ASYRA wireless Lockdown system from Fircroft Technologies Ltd

Celebrating their 20th  anniversary, Fircroft Technologies Ltd is launching the NEW  ASYRA wireless alarm system.

Having started in 2005 in the tradition manner, from a garage in the Welsh County of Monmouthshire, the founder and owner, Kieron Chapman developed and produced LED lighting solutions for the rail network. Commonly known as “Wig-Wags”, these alternating signals are common indicators for rail crossings.

In 2006 the business branched out into designing signalling products for the Fire alarm industry in which Kieron had extensive experience working with major OEMs on product developments of conventional and addressable signalling solutions which needed to be certified to EN54 standards.

The business expanded with the acquisition of a regional Fire Alarm producer in Bristol and moved to premises near to Raglan Castle in Monmouthshire, South Wales. Fircroft Technologies continued product development driven business expansion into export territories and today, over 50% of the products designed and produced by Fircroft are sold into export markets across Europe and Asia.

In 2018 and drawing on over 30 years of experience in the design and manufacturing of signalling products for the Fire alarm industry to EN54 standards, Fircroft Technologies planned the development of a new product line to expand the business into new and developing areas. While the need for emergency alarm systems was growing with an ever-increasing trend for improved safety and protection for workers and members of the public in almost every environment, Fircroft were keen to identify needs where the technology and expertise in the business could be adapted and improved to meet these new needs.

The increase in risk in cities, towns, schools and public areas where predators could terrorise and harm people and children could be seen by the increasing frequency of news events of these types of incidents. Some truly horrific and saddening events.

Fircroft Technologies decided to develop a system that could be simple and cost effective enough to provide an early warning type alarm for schools and public buildings these systems are commonly referred to as Lockdown systems. A system where installation required no cabling installation would enable products to be positioned in the most suitable locations around a site for early activation of the alarm should a predator be spotted.

A system where safety features such as a “double knock” check or key activated devices could be used if extra security was required that essentially worked as a reverse Fire Alarm system to warn people to get into the building rather than evacuate the building.

Most public buildings and schools now have some type of lockdown procedure in place to help get people to a safe location. At Fircroft we wanted to create a solution to get the alarm message to for a Lockdown to operate effectively at the earliest possible moment to everybody in the area to increase the time available for people to seek safety.

Taking high quality design, specifications and reliability standards from the Fire alarm industry and applying them to the development of the new ASYRA wireless system, Fircroft produced a secure, flexible and cost effective solution for a wide range of applications.

Using the ASYRA wireless Lockdown system for Schools, public buildings (such as Hospitals, Museums etc.) and public areas helps to protect children, the public and staff from intruders and threats is one key application for the ASYRA wireless system. Providing early notification via callpoints, Input modules or key switch modules, a warning alarm to go to a secure location can be initiated from any location around the premises and the warning can be heard or seen from anywhere. This is where the wireless capability works perfectly – the locations of the callpoints, triggering devices and signalling devices is not limited by the cost of electrical installation of cables or wired connections into existing systems. The devices can all be positioned in the optimum locations for the most effective solution in each application.

Once an alarm has been activated, any Lockdown procedures in place could be implemented with immediate effect by staff or trained personnel, saving precious time. The system can be interfaced to GSM technology to automatically send SMS messages to predetermined people if required to instigate any secondary actions or procedures required.

Although the ASYRA wireless was primarily designed as a Lockdown Alarm system, by adding a second alarm channel we could include a First Aid or Medical emergency alarm also. This would enable, for example, a serious sporting injury or accident that occurs in a school playing field to be reported to the school reception by simply triggering a Manual callpoint local to the playing field. To achieve this, the ASYRA wireless system has multiple callpoint colours available so, for example, a Black callpoint could be used for the Lockdown function and a Green callpoint for the medical emergency system.

The proprietary wireless technology of the ASYRA wireless system does not rely on WiFi, internet connectivity or GSM signal so it is a robust stand alone technical solution that operates even when other systems can be intermittent or unreliable.

The system has fault monitoring and reporting functions that can be interfaced to any existing systems but provide clear indication if something needs to be addressed such as low battery in one of the devices.

The system is designed to provide up to 4 years of operation (based on expected average use) between battery changes but plenty of warning is given by LED indicators of any low battery or fault condition.

The ASYRA Android APP enable the system owner to view the full system status of every device and view event logs from a single location making regular system checks very simple and quick.

Other System applications

With wireless Smoke and Heat detectors the system transforms into a high integrity wireless Fire alarm system solution for temporary buildings and construction sites. Allowing for easy mobility of devices and system expansion at minimal cost. Applications including temporary classrooms and cabins for schools and public buildings such as Hospitals are covered with fault monitoring and interfaced to any existing permanent Fire alarm system that may be present.

On building sites, the system devices can easily be repositioned and additional units added as the site increases in size and complexity enabling effective coverage in these continuously changing environments.

One key feature adding great value to the ASYRA wireless system is the dual channel alarm function built into every system as standard.

This enables an installation for a Temporary Fire system or Lockdown system to also provide a First Aid or medical emergency alarm using the same alarm system! By providing two safety systems in one, the value and benefit to the end user is increased further.

ASYRA wireless also provides Industrial Safety system solutions for all types of hazards and emergency situations with simple interface modules to link sensors and systems used for gas or liquid spillages for example wirelessly to the signalling solution covering the site. With the unique two alarm channel system, ASYRA wireless can provide Emergency and safety solutions with almost any system interface covering static applications such as leakages, danger warnings and safety alarms while in a mobile applications, the ASYRA system can be used in vehicles such as fork lift trucks as a safety warning that can be transmitted wirelessly to any location or alarm system required.

All ASYRA wireless systems can show the system status and activity log via the use of and Android phone App.

From humble beginnings in a garage near Abergavenny in South Wales, Fircroft Technologies has become a respected designer and supplier of alarm signalling products to the Fire Alarm industry and to OEM clients internationally.

Visit the Fircroft web site for more information at www.fircrofttech.com or the product specific ASYRA wireless web site at www.ASYRAwireless.com for further details.