HB paves the way for wirelss fire installs in R.I.

CRANSTON, R.I.—It was an arduous three-year process, with authorities peering over their shoulders every step of the way, but HB Alarm has gotten the final seal of approval on a major wireless fire installation here.

This project, called Brick Market Place, is three buildings housing small businesses and condominiums. Three fire marshals, an independent third party (Hughes Associates) and AHJs galore oversaw the project.

“This is the largest project we've done,” said John Bourque, president of HB Alarm. “As we move on and do other systems in other cities and towns, this one will be the template, so to speak.”

As AHJs and fire marshals become more comfortable with the technology, Bourque predicts, we'll see lots more wireless fire installations. 

“There's not a shred of doubt in my mind that that the future of the fire alarm industry is going to be wireless especially in the retrofit market,” he said.

The one thing that will “cement the deal with wireless fire alarms” he said, will be the introduction of wireless notification appliances, horns and strobes. They're being used in Europe and manufacturers here are in various stages of introducing them, he said.

In the near future, HB expects to do a lot of installs in churches, which, like other buildings in this state are required to update their fire systems because of legislation passed in the wake of the Station Nightclub fire. “Wireless is a great application for churches. We're doing one in Providence right now,” he said.