Society of Fire Protection Engineers

The Evolution of Commercial Wireless Fire Alarm Systems

Overview
For review
Wireless Fire Alarm Codes, Listings & Approvals System Component Options Performance of Systems RF Technologies & Protocols Systems Configurations Field Applications Wireless Benefits and Reliability

Commercial Wireless Technology Timeline

1979 First Supervised Wireless

1987 Adoption Info NFPA 72A (now Ch.6)

1990 CSFM, Boca, SBCC

2001 FM Approvals

2011 NYFD Approved

1983 UL Listings 1730

1988 UL Listing of Wireless Control Panels & Accessory Devices

1996 MEA

2010 UL & CSFM 9th Edition

UL Listings & FM Approvals

Local Remote Station Central Station Auxiliary Service Manual Waterflow Sprinkler Supervisory

Industry Standards & Compliance

NYFD

National Fire Alarm & Signaling Code

Special Requirements for Low Power Radio (Wireless Systems) 1987 72A 2002 Chapter 6 - Section 6.16 2007 Chapter 6 - Section 6.17 2010 Chapter 23 - Section 23.18 2013 Chapter 23 Section 23.18

Codes and Standards

NFPA 2007 Chapter 6 See Full PDF here http://cwsifire.com/codes.php 6.17* Special Requirements for Low-Power Radio (Wireless) Systems. 6.17.1* Listing Requirements. Compliance with Section 6.17 shall require the use of low-power radio
equipment specifically listed for the purpose. 6.17.2 Power Supplies. A primary battery (dry cell) shall be permitted to be used as the sole power source of a low- power radio transmitter where all of the following conditions are met:
(1) Each transmitter shall serve only one device and shall be individually identified at the receiver/fire alarm control unit. (2) The battery shall be capable of operating the low-power radio transmitter for not less than 1 year before the battery depletion threshold is reached. (3) A battery depletion signal shall be transmitted before the battery has been depleted to a level below that required to support alarm transmission after 7 additional days of non-alarm operation. This signal shall be distinctive from alarm, supervisory, tamper and trouble signals; shall visibly identify the affected low-power radio transmitter; and, when silenced, shall automatically re-sound at least once every 4 hours. (4) Catastrophic (open or short) battery failure shall cause a trouble signal identifying the affected low-power radio transmitter at its receiver /fire alarm control unit. When silenced, the trouble signal shall automatically re-sound at least once every 4 hours. (5) Any mode of failure of a primary battery in a low-power radio transmitter shall not affect any other low-power radio transmitter.

Performance & Supervision of Systems

NFPA & UL Requirements
Individual Identification Standalone Technology 10 Second Rule 60 Second Re-transmission Intervals Device Removal EOL Battery as Primary Power Supply AC Power Loss Supervisory Polling Unwanted Transmission Hardware Fault * Smoke Detector Dirty Chamber *
*Not a requirement of Chapter 6 or 23.

Supervisory Polling Requirements

NFPA 2010 Chapter 23
23.18 * Special Requirements for Low-Power Radio (Wireless) Systems. Compliance with Section 23.18 shall require the use of low-power radio equipment specifically listed for the purpose. 23.18 .4.2 The occurrence of any single fault that disables transmission between any low-power radio transmitter and the receiver/fire alarm control unit shall cause a latching trouble signal within 200 seconds. Exception: Until the expiration date for this exception June 30, 2013, the time period for a lowpower radio transmitter with only a single, connected alarm-initiating device shall be permitted to be increased to four times the minimum time interval permitted for a 1-second transmission up to the following: Four hours maximum for a transmitter serving a single initiating device Four hours maximum for a retransmission device (repeater) where disabling of the repeater or its transmission does not prevent the receipt of signals at the receiver/fire alarm control unit from any initiating device transmitter

System Components & Design

System Components: Control Panels Initialing Devices Receivers Repeaters Relay Interfaces

Control Unit Capabilities

32 Zone 128 Zone 256 Zone 1028 Zone

System Design Considerations Comparison of True RF and Hybrid Repeater Survey UL Requirement 3db loss in survey mode Audio Visual Requirements Ancillary Control Functions
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Technologies & Protocol

Single Channel (one way RF) Hybrid Bi-Directional RF Carrier On Carrier Off Tone Encoded FSK Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS)
Intelligent System Scheme Two-way Communication Multiple Frequency Modulation

CRC = cyclic redundancy check (CRC)

An error-detecting code commonly used in digital networks and storage devices to detect accidental changes to raw data. Verifies the information transmitted is the information received.

