What happened?
Wireless alarm systems are becoming increasingly important in fire protection. While larger buildings or those with special protection requirements often mandate wired fire detection systems, these frequently reach practical and economic limits in smaller special-use buildings, existing structures, or temporarily used facilities. Wireless solutions offer advantages here: quick installation, flexible expandability, and minimal intervention in the building fabric. Three different approaches have established themselves on the market – ranging from hazard detection integrated into building systems, through standard-compliant wireless fire warning systems, to fully cloud-based mobile network solutions without a local control panel.
The Details
Smoke Detectors in Networked Building Systems
The joint solution from Telenot and Tekko combines wireless alarm technology with building automation and is aimed at private builders and small businesses. Core components include wireless sensors, a Telenot wireless gateway (FGW230), and the Tekko controllers TC 10, TC 5, and TC 1. Wireless components include smoke detectors, motion detectors, and signal transmitters, among others. The gateway establishes the secure connection between detectors and the system control unit and is connected to the respective controller via an RS-485 bus. This controller processes alerts and additionally networks other building systems such as heating, shading, access control, lighting, or energy management. In the event of an alarm, push notifications, emails, and automated call services can be implemented, monitored via an app.
Wireless Fire Warning System for Smaller Special-Use Buildings
With the Beka wireless fire warning system, Daitem specifically targets smaller special-use buildings and properties that do not require a fire detection system but still need structured alarm notification. The system complies with DIN EN 54. Its central component is a wireless control panel that communicates bidirectionally with up to 148 devices. Wireless transmission uses the DynaBand method with automatic frequency switching for high transmission reliability. The system includes wireless combined smoke/heat detectors, wireless fire sirens, wireless manual call points, and a fire brigade display panel. The detectors are easy to maintain: the sensor unit and battery can be replaced without having to re-register the detector, and automatic status reports provide information on contamination levels and battery status.
Alarm Notification Without a Control Panel: Mobile Network and Cloud
Lupus pursues a consistently minimalist approach. Its fire warning solution completely dispenses with local infrastructure such as gateways, internet connections, or conventional control panels. Type C smoke detectors, manual call points, and additional components are connected directly to a cloud system via mobile network – each device has its own pre-configured mobile connection, including an integrated SIM card. In the event of an alarm, the cloud system automatically notifies previously defined recipients or external agencies. Alarm notification takes place locally via integrated sirens and externally via smartphones or connected control centers. Networking via Narrowband-IoT enables simple scaling without additional infrastructure.
Classification
The three solutions differ significantly in their fire protection regulatory classification. Building automation systems such as the Telenot and Tekko combination serve to inform users and operators at an early stage but do not replace a fire detection or fire warning system required under building law. Wireless fire warning systems such as Daitem Beka can be used in many German states as an equivalent solution to wired systems, provided they are part of a coordinated fire protection concept. Cloud-based mobile network solutions such as those from Lupus are particularly suitable for temporary uses, construction sites, mobile facilities, or supplementary alarm tasks, but are generally not intended for fire detection or fire warning systems required by authorities.
This differentiation is crucial for professionals: smoke detectors or hazard detection are typical for residential and commercial buildings but do not provide fire brigade alerting and are not equivalent to fire detection systems (BMA) or fire warning systems (BWA). Fire warning systems (BWA) must meet requirements under DIN VDE 0826-2, among others, sometimes with DIN EN 54-compatible components, and are suitable for smaller special-use buildings and defined usage units. Fire detection systems (BMA) follow DIN 14675 or DIN EN 54, are often wired – though sometimes also wireless – and are mandated by building regulations in many special-use buildings.
Practical Tips
- Before selecting a system, clarify whether a fire detection or fire warning system required by building law is necessary, or whether supplementary hazard detection is sufficient.
- For smaller special-use buildings without a mandatory fire detection system, a standard-compliant wireless fire warning system according to DIN VDE 0826-2 or with DIN EN 54 components can represent an equivalent alternative to wired systems.
- For temporary uses such as construction sites or mobile facilities, cloud-based mobile network solutions without local infrastructure are suitable – but only as a supplement, not as a replacement for systems required by authorities.
- Approval always depends on the fire protection concept, the state building code, and coordination with the relevant authority or fire department – this coordination should take place early on.
- Easy-to-maintain systems with automatic status reports on contamination levels and battery status simplify ongoing operation and maintenance.
Outlook
The variety of wireless alarm solutions available on the market shows that fire protection is increasingly being conceived in a more flexible and technically differentiated way. All the approaches presented share reduced installation effort and quick commissioning. However, the decisive factor in selection remains the fire protection regulatory classification and alignment with the respective usage concept. For specialist planners, installers, and operators, it will therefore become even more important in the future to clearly communicate the differences between hazard detection, fire warning systems, and fire detection systems, and to correctly classify them for the specific property before making a system decision.
