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Wireless
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 The following questions and answers are from an interview with Mr. Philip R. Barrett, President of World Electronics, Inc. Q - Mr. Barrett can you provide a brief history of your company? A - World Electronics was founded in 1979 to pioneer a commercial wireless fire and early warning system providing an alternate technology to conventional hard wired systems which had dominated the protection industry for the past ninety years. The system concept and performance parameters were derived after months of interviewing fire marshal's, insurance companies and life safety professionals of major companies. We gathered all suggestions on what existing systems lacked in performance parameters and compiled a wish list which became the nucleus of the new system. The initial system was finalized after two years of R&D. It was first installed in a condominium facility in Boca Raton, Florida. Subsequent sales required installations in hotels, motels, and office buildings. It became clear that a larger and more sophisticated system would be needed to meet the demands of more complex applications. The advanced system required four more years of intensive R&D by World Electronics. Q - We understand your company is the first in the nation to provide a commercial wireless early warning system? A - World was the first to invent and implement a Wireless Early Warning System to protect all commercial and industrial environments. Q - How does the wireless application differ from other methods? A - The wireless application utilizes binary tone encoded radio signals to transmit signals in lieu of wiring, conduit, cable, line carrier, fiber optics or other methods that rely on a physical intermediary. Each protection device incorporates a radio transmitter which is coded to its exact location on the premises or facility. When a protection device is activated, coded radio signals are transmitted through a repeater network to the control panel which identifies the exact location of the device together with the nature of the emergency. Q - What advantage does the wireless concept offer over other methods? A - Since our systems operate on radio signals, they are not subject to inherent problems of other applications. There are a host of advantages, however I will just touch on a few major areas. Firstly, our system provides redundant signaling paths for both reporting and remote control functions. To accomplish this by conventional methods requires two separated wire runs in conduit and trenching these outside. There are no inherent problems such as cut or corroded wires, electrical fires, lightning strikes, ground faults or power limitation on the system effecting system expansion. By eliminating wiring, conduit, trenching and disruption to facilities during installation, the wireless concept offers substantial cost savings. Additional savings result from the drastic reduction in installation time. Q - How do you transmit a radio signal from the protection device across a large area? A - Our company utilizes what we call repeaters which relay the radio signals. We invented the first microprocessor based intelligent repeater in the industry which utilizes superhetrodyne scanning technology protected by 20 patents. Each repeater is capable of receiving and retransmitting 330,000 separate distinct radio signals. The repeater requires dual verification of each radio signal before it reconstructs the word and retransmits the signal. A reception network is created for each installation in which each protection device talks to at least two repeaters. Transmissions generated by repeater are received by at least two repeaters until the signal is received at the receiving system. This creates a redundant communication path. In the event a catastrophic failure is experienced with a repeater the signal will not be compromised. The same redundant communication is utilized to send command signals from the control panel to repeaters to activate their relays to activate remote evacuation appliances or control various type equipment. Q - What are your major markets for your systems? A - Over the years, with advancements in wired technology for high rise buildings, our products have gravitated to four major markets:
Our products have produced substantial cost and performance benefits in all these applications. Q - How does your installation differ from conventional wired systems? A - The time required for installation of wireless sensors is extremely short - generally only 10 to 20% of the time needed for conventional methods. Since no wiring or exposed conduit is required, the aesthetics of the building are preserved. Q - Are there advantages to the wireless system regarding maintenance? A - The Wireless concept provides fast and efficient solutions to maintenance problems. There is no need to check a wiring maze or electrical connections. Instead, the problem is immediately displayed on the receiving system. The specific device and the exact nature of the problem is identified, rather than receiving a mere trouble indication. If necessary, any device can be replaced with a spare in a matter of minutes. Q - In a market dominated by one principle method of providing fire detection, did you experience resistance to your technology? A - Our initial installations were performed prior to the fire codes becoming as stringent as they are now. By the time we had developed our current products it became mandatory to have approval by the National Fire Protection Association and testing of the entire system by Underwriters Laboratories. In 1997, the commercial wireless proposal was passed by a 2 to1 vote of the NFPA membership at their annual meeting in Cincinnati. It will always be remembered as the most hotly contested proposal fight in the 90 year history of the NFPA. I guess you could say there are two divided camps that arise when any new controversial advancement is introduced. One embraces the new technology while others retain prejudicial positions. It should be pointed out our company has been selling our systems to major competitors over the years in cases where wireless is the preferred method for aesthetic preservation, cost consideration, installation constraints or where wiring cannot be used. Q - Why haven't other major companies introduced wireless systems? A - The foremost reason is that commercial wireless has not had a substantial enough impact on the major fire alarm companies. Secondly, to undertake a new technology would involve substantial financial commitment for R&D, as well as the costs associated with operating a totally new enterprise. It should be pointed out, over the past six years a number of major companies have attempted to enter the commercial wireless arena, however each failed to pass the stringent testing by industry certified laboratories associated with the technology. Undoubtedly, competition will evolve and commercial wireless will leap in sales, as a result of expanded acceptability. To request more information: Click Here Wireless Alarm Systems
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