System Configuration One Way RF

System Configuration Hybrid

System Configuration Class B

System Configuration - FHSS

Forms Sub Networks Maintains Status for Each Device it Hosts Provides Host/Slave Bi-Directional Communications Maintains and Communicates Status to its Sub-Networks

True Bi-Directional RF Point to Point System

Protection & Detection

Fully Supervised and Provides for
Complete Automatic Fire Alarm Campus Systems Stand Alone & Hybrid Flow, Tamper & PIV Monitoring Multiple System Integration Plant & Building Evacuation Systems Accident Reporting Monitoring of Existing Systems Environmental Monitoring & Control

Garden Style Housing/Family Developments

Goodbye SLCs and Multiple Monitoring Accounts
Installation and Recurring Constraints of Hardwired Systems Underground SLC Loops Disruption to Grounds and Utilities Individually Monitored Accounts by Building Problems Associated with Lightning

System Advantages Multiple Building Interconnection via Transmitter Interconnect Point ID Display Multiple Alarm and Supervisory Reporting Off Premise Reporting of Building and Alarm Type Reduction of Yearly Maintenance Expenditures Virtually Impervious to Lighting Installed in a Fraction of the Time Substantial Cost Savings

Hotels & Motels

Occupancy, uninterrupted
Life Safety/Retrofit Challenges
Meeting Requirements of DB Level and Retrofit Applications Inconvenience for Guests & Staff Loss of Revenue Due to Down Occupancy Remodeling and Refurbishing Expenses Interconnection of Remote Buildings

System Advantages
Meets 75 DB Requirements Meet Challenges with Alternate Design & Performance Criteria Total Fire Alarm System Upgrade with Minimum Disruption Takes Minutes to Install Rooms, Restaurants, Meeting Rooms, Health Clubs, etc. Reduces Loss of Revenue Reduces Downed Occupancy

Industrial
Eliminate Conduit, Wiring, Disruption to Operations
System Advantages Flow/Tamper/PIV Monitoring Combination Systems Plant Evacuation/Multiple Emergency Types Equipment Control Emergency Reporting Process Control Monitoring Intrinsically Safe Application Lost Revenue from Down Operations Remote Building Reporting & Control No Underground Disruption Mandated Requirements Premium Reductions

Mine & Sheet Rock Plant

Monitoring numerous conditions in a remote 20 x 40 Fire Pump House High/Low Water Pressure AC Power Failure Fire Pump Running Fire Pump Fail to Start

Wiring and Trenching Constraints

Overhead Wiring Not Possible:

Conveyors Product Delivery Pipes Oversized Vehicle Traffic

Trenching Not Possible:

Unmarked/Unknown Piping Geological Challenges

Motor Control Room Example

Solution:
Control Panel Outside Motor Control Room 2 Repeaters & 21 Transmitters Secured in Enclosure within Pump House Clean Installation Despite Hot/Dirty Environment (fine dust surface coating)

Remote Building Monitoring

Remote Pump House Monitoring and Control

High/Low Water Pressure AC Power Failure Fire Pump Running Fire Pump Fail to Start

Remote Panel & Riser Monitoring

Transmitter Box Monitoring Existing Panels: Alarm Supervisory Trouble Transmitter Box Monitoring Existing Riser: Flow Tamper

Temperature Monitoring
Temperature monitoring High temp top Low temp bottom

Environmental Challenges

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Historic
Rapid Installation, Non-Invasive, Preserve Esthetics
Substantially Reduce
Wiring Wire mold Conduit Patching Refurbishing

Eliminate
Asbestos Abatement

Applications
State Capitol Buildings National Landmarks National Historic Register Buildings Courthouses Museums Bed and Breakfasts

Educational Facilities
Life Safety Needs of Educational Facilities
Similar Needs of Historic Structures Need to Monitor Existing Fire Alarm Panels New Construction & Building Expansions are Continuous Retrofitting Existing Buildings Public Schools Dormitories Off Campus Housing Multiple Site Reporting

System Advantages
Provides Point Addressable Detection & Annunciation of All Alarm & Supervisory Signals Eliminates Non-Detected Tamper and Vandalism Fire Detection, Notification & Communication System

