Last Updated on 1 November 2022.
A look at Hyfire and why they’re shaking up the wireless fire alarm manufacturing market.
Fun fact that you may not know about WFP is that it stands for ‘Wire-Free Protection’.
That’s because back in the day when we started in 2003, the niche in the fire alarm market was wireless fire alarms.
So, with fire protection being our bread and butter, we sought to really hone in on that niche, and nearly 20 years on winning awards like ‘Fire Protection Service of the Year’, wireless is still a game changer for our fire alarm installations.
What does a ‘wireless’ fire alarm even mean?
There are three methods of installing a fire alarm:
- Wired
- Wireless
- Hybrid
Wireless systems are preferred for buildings which are readily built, whilst wired systems are better for new-builds which can be installed during the build itself.
You can do either but it really comes down to a few factors:
- Speed of installation
- Cost of installation
- Flexibility post-installation
Wireless fire alarm systems (meaning that there is minimal cabling required and devices such as smoke detectors communicate with each other using boosters which operate via radio signals) are faster to install and mean there’ll be minimal redecoration costs.
Wired fire alarm systems, by contrast, take a lot longer to install because of the cabling infrastructure needed (wireless installations use up to 90% less cabling than wired!), and you often need to factor in redecoration costs and firestopping works to fill the holes in walls once the job is done.
Wireless equipment can be more expensive than wired, but with wired you’ll be looking at longer installation periods (so likely more labour needed, and potential downtime for your business) plus possible redecoration costs, so it can end up being thereabouts the same, if not more expensive for a wired installation when you add all of those elements up.
Hybrid systems are possible and offers the best of both worlds.
(The best solution for your premises and budget can be discussed with your dedicated installations strategist – so, don’t worry!)
So, it’s safe to say, that the benefits of wireless mean that these types of fire alarms have gone from a niche alternative to a go-to for fire alarm installers looking for the right solutions for their customers.
Are wireless fire alarms reliable?
Yes. There has been a stigma in the past that wireless fire alarms aren’t as reliable as wired alarms.
However, with automated testing and a battery life up to 10 years, it’s safe to say that wireless technology is far more reliable than we give it credit for; plus, the market is constantly evolving!
It’s also safe to say that they are also fully compliant with EN54!
Devices from manufacturers like Hyfire can even be tagged on to open protocol fire alarm panels like Advanced, so they’re not just ideal for new installations, but system expansions as well, which is super savvy and a great help to installers such as us, where we’ve been installing fire alarm systems in apartment blocks with Simultaneous Evacuation strategies due to defective fireproofing or cladding – which of course, wired alarms are ill-suited for due to the speed and the amount of cabling they need in-situ compared to wireless.
These systems and devices by manufacturers like Hyfire can even be repurposed for things like Emergency Evacuation Alert Systems, being BS 8629 compliant, so they can be used for evacuation control by the Fire Brigade in the event of an attendance due to fire.
So, their fire detection and protection applications are just getting better and better.
What’s so great about Hyfire?
There are a few things we look at as installers to vet the products we use and the manufacturers we work with:
- The quality of the equipment (longevity, complexity, usability and warranties)
- The level of training and support offered (having a UK base is particularly key)
- The speed of delivery of materials (as some of our customers need their installations to happen sharpish, for example if they’re forking out for Waking Watch and need a fire alarm in there pronto!)
- How innovative they are and how they take on feedback from us as installers
And it’s safe to say (so far), Hyfire wireless fire alarm systems has been ticking all of these boxes for us.
They’re big on service, support and innovation, which makes them a great match to the WFP ethos and what we’re trying to deliver.
There have been a couple of occasions already where we’ve had a Hyfire fire alarms consultant attend surveys with our Installations Strategist and Project Manager to provide their take on the logistics of an installation – something they don’t have to do, but do because they really care.
Like us, they’re also members of the Fire Industry Association (FIA), promoting professional fire safety and leading the way in training within what has, for so long, largely been an unregulated industry.
What is the Hyfire Taurus?
Hyfire call it “the newest, incredibly powerful and easy to configure EN54-25 wireless system on the market today”.
That’s a pretty bold statement!
And if you’re a fire detection and alarm system geek like us, then you’ll understand why we like the sound of the Taurus.
It’s got something called ‘SafePath Mesh Expander Technology’ which means that if any Expander in the chain fails (remember what we said earlier about devices talking to each other through radio signals?) then the transmission finds an alternative route, so there’s no chance of failed communication.
Then there’s also its ‘Optimised Power Management’ where devices are communicating literally every second, but doesn’t waste power listening or transmitting unnecessarily, like an Amazon Alexa.
If you love fire detection and alarms as much as we do, we’d love to hear thoughts on this system and Hyfire, too!
Or if you’ve landed here today without a clue about fire alarms or wireless systems, but are doing research on them, I hope you’ve found this useful!
Reach out if you need any help with your fire alarm installation – be it wired, wireless or hybrid – we’ve got your back!
Thanks for reading! Good luck with your fire safety strategy, and don’t forget to share using those social media buttons below to share this with your online community if you found it helpful!
2 thoughts on “Hyfire is the Wireless Fire Alarm Manufacturer to Watch”
Wants to know more about communication between detectors and panal and how this system could be interconnected with conventional or addressable fire panel
Sanjay, thank you for asking how radio fire alarm systems can be interconnected to conventional or other addressable fire panels.
The answer is quite simple, all fire alarm systems can be connected.
The thing to consider is how the connection is going to work and what is required of the connection. There are multiple ways to connect systems, using interfaces and relays, either positioned in the ‘field’ i.e. on the wiring, or directly from the fire alarm panel. The two basic categories of ‘connection’ are:
1. Simple linking which only provides information such as its the other building or area
2. Networked connection which will provide detailed information on the exact location of the fire and effectively work as one system.
I hope that this helps, however, to be specific on the answers, we would require the details on what you want to link and what the cause and effects will be. Feel free to call us to discuss your specifics on 01277 622932 during office hours (08:00-17:00 GMT).