Is a wireless fire alarm right for you?

A wireless fire alarm uses radio signals to detect and transmit an alarm trigger signal to the control panel. A wireless fire alarm system is a great option if you don't want to deal with a complicated installation: they're pretty much ready to go right out of the box. If you are looking for a simple and affordable alternative to a traditional hardwired system, then wireless may be the way to go.

When to use a wireless fire alarm

Wireless fire alarms are a practical alternative to a hardwired system in many situations. First, if you rent office space and want to add extra fire protection, you can simply add wireless units to specific areas of your office, like over special supplies or volatile materials. Next, if your office space is in a historical building and you can't or don't want to open up the walls or destroy ornate woodwork to install a hardwired system, a wireless fire alarm system is a good option.

Wireless systems also are a viable option for companies that have outbuildings that they would like to connect to their central fire alarm system. The wireless units can be fitted in them and the receivers can be integrated into your central fire alarm control panel. Finally, if you have a small budget to work with, then wireless is a great option because you not only save money on the equipment, but also you save on installation costs.

Specific challenges

While a wireless fire alarm system or wireless smoke alarm can answer many of your fire protection needs, there are several drawbacks associated with going wireless. The main problem that wireless systems have is that they can be accidentally set off if someone is using another wireless device that operates on the same radio frequency.

Another problem is that a wireless fire alarm system can interfere with other wireless office equipment, causing interference and hindering the effectiveness of your systems. This problem can usually be overcome by selecting a wireless fire alarm system with a radio frequency that is outside the range of your office WiFi network.

Finally, wireless systems may not meet your state's fire safety codes for businesses because it is not always possible for monitoring services to monitor them. You can avoid this problem by talking with the monitoring service ahead of time to see if they have a wireless fire alarm setup that they can monitor and that you will be able to afford.

Experienced fire alarm dealers should be able to present more details on whether a wireless fire alarm is right for your business. Start your investigation by using BuyerZone's free request for fire alarm price quotes and you'll be matched to multiple qualified dealers who can review your needs and provide detailed estimates.