to bypass or temporarily disable certain components or zones of the fire alarm system. This might be done for various reasons, such as during maintenance or testing procedures, or in response to a known issue in a particular area of the building.

By accessing the fire panel, which is the central control unit for the fire alarm system, authorized personnel can perform tasks like silencing alarms, resetting the system, or isolating specific areas from the rest of the system. Shunting can be a safety measure to prevent false alarms or disruptions while work is being done, but it's essential to ensure that fire protection measures remain in place and that the system is fully restored to normal operation afterward.