EMS Launches Firecell

FireCell is a next generation wireless detection system using cutting edge ‘Smart Cluster Technology.’ Firecell is a real breakthrough! It guarantees simplicity of installation and wide wireless coverage. This is not just a new product, but a giant step forward for the automatic fire detection industry.

EMS is at the forefront of wireless fire and security development since the introduction of wireless communication into the world of life safety. Today, EMS is considered to be the leading high-tech researcher, developer and manufacturer of wireless security and fire detection systems in the UK. FireCell marks a wireless revolution and the start of a new era!

EMS was closely involved in formulating the new standard by providing technical experts to the working group whose task was to harmonise the UK and European wireless position.

Installer responsibility.
The requirements of EN54-25 go beyond equipment compliance. Installer/maintainer responsibility is to ensure that the wireless communication system meets the signal loss immunity requirements prescribed by EN54-25.

What is FireCell?
Built upon the success of the 5000 FirePoint system, the development of FireCell is a new technology designed as a short-range, bi-directional communication link between fire devices.

Smart Cluster Technology:
To meet the requirements of the EN54-25 certification, the FireCell product incorporates a new communication product: EMS’s unique ‘Smart Cluster Technology’. This innovation, developed by EMS in the UK, enables FireCell to meet EN54-25 without interconnecting cables.

Smart Cluster Technology (SCT) uses a multi-frequency link, designed to eliminate signal blocking and signal collision, allowing closely synchronised transmissions, with multi path availability. This allows a high margin of signal strength to be maintained throughout the system.

Communication management:
The European Standard prescribes a large signal overhead that is required at both installation and survey. EN54-25 calls for a signal overhead of 20-30db. This is between 100-1,000 times the fault-tolerance threshold of normal communication!

FireCell introduces a sophisticated new feature enabling the signal overhead to be checked at any time. If transmission signal from a detector is found to be lower than normal, the SCT automatically instructs the transmission power to increase, thus normalising the communication path.

Firecell is made in Britain.
EMS is proud of its ‘made in Britain’ status; FireCell is manufactured and assembled at its factory in Herne Bay, Kent. The superior quality and reliability of EMS products is well known. The high level of customer support and dedicated service is now enhanced with the addition of an e-Shop; customers can now buy online at: www.emsgroupshop.co.uk

Cost comparison (wireless vs. wired)
Common perception has been that wireless is expensive and niche. In reality, independent analysis by consultants has proved that wireless solutions offer flexibility and cost competitiveness against hardwired systems. Project managers, specifiers and sometimes installers fail to accurately identify the overall project cost savings to be gained using wireless.

Labour costs typically account for only 15% of a wireless installation, compared with 50% for hardwired systems. This saving more than offsets any higher component costs. FireCell offers a far more cost-effective alternative to labour-intensive hard-wired systems

Finally, consider the following: linking multiple buildings on a site with a hardwired system can be horrendous – ground works and overhead cabling can heap cost onto a project. A wireless linked system, such as FireCell, eliminates this cost and offers far greater flexibility during installation and future expansion.

Today, most Facilities Managers are under pressure to reduce maintenance budgets. System specifiers are finding FireCell to be a cost-effective investment into the building’s long-term fire protection solution.

The benefits of a wireless system make for compelling reading:

Flexible installations
No cables to break, short-out or move, a high tolerance to hostile environments.

Cost reductions
Easier, quicker and less expensive to install than hardwired systems.

Minimum operating disruption
No need to install the cabling required by hardwired systems.

Why do Installers prefer FireCell?

Safety professionals are not alone in preaching the virtues of wireless fire safety. Engineers operating on-the-ground are increasingly prescribing wireless fire systems as comparable with and often superior to hardwired systems.FireCell offers installers significant savings in the following areas:

Flexibility in installation and positioning
Devices can be positioned and repositioned at will and systems upgraded easily.

Time and labour costs
Wireless fire systems can be installed in a fraction of the time taken to install a hardwired system!

FireCell Applications
Wireless fire systems are the superior choice for challenging sites and building environments, for example:

Hotels
Systems can be installed without affecting occupancy and services.

Heritage
Systems can be installed without disturbing or damaging d├®cor.

Education
Systems can be installed in minimal time during term breaks.

Multiple Buildings
Systems can be installed without need for inter-connecting cables.

Large Developments
Systems can be easily upgraded and altered with the building use.

Open Plan
Systems can be easily moved as the layout changes without the need to reinstall cabling.

Asbestos
Systems can be economically installed without the need for drilling or disturbance to the infrastructure.

Temporary Protection
Systems can be easily relocated/moved to a new site or used as temporary cover during refurbishment

Homes of Multiple Occupancy
Systems can be installed without the need for intrusive and unattractive cables and can be expanded upon as needed

FireCell Q&A

Q1: Can the system demonstrate compliance with EN54:25 with respect to inbuilt signal headroom?
A1: The system is surveyed with headroom allocated of at least 20 to 30dbm dependant on type of device. This can also be checked during future maintenance visits.

Q2: Are replacement batteries easy to obtain and change?
A2: Devices use standard low cost Duracell alkaline batteries that can be obtained directly from the EMS online shop: www.emsgroupshop.co.uk or from most retail outlets.

Q3: What if I need to extend my system?
A3: The system can be easily extended and programmed on site.

Q4: Will the sounders on the system be synchronised?
A4: Radio devices are fully synchronised and are periodically polled to ensure full synchronised activation.

Q5: If I change a device will it affect the rest of the system?
A5: Devices can be easily changed without having any effect on the rest of the system.

Q6: Will any unsightly cables be required for range extenders?
A6: FireCell requires no loop cabling for RCC’s, only a local mains supply is required.

Q7: Is radio technology reliable?
A7: Yes. EMS wireless has proven reliability with an extensive track-record and industry-wide reputation.

Q8: Will ongoing support be available?
A8: All EMS products come with a 5 year warranty and are supported by our UK help desk. All products are supported for a minimum of 10 years from manufacture.

Q9: Will a detector locally indicate a fire condition?
A9: The detector LED illuminates during a fire condition and is turned off by the CIE when the condition is reset.

Q10: Does the system use standard detection heads?
A10: FireCell utilises industry standard sensors from Apollo and GE with proven reliability.

Q11: How many sounder tones are available?
A11: FireCell uses Klaxon sounder heads that can produce 32 different tone patterns.

Environmental benefits.
Wireless solutions have less impact on the environment. The cable required in a wired installation is eliminated. The greener solution of wireless gives additional flexibility: systems can be changed or modified without the installation of new cabling, or of leaving dead cable above a ceiling or attached to a tray.

More Information.

For more technical information you can visit the EMS Group website – www.emsgroup.co.uk or click here

For sales and other enquiries.
Please contact Ken Bullock – 01227 369 570 or email enquiries@emsgroup.co.uk