High Rise Buildings

Residential & Commercial
Challenges
Required to Update Existing Fire Alarm Systems to Meet New Code Requirements Associations are Faced with Financial Burdens Associated with the Cost of System Upgrade and Refurbishing Expenses Unsightly Conduit and Wire Mold Compromise the Dcor of the Property Both in Common Areas and Individual Units Tenant Build-Outs and Relocations 75 DB Requirement

System Advantages
Unobtrusive Installation Point Annunciation & Early Warning Detection Control Units UL Listed 864 & 1730

Governmental
Military, Private Sector, Mass Notification
Applications
Military/Barracks Home Land Security Dry Docked Naval Vessels Aircraft Maintenance Hangers Embassies & Memorials Federal & State Court Houses State Capital Buildings

System Advantages
Portability for the Relocation of Installed Equipment Provide Ancillary Reporting such as Duress Systems and Evacuation Local/Proprietary Wireless Reporting/Long Range Radio

International Airport
Scope To monitor fire alarm and suppression systems in remote Delta Jet
fueling facilities
Project Consideration To shut down operations while trenching from remote fueling facilities to receiving area for central station communication Provide an RF alternative on premise

Project Overview:
Provided Pre & Post Spectral Analysis
Analysis on Active Taxiway to Confirm no RF Interference AHJ Code Requires Digital Communication via Copper Network for Central Station Reporting No Phones Lines were Available at Remote Stations 40 Fire Transmitters Required for Monitoring of Fire Alarm, Agent Discharge, Shunt Trip, AC Power Loss, and Miscellaneous Communication RF Transmission Network Consists of 3 Repeaters

Jetway

R
R

Fuel Island

ReFueling Facility

R
CP-3000

Unique Applications
The flexibility of Wireless Brings New Opportunity

Zoos Convention Centers Traveling Museum Exhibits Temporary Smoke Detection & Evacuation

Technology Alternatives
Multi Chanel Frequency Hopping Format 200 Second Supervisory Reporting Bi-Directional RF 10 Second Rule for Notification Activation via RF AVs and Control Functions wired to Repeaters True RF Protocol Technology Protocols May Vary Single Channel Transmission 1 HR check-in with 4 HR Report 1 Way RF Wired to Panel AVs and Control Functions wired to Control Panel Hybrid

Benefits
Wireless offers
Rapid and Efficient Installation Ease of Modification and Expansion Virtually Impervious to Lightning Eliminates Ground Faults Minimal Disruption to Operations Aesthetics Preserved Retaining System Operations during Crossovers Continued Operation in the Event of Prolonged Power Outage Stand Alone Technology

Reliability
In Addition to Requirements Systems listed by UL and other Approval Agencies to meet the requirements of NFPA, must be tested to all applicable requirements under UL 864 for hardwired systems as well as the following

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Short Range RF Testing

Frequency Selectivity
A CWSI transmitter is placed into alarm and tuned to a different frequency outside of the chosen band At least 10 different frequencies are tested outside of the chosen band

Clash Test A fully loaded system must meet the following:

99.99% probability that a alarm signal will be received at the CU w/in 10 sec 99.95% probability that a supervisory signal will be received at the CU w/in 10 sec 99.95% probability that a trouble signal will be received at the CU in 200 sec

Clash Error Test A false (third) signal cannot be displayed on the CU during the following 2 conditions:
- One transmitter in continuous alarm and a second transmitter simultaneously sending alarms every 30 seconds for a total of 100,000 transmissions - One transmitter in continuous alarm and a second transmitter simultaneously sending supervisory signals every 30 seconds for a total of 100,000 transmissions
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Error Falsing Rate

A miscoded transmitter cannot be displayed as correct on the CU for the following conditions:
1,000,000 transmissions with one bit incorrect More than two correct messages is a failure. 1,000,000 transmissions with two bits incorrect More than one correct messages is a failure. 100,000 transmissions with three bits incorrect More than zero correct messages is a failure. Note: This test is conducted at low battery level at worst case range and white noise interference present.
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Through-put Test
A properly coded transmitter must be displayed correctly on the CU for the following conditions:
100,000 Alarm transmissions More than 4 missed is a failure 100,000 Trouble or Supervisory transmissions More than 19 missed is a failure
Note: This test is conducted at low battery level at worst case range with white noise interference present.

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FAQ
Response to survey questions
Battery Life and Supervision Reliability in Various Environment Transmitting and Receiving Distances Inspection & Certification of Wireless Systems AHJ Approvals UL & FM Approvals Cost Comparisons

Wireless
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