Insights

Wireless vs Wired Addressable Fire Alarms: Cost, Compliance and Reliability

When planning a new fire alarm system, one of the first practical decisions is whether to install a wireless system or a traditionally wired addressable system.

Customers generally want answers to two important questions:

• Will a wireless fire alarm cost more?
• Can a wireless fire alarm meet the applicable standards and design requirements?

The short answer is that wireless equipment normally costs more per device, but the completed installation can cost less where a wired system would require substantial fire-resistant cabling, containment and installation labour.

A wireless fire alarm can also provide a permanent solution where the fire alarm design permits radio-linked equipment and the system is properly surveyed, installed, commissioned and maintained.

The correct choice is not simply about whether wired or wireless equipment is better. It is about which technology can satisfy the agreed fire alarm design while providing the best overall value for the building.

Are Wireless Fire Alarms More Expensive and Can They Comply?

Wireless devices normally cost more, but the completed installation can cost less where new fire-resistant cabling would require substantial labour, containment, access equipment and making good.

A wireless system can form part of an installation designed in accordance with the applicable fire alarm recommendations, provided the design permits radio-linked equipment and the system is properly surveyed, installed, commissioned and maintained.

Neither technology is automatically the correct choice. The answer depends on the building, required detection, device availability, system complexity, radio environment, installation constraints and long-term maintenance requirements.

Wireless and Addressable Do Not Mean the Same Thing

Before comparing the two options, it is important to understand the terminology.

Wired or wireless describes how the fire alarm devices communicate with the system.

Conventional or addressable describes how devices and alarm locations are identified at the fire alarm control panel.

A fire alarm system can therefore be:

• Wired and addressable
• Wired and conventional
• Wireless and addressable
• Hybrid, combining wired and radio-linked devices

Modern commercial wireless fire alarm systems can provide addressable information, allowing the control panel to identify the individual detector, manual call point or alarm device involved in an event.

Establish the Fire Safety Requirement Before Comparing Costs

Cost should not determine the fire alarm design.

The need for a fire detection and alarm system, and the objectives it must achieve, should first be established from the Fire Risk Assessment, fire strategy and any applicable regulatory, licensing, insurer or enforcing-authority requirements.

The Fire Risk Assessment and other applicable requirements should establish the fire safety need and objectives. A competent fire alarm design should then translate those objectives into an appropriate category or grade, detection coverage, alarm provision, interfaces and system functions.

The design should establish:

• The required system category or grade
• The extent of automatic fire detection
• Where detectors and manual call points are required
• The required audible alarm coverage
• Whether visual alarm devices are needed
• Any interfaces with doors, lifts, smoke control or other building systems
• Any monitoring or alarm-transmission requirements
• The required control and indication arrangements
• Any specific cause-and-effect functions

Only after these requirements have been established can wired and wireless systems be compared on a like-for-like basis.

Comparing prices before the fire alarm design has been defined creates a risk that the lowest quotation simply provides less detection, fewer alarm devices, reduced functionality or a different commissioning and certification scope.

Which Fire Alarm Standard Applies?

For non-domestic premises, the principal code of practice is BS 5839-1:2025. It provides recommendations for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in non-domestic buildings.

BS 5839-1 is a code of practice. It does not, by itself, determine whether a particular building requires a fire alarm system or confer automatic legal compliance on an installation.

Domestic premises are generally considered under BS 5839-6:2019+A1:2020. This includes houses in multiple occupation and other domestic premises within the standard’s scope.

Grade A systems use separate detectors, alarm devices and central control and indicating equipment with standby power. The required grade and category should be established for the particular property with reference to the Fire Risk Assessment, BS 5839-6, relevant housing guidance and any applicable requirements of the local authority or enforcing body.

Not every HMO automatically requires the same grade or category. The design should reflect the property, occupancy, risk and applicable requirements.

What Is a Wired Addressable Fire Alarm?

A wired addressable system uses fire-resistant cables to connect detectors, manual call points, sounders, visual alarm devices, interfaces and other field equipment to the fire alarm control panel.

Each addressable device is individually identified. When a detector or call point operates, the control panel can display the specific device or location involved.

Wired addressable systems are often well suited to:

• New buildings
• Major refurbishment projects
• Buildings with accessible cable routes
• Large or technically complex premises
• Sites requiring a wide choice of detection technologies
• Systems with extensive interfaces and cause-and-effect programming
• Buildings containing substantial machinery or metal structures
• Sites with frequently changing stock or storage arrangements

Wired addressable systems generally provide access to a broader range of compatible detectors, alarm devices and specialist interfaces. This can be important where the design requires particular detection technologies or complex control functions.

What Is a Wireless Fire Alarm?

A wireless fire alarm uses supervised radio communication between compatible fire alarm devices and the system’s control equipment, translators, expanders or other radio infrastructure.

Detectors, manual call points and alarm devices are generally battery powered. The fire alarm control panel and some supporting equipment will still require mains electricity and may also require wired connections.

The term “wireless” should therefore not be interpreted as meaning that the entire installation has no cables.

A suitable system should monitor device communication, battery condition and relevant faults. A radio survey should be completed to assess whether the proposed device positions can achieve appropriate communication performance within the building.

