Can we consider that the time has already moved to wireless systems/devices, or is it moving? Where is the technology evolving and how fast is it advancing? Daily life entails interaction with many connected technologies, including wireless around us. When it comes to Fire and Life Safety (FLS), one of the traditionally hard-wired systems, the fire detection and alarm system (FDAS), is also in these advanced times available in wireless type.
The FDAS is an essential active system that every building should have, irrelevant of its size and shape, for life safety during emergency fire conditions. Various manufacturers are developing wireless types of FDAS, but how reliable are they? Are there any standards or codes available to guide the design and manufacturing of the products/systems?
Wireless fire detection systems work on radio-link connectivity. Every detector/MCP/sensor or any other device of wireless FDAS will communicate with the control panels without a hardwired connection.
Let’s first explore the devices in FDAS – detectors, manual call points, input modules, output modules, control panels, etc. And if it is wireless type, we can also see other supporting devices like routers/signal boosters.
When it comes to wireless types, all these devices are battery-powered; now, let’s not get confused between stand-alone battery-powered devices and wireless FDAS. These are different concepts where standalone battery-powered devices function independently on their own without connection to a control panel or cloud system. In wireless FDAS, all the devices communicate via a wireless radio link with the control panel and form a complete system; when there is a communication/range coverage limitation, routers are used to boost the signals to extend the range.
Does Wireless FDAS have all the features that a typical wired FDAS system has? If not, where can all these wireless FDAS be acceptable to be installed? There are different requirements for every other region.
Technology in wireless fire detection systems
Many manufacturers are now making wireless FDAS, and when we see the industry, concepts vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Several manufacturers are developing complete wireless systems incorporating detectors, MCP, input modules, output modules, etc. Additionally, in the fire-safety engineering and technology industries, there are developers, designers and manufacturers innovating with new cloud-based technologies and ideas that do not require a physical control panel in the system and utilise alternative technologies like a gateway or a signal transmitter or virtual/augmented control panels.
The fire detection and alarm system is a simple input and output system. It takes inputs from input devices like detectors, MCPs, input modules etc. and provides programmed outputs like notification via sounders/flashers and gives signals to various third-party systems to shut down or activate, etc.
As FDAS is a simple input and output system, many other systems work on a similar principle of input and output, like an intrusion system, access control system and home automation system, but the inputs are different in these systems; they are like PIR sensors, motion sensors, access card readers, etc. and outputs are as we program, e.g. lights on, doorbell answer, door access, curtain/blind control, air conditioning, music systems, etc., of which the technology has already achieved wireless stages for these systems.
Now, as we see, the concept is the same in FDAS and various other systems. In this case, can we use the same third-party automation systems as FDAS by changing the inputs to detectors, MCPs and many others as required in FDAS and outputs to sounders, flashers, output/control modules, etc?
Suppose we understand better the engineering in these systems. In that case, we can appreciate that many non-FDAS manufacturers are already entering the fire alarm and detection industry with their wireless automation technology utilising the same existing technology and systems they have already developed for other home and office automation systems. This has been enabled by changing or replacing the input and output devices according to FDAS requirements.
Now the question is, are these wireless input and output devices coming from non-FDAS manufacturers designed according to any existing approved FDAS standards? Will they comply with FDAS requirements from various fire codes, regulations and specifications? If not complying, can we accept these systems in our buildings?
Let’s see a few examples of Wireless Fire Detection and Alarm system design approaches.
Design Approach 1: Wireless Fire Alarm System with Control Panel:
Control Panel is required to communicate/ control/ monitor all the devices in the system.
- Radio transceiver is used to transfer and receive the signals.
- Each device should communicate with the control panel.
- When there is a communication/range coverage limitation, routers are to be used to boost the signals to extend the range
Design Approach 2: Wired and Wireless – Hybrid Fire Alarm System:
- Control Panel is required to communicate/ control/ monitor all the devices in the system.
- Wired devices are connected directly to the panel with the loop cable.
- Radio transceiver/gateway is used to transfer and receive the signals for wireless devices
- Wireless devices to communicate with the Wireless Gateway in the System.
- When there is a communication/range coverage limitation, routers are to be used to boost the signals to extend the range for wireless devices
Design Approach 3: Wireless Stand-Alone Fire Alarm System – Interconnected Mesh Network:
- Every device will communicate with each other in the mesh/network with wireless technology
- When one device gets activated, it should send a signal to other devices and action to be taken as per the cause-and-effect matrix
- Optional remote handheld device/Gateway can be used as per the manufacturer’s system design and requirement
- Optional iPad/tablets/mobile/remote can be used for communication purposes.
There are many manufacturers out in the market with various design approaches for wireless fire detection and alarm systems. Let’s keep in mind that these systems are just not only for automation and technology; the basic purpose of it is life safety.
The Dubai Civil Defence’s Emirates Safety Laboratory (ESL) specialists are available to discuss and help you understand your wireless FDAS requirements.
About the Author
Mohammed Faheemuddin is a Fire and Life Safety Engineer with experience in the design, programming, testing and commissioning of fire detection and alarm systems, voice evacuation, and emergency lighting/central battery systems along with exposure to various international codes, standards, technical specification and other regional regulations. He is a Certification Specialist in Dubai Civil Defense’s Emirates Safety Laboratory.
