Event Overview
In February 2015, the world's most talented skiers gathered at Colorado's Beaver Creek Mountain for the prestigious International Ski Federation's Alpine World Ski Championships. This event, the third time held in the Vail Valley, specifically in Avon, is the largest gathering of ski racers globally, second only to the Olympic Games.
A panoramic view of a ski resort during the World Ski Championships, featuring snow-covered mountains, a prepared ski slope, and spectator areas. In the foreground, a white circular smoke detector is prominently placed.
Challenge: Temporary Facilities and Fire Protection
The event required temporary facilities to accommodate numerous TV and radio broadcasters at the International Broadcast Center, constructed from shipping containers. Another temporary structure, the VIP Building, was built with glass walls for platinum ticket holders.
Although local code did not mandate a fire alarm system for these temporary structures, organizers opted to install one as a precautionary measure, recognizing the presence of extensive electronics. The primary challenge was the tight deadline for installation and subsequent tear-down, making traditional wired systems impractical due to the effort required to pull wires across the temporary buildings.
Solution: NOTIFIER's Smart Wireless Integrated Fire Technology (SWIFT)
NOTIFIER's recently launched Smart Wireless Integrated Fire Technology (SWIFT) line of wireless smoke detectors was selected for these temporary facilities. SWIFT is a Class A commercial wireless system that utilizes a highly reliable mesh network, integrating seamlessly with new and existing ONYX Series fire alarm systems.
The system's proprietary protocol uses supervised, redundant communication paths. Signal strength for each link is evaluated, and the system automatically incorporates a safe margin to ensure reliable communication despite environmental variations. In a Class A mesh network, each device creates its own communication structure, allowing data to travel through multiple devices, ensuring redundancy and reliability.
Results and Benefits
Commercial Specialists of Western Colorado, the installers, reported an incredibly quick installation period of just three days for the wireless devices. Joe Quinn, service manager, noted that one worker could trim out an entire floor in less than 30 minutes, simply screwing the bases to the deck and programming them. Quinn stated, "It was my first time with wireless, and I would absolutely do it again. This was one of the easiest installs I've ever been a part of."
Tim Ward, general manager, highlighted the significant savings in labor and materials costs compared to traditional wired systems, stating that while the wireless devices cost more initially, the time saved in labor more than compensated for the additional expense.
The aesthetic advantages of SWIFT were also crucial, particularly for the VIP Building. Quinn mentioned they did not want visible red fire alarm wires, and the wireless system, including wireless monitor modules for fire pull stations, was "absolutely cosmetically beneficial."
Ward praised the system's reliability, stating he had "never seen such reliability before." He also emphasized the system's expandability, noting, "You can keep adding on as big or small as you want to fit your application."
SWIFT is particularly beneficial in environments where traditional wiring is challenging or impossible, such as installations involving concrete, decorative ceilings, historically significant structures, or areas with asbestos.
About NOTIFIER
For over 60 years, NOTIFIER has been a leader in the fire alarm industry. As the largest manufacturer of engineered fire alarm systems, NOTIFIER boasts over 400 distributors worldwide and regional support operations on every continent, providing flexibility and options for businesses.
The NOTIFIER logo, featuring a checkmark symbol followed by the brand name 'NOTIFIER' and the tagline 'by Honeywell'.
NOTIFIER - Leaders in Life. Safety. Technology.