Wireless Fire Alarms Do Not Use Building Wi-Fi

The essential communication between commercial wireless fire alarm devices does not  rely on the building’s i Wi-Fi network.

Wireless fire alarm equipment  uses dedicated  proprietary radio communication. The operating frequencies and communication methods depend on the manufacturer, product and region.

A failure of the building’s  Wi-Fi should not therefore be confused with a failure of the fire alarm’s dedicated radio communication.

Radio-linked components should be suitable for their intended fire alarm application and assessed against the relevant product standards, including BS EN 54-25 where applicable.

Conformity with a product standard does not, by itself, demonstrate that the completed installation meets the building’s fire alarm design objectives. Suitability depends on the complete design, equipment selection, installation, commissioning and maintenance arrangements.

Will a Wireless Fire Alarm Cost More?

The equipment will normally cost more, but the completed installation may cost less.

Wireless detectors, call points, alarm devices and radio infrastructure generally have a higher unit cost than comparable wired equipment. Looking only at the product schedule can therefore make wireless appear to be the more expensive option.

However, a fair comparison must include the cost of installing the wired alternative.

Costs associated with a wired installation may include:

• Fire-resistant cabling
• Cable tray, basket, conduit or other containment
• Installation labour
• Working at height and access equipment
• Lifting and replacing suspended-ceiling tiles
• Drilling and builders’ work
• Fire stopping
• Moving furniture, equipment or stock
• Out-of-hours working
• Making good and redecoration
• Testing and documenting the cable installation

The cable itself is not necessarily the largest expense. Routing, supporting, terminating and testing fire-resistant cable is labour intensive, whether it is concealed above a suspended ceiling or installed on tray or basket.

In our experience, where no suitable existing system is being extended and either technology can meet the agreed design, wireless will often produce the lower initial installed cost in an existing building because the saving in cabling and labour can outweigh the higher device cost.

This should be treated as a project-specific assessment rather than a universal rule. The result will depend on the design, building and installation conditions.

Do Not Ignore Operational Disruption

The quoted installation price may not reflect the full operational effect of installing the system.

A wired installation may introduce:

• Noise and dust
• Restricted access to rooms and work areas
• Temporary room closures
• Out-of-hours working
• Moving stock, furniture or equipment
• Disruption to staff, residents, pupils or customers
• Protection of sensitive or historic finishes
• Additional supervision and permit requirements

These effects can be difficult to convert into a precise financial figure. However, they may significantly influence which system provides the best overall value.

In an operational building, completing the installation quickly and with less disruption may be more important than the difference shown in the equipment schedule.

Compare the 10-Year Total Cost of Ownership

A fair comparison should consider the total cost of ownership over an agreed period rather than the initial equipment price alone.

For many projects, a 10-year total cost of ownership comparison provides a practical basis for assessing wired and wireless options.

The comparison should consider:

• Equipment costs
• Fire-resistant cabling
• Cable containment
• Installation labour
• Access equipment
• Making good and redecoration
• Commissioning and handover
• Routine inspection and servicing
• Planned wireless-device battery replacement
• Expected component replacement
• Potential alterations or extensions

Operational disruption should also be acknowledged even where it cannot be given a reliable financial value.

How Long Do Wireless Fire Alarm Batteries Last?

Battery life varies according to the manufacturer, device type, operating conditions, communication activity and environmental factors.

Some manufacturers claim battery life of up to five years for certain devices. Quoted battery life should be checked against the selected manufacturer’s current instructions and should not be treated as a guaranteed service life for every device or environment.

The manufacturer’s instructions, system indications, maintenance findings and actual operating conditions should all be considered when planning battery replacement.

Where a manufacturer states battery life of up to five years, a 10-year total cost of ownership comparison should normally include planned battery replacement during the assessment period.

Can a Wireless Fire Alarm Comply?

A wireless fire alarm can form part of an installation designed, installed and commissioned in accordance with the applicable recommendations.

Wireless communication does not automatically prevent an installation from meeting the relevant recommendations. Equally, a wired system does not automatically achieve them simply because it uses fire-resistant cable.

The suitability of the completed system depends on:

• The identified fire risks and fire safety objectives
• The fire alarm design
• The required category or grade
• The suitability and compatibility of the equipment
• The radio survey for wireless devices
• The quality of installation
• Correct commissioning
• Appropriate documentation and certification
• Ongoing testing and maintenance
• Any agreed and documented variations

A wireless system can satisfy the same overall fire safety objectives as a wired system where the design permits its use and the building’s radio conditions support the proposed arrangement.

Whether the installation meets the applicable recommendations depends on the complete system and how it is managed throughout its life, not simply whether the devices communicate through cables or radio signals.

Are Wireless Fire Alarms Reliable?

Wireless fire alarm technology has continued to improve, and some of the latest commercial equipment is challenging older assumptions about radio-based fire detection.

It would still be misleading to claim that wireless is always more or less reliable than a wired system. Reliability depends on the product, system design, building construction, radio conditions, installation quality and ongoing maintenance.

A properly surveyed, designed, installed and maintained wireless system can provide a credible permanent alternative to a traditionally wired system, particularly where installation cost, speed and avoiding disruption are primary considerations.

Wireless should not automatically be regarded as a temporary or stop-gap solution.