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

3

Commercial Wireless Technology Timeline

1979 First Supervised

Wireless

1983 UL Listings –

1730

1987 Adoption Info NFPA 72A (now

Ch.6)

1988 UL Listing of Wireless Control

Panels & Accessory

Devices

1990 CSFM,

Boca, SBCC

1996 MEA

2001 FM Approvals

2010 UL & CSFM 9th Edition

2011 NYFD Approved

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

NFPA 2007 Chapter 6

Codes and Standards

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.

See Full PDF here http://cwsifire.com/codes.php

Performance & Supervision of Systems

• 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 *

NFPA & UL Requirements…

*Not a requirement of Chapter 6 or 23.

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 low-power 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

Supervisory Polling Requirements

10

• System Components: • Control Panels • Initialing Devices • Receivers • Repeaters • Relay Interfaces

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

System Components & Design

• Control Unit Capabilities • 32 Zone • 128 Zone • 256 Zone • 1028 Zone

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

• 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

Fully Supervised and Provides for…

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

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

Eliminate Conduit, Wiring, Disruption to Operations…

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

Mine & Sheet Rock Plant

Overhead Wiring Not Possible: • Conveyors • Product Delivery Pipes • Oversized Vehicle Traffic

Trenching Not Possible: • Unmarked/Unknown Piping • Geological Challenges

Wiring and Trenching Constraints

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)

Motor Control Room Example

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

27

Environmental Challenges

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 Décor 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

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

Military, Private Sector, Mass Notification…

International Airport

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

Scope… To monitor fire alarm and suppression systems in remote Delta Jet

fueling facilities

R

R

R

CP-3000

Fuel Island

ReFueling Facility

Jetway

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 Single Channel Transmission

200 Second Supervisory Reporting 1 HR check-in with 4 HR Report

Bi-Directional RF 1 Way RF

10 Second Rule for Notification Activation via RF

Wired to Panel

AVs and Control Functions wired to Repeaters

AVs and Control Functions wired to Control Panel

True RF Protocol Hybrid

Technology Protocols May Vary

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

37

•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…

Reliability

In Addition to Requirements…

38

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

Short Range RF Testing

39

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.

Error Falsing Rate

40

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.

Through-put Test

FAQ

• Battery Life and Supervision • Reliability in Various Environment • Transmitting and Receiving Distances • Inspection & Certification of Wireless Systems • AHJ Approvals • UL & FM Approvals • Cost Comparisons

Response to survey questions…

Wireless

One Simple Decision. Endless Solutions.

Thank You.