INTERNATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION 83
W
ith global pressure on cost at its tightest
for many years with the rising price of
fuel and many other commodities, the
pressure is on for the fire industry to provide
increasingly effective and efficient alarm systems.
Equipment for fire alarm systems is thankfully
bucking the trend, with minimal changes in cost
over the past 10 years.
However, the industry has not ignored related
cost increases brought about through the installa-
tion process, with rising prices for copper cabling
and the continuing increased cost of labour being
factors which businesses have had to take into
account.
In turn, the responsibility on contractors is
increasing to select the best provider and the most
suitable system design to produce the best overall
solution for clients.
The usual split of cost for a complete system is
approximately 35 per cent for the equipment and
65 per cent for labour and installation. It is our
responsibility not only to keep the amount which
accounts for that 35 per cent as low as possible,
but also to offer solutions to reduce the 65 per
cent.
However, help is at hand. Developments in fire
system innovations have actually made systems
more efficient and, as a result, more cost effective.
Technology can indeed save money.
Multi-functional sensors and sounders have
reduced the number of devices that need to be
fitted, with newer models such as the S-Quad
pioneered by Gent incorporating a sensor,
sounder, voice alarm and strobe all in one device.
Instead of three cables being needed to wire
individual sensors, strobes and sounders, these
device innovations can significantly reduce the
cost of the install by requiring just one cable
terminated to one device. Sensors with voice
capabilities can also reduce the need for speakers
and traditional voice alarm amplifiers where back-
ground music or PA is not required.
By Mark Ayton
Managing Director of
Gent by Honeywell
Fire alarm
systems cost
kept in check
Technological advances are helping to keep the cost of fire alarm systems in
check, according Mark Ayton, Managing Director of Gent by Honeywell.
FIRE DETECTION TECHNOLOGY

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