When beefing up the security at your home or business premises there are plenty of things to consider, one of which is a new fire alarm system installation. More specifically, though, you need to decide upon exactly what type of fire alarm system will suit your needs – a wired or wireless system. In order to make tackling this question a little easier, this article will highlight the differences between the two types of fire alarm systems and weigh up the pros and cons of both.
The systems themselves
As you would expect, wired fire alarm systems use cabling and wires to transmit signals between the various devices and the system control panel, and can be split into two types: conventional and addressable. Conventional fire alarms split the protected facility in question into zones. When the alarm is triggered, the control panel details the particular zone in which the alarm was triggered.
An addressable fire alarm system, on the other hand, is a bit more specific insofar as the device itself is addressed to the exact location of the alarm. This means that, as the alarm is fixed to a central station monitoring entity, the detection of the alarm – and, in turn, the fire – is more accurate.
Wireless fire alarm systems, however, require no cabling to transmit signals, and instead rely on radio frequencies. That said, the technology is still addressable. Usually, a receiver or transmitter is installed to send information long distances from the devices to the main control panel.
The benefits of a wired system
- On the whole, wired fire alarm systems tend to be cheaper than their wireless counterparts. This is largely due to the technology being a little simpler.
- In theory, wired systems are more reliable. They are mains-powered, and most are bolstered with battery backup in case of a system failure. Wireless systems simply don’t have this luxury
- As wired system don’t bother with radio frequencies, there is no worry of signal interference, which is a clear concern for wireless systems.
- Lastly, wired fire alarm systems are just far more common than wireless ones, making sourcing spare parts cheaper and easier.
The benefits of a wireless system
- A clear benefit of the wireless system is its quicker and cheaper installation. With no need for endless amounts of cables and professionals to organise them, you can save time and money.
- They look better. Yep, without all that extra cabling, wireless systems can slot into your home or office without looking untidy.
- Perhaps the biggest benefit, though, is the flexibility of a wireless system. If necessary, wireless fire alarms can be removed easily for maintenance, relocation or replacement – further adding to the wireless system’s ease of use.
Protect & Detect can help improve your building’s fire safety through the provision of reliable, high-quality fire extinguishers, fire alarm systems (wired or wireless) and further fire safety accessories. Operating throughout Ipswich, Cambridge, Chelmsford and the surrounding areas, we aim to improve the fire safety of all our customers’ properties. For further information about our products and services, contact our helpful team today.