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Commercial Wireless Fire Alarm & Communication Systems
By Scott Barrett
S
ince 1981, the commercial wire- standpoint. All initiating devices and lems such as lightning and ground
less fire alarm and communica- repeaters when used are required faults.
tions industry has made great to be supervised for low battery, re-
strides in industry recognition as moval, eol violation, ac power loss, The hybrid combination allows for the
technological advancements over the unwanted interference and polling. use of the conventional systems in the
years have allowed wireless systems buildings, which are responsible for
to now compete directly with conven- The standards require that in a com- the detection and notification appli-
tional addressable systems. mercial wireless system, the design ances. Connected to the outputs of the
parameters are such that the establish- conventional panels are supervised
Early wireless products lacked both ment of Class A signaling between all transmitters that will relay the alarm
performance features and industry wireless initiating devices and repeat- type information to a central location
approvals, which restricted their use ers is engineered thus creating a dual which is interconnected to a commu-
for mandated fire alarm installations communication path both to and from nicator for off premise monitoring.
until the mid 1980’s. In 1987, UL wrote the control panel. The design is such This application eliminate all cost
the first standards for wireless under that if a repeater fails for whatever associated with individual monitored
the 864 categories for control unit’s reason, an alternate path is available accounts, underground SLC loops,
listings and shortly thereafter fol- for communication, thus no compro- while providing the same notification
lowed with listings for UL 268 Listed mise of the signaling would occur. at a reduced and ongoing savings to
smoke detectors as well as listings for the client.
other wireless components and acces- No licensing is required either by the
sories for UL 864 compliance. installing contractor or user when in- Wireless technology today offers safe-
stalling a low power wireless system guards and protocols that assure effec-
In 1987 Commercial Wireless Systems that conforms to FCC allotments for tive and reliable transmission of data
were formally adopted into the then low power radio. and can provide the same capabilities
NFPA 72A Standards. Today, the re- as conventional systems.
quirements of commercial wireless Low power wireless has been installed
system are found in the National Fire in every conceivable occupancy and The advantages of wireless systems re-
Alarm Code Chapter Six. application inclusive of high-rise of- main their versatility, ease of installa-
fice buildings, hotels, industrial com- tion and expansion, maintenance, and
There are two basic forms of commer- plexes, historic structures, colleges preserved aesthetics, while affording
cial wireless systems available. Some and universities, hospitals and nurs- in most case cost advantages to the
manufacturers products are “ true ing homes, and even naval ships. client not only in the initial installation
wireless “ meaning all communication price but with the hidden factors such
from initiating devices and repeaters Hybrid systems utilizing both wireless as refurbishing cost, downtime, and
are relayed via air until received at and conventional methods are becom- disruption to operations.
the central control unit. Other manu- ing more prevalent in installations as
facturers wireless products are only the combination of both technologies The elimination of wiring affords
wireless from the initiation point to a offer in many cases both design and clients an alternative to obtain protec-
“Receiver” from which point data is cost effective alternatives. tion, which might not be otherwise
then transferred via wiring or other available due to economic, aesthetic,
means other than air to the central An example of this and one of the or environmental constraints.
control unit. more precelanet markets over the past
five years has been the multi-family Examples would be buildings with
Some products are listed and offer apartment complexes and campus asbestos, historical sites, multiple
control function capabilities such type settings such as colleges and building facilities with damaged or
as activation of appliance circuits, universities. antiquated underground wiring, col-
elevator recall, HVAC control and lege dormitories, industrial plants,
more. In these cases the control units In multi family apartment complexes, hospitals and nursing homes, hotels,
send commands to repeaters, which many jurisdictions require the indi- marine vessels, and a variety of other
have supervised addressable outputs, vidual monitoring of each alarm type commercial properties and applica-
which interconnect with the equip- and building to be point addressed tions where a fast, efficient and eco-
ment to be activated or controlled. off premise. Conventional theory is to nomical installation is desired.
This part of the installation requires utilize phone lines per building which
wiring, however thru strategic place- results in several monitored accounts Scott Barrett has been involved in the Com-
ment of repeaters the amount of wir- per property (good for recurring mercial Wireless Fire Alarm field for 28 years
ing is reduced. revenue for the installing company, and is National Sales Manager for World
not for the user) or interconnect each Electronics Inc. Scott also serves on the
There are several requirements of building via underground SLC Loops Chapter 6 Committee of NFPA.
wireless systems from a supervisory which have their own inherent prob-
May/June 2006 Page 39
