Life Safety Need Not Be a High Wire Act
Use of Wireless for Life Safety
There are three flavors of wireless technology used by alarm dealers today. They are short-, mid- and long-range wireless.
Short-range wireless refers to the use of low-power radio devices that send and sometimes receive signals to and from sensors up to several hundred feet. Low-power radio transmitters are defined in Section 3.3.99 of NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm Code, 2007 Edition, published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
Midrange wireless systems are often used to transport telemetry for distances of five to 10 miles. Examples of midrange applications include the transmission of output signals that can be used to turn lights on or off, unlock doors, trip intercoms and perform other feats at remote locations.
Long-range radio, defined in Sections 3.3.67.7 and 3.3.194, involves the transmission of alarm data from local alarm panels to remote monitoring centers at distances of 20 to 50 miles, sometimes more. This type of radio system can be private, public or a combination of the two.
Under short- and long-range headings, NFPA 72 provides a wealth of information on what alarm dealers need to know when installing wireless devices in life-safety applications.
As every installer knows, there are times when it’s impossible to install a metallic cable between two points in a home or business. Short-range, or low-power, radio solves this problem by using radio waves to send status signals between sensors and a central receiver, usually located at the alarm control panel.
Wireless Solves Limitations
In an A-frame home or one using slab construction the job of installing wires can be cost prohibitive. Not only that, but in many cases the alarm dealer may not be able to install a wire at all. Using wireless sensors allows the alarm dealer to forgo the need for metallic conductors. When doing so, however, the installer must follow code.
Another reason why more and more alarm dealers are using wireless for their systems in residential applications involves economy. Labor costs can quickly kill a job when things don’t go as planned. Wireless is ideal where labor costs can become an issue. Wireless adds a degree of predictability to the proposal process where hardwire systems often cannot.
In commercial facilities, wireless is also a great help when there’s a basic need to send data. This is especially true where the installation of wire is cost prohibitive to either the end user or the alarm dealer. Midrange transceivers can be incorporated that provide the transmission of fire alarm system telemetry from panel to a central monitoring point.
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