ManualCallPoint: how to activate a fire alarm plain and simple

Ajax Systems keeps extending deep into fire safety and creates new devices for its fire product series. The company debuts ManualCallPoint Jeweller, a wireless wall-mounted button for manual fire alarm activation. Pressing the button triggers the built-in sirens of all fire detectors in the system and informs the users. Meanwhile, the central monitoring station (CMS) receives the alarm and calls emergency services. The button can also activate intrusion sirens and automation scenarios.

The release includes two device versions: the Red one is designed for residential facilities, and the Blue one is for educational institutions. With the Red device, an alarm is delivered to a CMS mandatorily. With the Blue device, a user can deactivate an alarm in the Ajax app. That’s the main difference between the two versions.

Conquering regulations

Installing manual call points is required by the standard many European countries are bound to follow. However, it is not mandatory for residential buildings.

In Germany and the UK, it is a common practice to install manual call points as an additional layer of protection. And this is one of the most regulated devices in the fire industry. It may seem like “just a button”, but its simplicity has a serious purpose to act fast in a moment of danger. The standard dictates not only the purpose, feature set, and mounting method but also the color, dimensions, and even enclosure angles. So, the Fire Team accepted this engineering challenge and created a smart button with the signature Ajax elegance.

Residential fire safety is not only about fire detectors. It’s a comprehensive and inert market with a wide range of devices. We’ve received a lot of requests for the manual call point from our partners and have seen the market’s need for such a device. So, we created not just an ordinary red button but a whole new approach to how IoT can be a part of a rigid world of rules and regulations.

The advanced features are now wrapped up in a compact enclosure — within the bounds of the standard. The Red button fully complies with EN 54-11:2001/A1:2005. No more bulging devices on the wall.

We also created a blue version of ManualCallPoint due to the demand of the German and UK markets. This version has an additional feature: transferring an alarm to the monitoring station can be disabled in Ajax apps. It’s designed for educational institutions and kindergartens with a much higher risk of pressing the button without a real threat.

Hardware built to withstand

In-depth research of competing solutions revealed one main problem: the overcomplicated button mechanism is built on a cascade of parts. If a tiny detail fails, the whole mechanism becomes inoperable, and a minor failure can be crucial in an emergency. That is why we re-engineered the button mechanism: a resettable frangible element built on one solid part, reducing the possibility of failure in moments of emergency.

In an alarm state, the button is pressed inside and marked by yellow-black stripes. The enclosure also has a built-in LED to indicate the device’s state. The alarm remains active until the button is manually released using the key (included in the complete set).

The complete set also includes a transparent front lid to prevent accidental alarm activation. It’s optional and requires only one move to install. The device traditionally has the SmartBracket mounting panel featuring a tamper alarm, and the mounting process goes without disassembling the enclosure.

ManualCallPoint is powered by two CR123A pre-installed batteries, giving up to 7 years of operation while featuring constant data exchange with a hub and a self-system to supervise the device state. The batteries are replaceable, so after their discharge, the installer pops the new ones, and ManualCallPoint continues to operate as usual.

Basic fire solution made digital

ManualCallPoint is a part of the Ajax ecosystem. Each element of the ecosystem has self-diagnosis and is constantly supervised. The device exchanges data with a hub at a distance of 1,700 m via Jeweller radio protocol. The hub has two-way communication with Ajax Cloud to provide real-time information to Ajax apps. The button does not require periodic testing by triggering to ensure it is connected and operates properly — the Ajax system supervises its state. With instant notifications, each system user will be informed about the alarm, low batteries, or malfunctions to get services in time.

ManualCallPoint can also interact with automation devices and MotionCam detectors through scenarios. In the case of a fire alarm, Ajax relays de-energize the facility, activate emergency lights, and unlock the exits. At the same time, MotionCam (PhOD) can send pictures into Ajax apps to assess the situation. The result is an essential reliability that helps to ease an evacuation process in a moment of danger.

Availability

Both versions of ManualCallPoint Jeweller are already available to order.