The fire panel allows mixed operation of analog addressable and conventional technology. It supports connecting periphery in either stub or loop topologies. Analog addressable fire detectors, manual call points, signaling devices, inputs and outputs are identified and managed by the fire panel as single elements. As required by the building structure the peripherals are grouped software wise in logical zones. The compact modular fire panel comes as a kit in a housing. The functional modules can be plugged onto the rail inside the housing. The rail provides power and internal communication to the functional modules