FIRE-LITE NEW LITESPEED TECHNOLOGY WILL CREATE A FASTER, COST-EFFECTIVE FIRE-PROTECTION SYSTEM
February, 2006

NORTHFORD, Conn. - When a business owner wants to replace his conventional fire alarm panel, the heart of the fire protection system, with a modern, intelligent addressable panel, the benefits are crystal clear. Intelligent addressable fire systems not only provide superior precision in identifying the source of a fire, they also extract vital information from detection devices indicating device status (alarm/trouble), smoke levels (normal/pre-alarm/alarm), dust accumulation (clean vs. dirty), and the integrity of the device's electronics. All of these features expedite troubleshooting and guarantee greater overall system control, which benefits the building owner with better protection of the facility and its occupants.

And while the business owner may feel comfortable with the cost of a new intelligent addressable system, the fact remains that the bulk of a fire protection system's cost lies in the installation, from both a labor and parts perspective. With retrofit applications, the bulk of that financial burden stems from the considerable rewiring that often must be done before the new system is installed.

This is because conventional fire alarm systems utilize single conductors of 12-gauge unshielded, untwisted copper wire, called THHN, as their foundation. Conversely, many addressable systems are connected via twisted, shielded wire. This consists of two conductors in the same jacket and often carries an internal foil shield. Consequently, the switch from a conventional to an addressable system necessitates significant rewiring. Add to this the concern that can result when the wiring is being done in existing walls and ceilings rather than new construction, and neither the business owner nor the electrician doing the work are going to sleep very well.

Enter Fire-Lite Alarms, part of Honeywell's (NYSE: HON) Life Safety Group, and a leading manufacturer of quality life safety systems. The Northford, Connecticut-based company - one of the first companies to introduce addressable fire alarm systems to the market - will soon be offering addressable systems that can use the same unshielded, untwisted wire employed by conventional systems.

The financial ramifications of this Fire-Lite technology, called LiteSpeed tm , are noteworthy. Now, a business owner can switch from a conventional to an addressable system by simply removing the old detector heads and installing a new detector base, using virtually all of the existing wiring. But the positive economic news doesn't end there. If a business owner feels that, despite the wiring, an addressable system is still fiscally out of reach, it can be done with a "phased" approach: that is, the addressable panel can be installed, leaving the old conventional heads on the conventional loop, and still be monitored via addressable monitor modules. The monitor modules will supervise the older conventional loops and, if any smoke detector or signaling device on the loop is activated, the monitor module will relay the information over the addressable communications circuit to the new panel. The loops can be replaced, one at a time if need be, as time and budget allow.

The ability to use existing wiring is a significant benefit of the LiteSpeed technology. The technology was developed by Fire-Lite in response to the need to announce a fire or emergency condition in a shorter time, as dictated by new UL requirements. These new requirements are an outgrowth of guidelines set forth by organizations like the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Ultimately, the new UL requirements reflect the improved standards and forward-thinking approaches that the fire-protection industry as a whole seeks to embrace.

Fire-Lite realized that the new requirements provided a unique opportunity to examine all of its product lines and not only meet the new standard but revolutionize its technology. It quickly became apparent that in order to get around a large system in a short period of time, it would be necessary to create an entirely new polling protocol. The requirement stated that notification circuits, which contain horns, speakers and strobe lights, must be activated within 10 seconds from the time of indication (i.e., a detector sensing smoke). To meet this standard, Fire-Lite created LiteSpeed T, a new protocol capable of polling 10 devices at one time. The benefit of the protocol is obvious: notification to building occupants is achieved 10 times faster than with single-device polling technology.

Further expanding the capability of technology, when 12 AWG fire power limited riser (FPLR) or fire power limited plenum (FPLP) wire is installed, this protocol can work over a system loop equipped with as much as 10,000 feet of wire. On the new MS-9600LS LiteSpeed fire control panel, which accommodates up to 318 devices on each of two loops (198 of which can be detectors), the system can incorporate up to 636 total devices, more than sufficient to protect most mid- to large-sized facilities.

Using this new technology as a catalyst, Fire-Lite also developed additional features to enhance the performance of LiteSpeed, particularly the ability of the system to easily incorporate new device types. In competitive addressable systems, devices make use of a "smart head" equipped with a microprocessor; the decision to sound an alarm is made in the detector head. Should the user wish to add a new feature to the system, it is a relatively painstaking and costly process, as each of the device heads must be taken down and reprogrammed.

Conversely, with LiteSpeed-enabled products, devices are used solely as data collectors; the alarm is not processed in the device head but rather, in the control panel based on the digital data values sent by the device. Adding a system-wide feature requires some simple reprogramming and updating to the panel software. Whether it's an addressable ion detector, smoke detector, pull station, or any other device, adding it to the LiteSpeed system is far less time-consuming and costly.

Troubleshooting and installation becomes much simpler in the system as well. Once all the devices are addressed and connected, the installer simply touches the Auto Program button. The system sends out a signal that will locate and identify all attached devices. If there is a problem with a device, or even if two devices are similarly addressed (convincing the system that there is a duplicate and consequently unnecessary device), the system will find it in a hurry. This allows the installing dealer to provide a working fire alarm system to a building owner very quickly and, allows a certificate of occupancy to be issued by the AHJ.

Another noteworthy upgrade to LiteSpeed systems includes the mechanical design. All future LiteSpeed panels will use a common back box - the first panels on the market to use this scheme. Within the box, the PC board will be mounted on a quickly-removable chassis rather than in the box itself; thus, internal panel electronics can be replaced by just removing two nuts and pulling out the old chassis.

The benefit of this modularity cannot be overstated. For years, Fire-Lite personnel have witnessed various trades (drywallers, painters, etc.) inflicting damage on fire-alarm panels, albeit unintentionally. Owing to this new design, damaged electronics can not only be easily replaced, but the damage may even be avoided altogether. The installer removes the electronic chassis and door from the cabinet and simply mounts the backbox on the wall. Wires are pulled and tagged or even installed on the removable wire connectors. The electronics and door are placed back in the truck or in a safe place. Once all construction work is completed, the chassis can be reinserted, and connected - none the worse for wear.

The LiteSpeed product line will have widespread application and with good reason. Based on its myriad advantages - combined with the fact that a large number of conventional systems have undoubtedly entered their "golden years" - many facility owners will undertake upgrades to an addressable system. And while addressable systems offer quicker installation, superior performance, and easier maintenance, Fire-Lite's LiteSpeed technology multiplies those advantages exponentially.

And that will make everyone - facility owners, electricians, contractors, and security personnel - sleep much better at night.