I ve just started in this topic, this fascinating topic of fire protection systems and I have seen some people don’t trust in wireless fire alarm systems, so I wonder why they don´t like it, I’ve read this systems have became in a more reliable option but I want to go deeper and I would like to know your opinion about this systems. Wired system have been proved along the time but I consider that their main disadvantage is the elevated installation cost and all issues involved in mounting and installation. So the question here is: Wired alarm systems or wireless alarm systems?? Pros and cons of each one? Thanks to all for reading.
Everything that goes into a wireless system drives the cost up, so the equipment costs more even though the installation is cheaper. Service costs a whole lot more though, lots of batteries to check and change every year, and each one takes time.
I’ve never done a wireless fire alarm (although, they do exist), but I’ve done wireless access control locks and it takes days for someone to go out and replace all the batteries in those things. You gotta go to the actual device, take it apart, put a battery in, put it back together, move to the next one. Doesn’t seem like much until you multiply it by a few hundred. Now imagine if those are on the ceiling and you have to drag a ladder around to do it all!
I usually hear about wireless systems being put into places where its not practical to run wires, like in a historic structure requiring a retrofit.
We are using a few wireless system right now as temporary systems for buildings/areas in some of our buildings that are being renovated (museums and historical buildings). When the wired system or Vesda system(s) are installed, we take out the wireless and move it to the next area being renovated.
They work pretty good for that but like Chris says, replacing all those batteries would be a pain if it were a permanent installation.
I might as well put my 2 cents in.
I prefer wired systems over wire less systems for a variety of reasons. I feel like having a physical connection between a device and the panel or another device is far more reliable than a wireless connection that could be vulnerable in some way to interference or any other disruptions (wireless goes out, signal not strong enough, etc.) My next point is batteries. It’s not really practical for companies to have to design an entirely new device just so it’s compatible with batteries and wireless transmitters/receivers when traditional wired systems have been the standard for decades. Also, for an installer or inspector, they would, like mentioned in a previous reply, would have to swap out batteries often on each and every device. Again with the practicallity, this wouldn’t be ideal for large installlations such as high rise buildings, that’d be a lot of time and money for an installation and inspection. Also, of a building does not maintain their fire alarm system, the batteries would soon die and the building would be left unprotected. With wired systems, there’s no worry of having to rely on something you can’t see and there’s always a physical connection to the system.