Speed, scale and no wires – how a South Wales factory upgraded fire safety in one week
Iain Hoey
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South Wales site adopts wireless fire detection system
Cygnus Systems has reported that its SmartNet-Pro wireless fire detection and alarm system has been installed at the A5 Hub industrial complex in Treforest, South Wales.
The company said the system was selected by Ceaton Security to meet the fire protection needs of a biomass boiler and multiple factory units on the site.
According to Cygnus Systems, the building’s insurance requirements meant a fire detection and alarm system had to be fitted quickly after the boiler’s installation.
Ceaton Security stated that the existing fire detection system in the main factory building was no longer operational, prompting a wider installation across the complex.
The A5 Hub contains a main factory, a small unit with the boiler and hopper, and seven additional smaller units, which Cygnus said made a wireless system preferable to avoid complex and costly cabling.
Selection of SmartNet-Pro for the project
Paul Biggs, Fire Division Technical Support at Ceaton Security, said: “During our site meeting, it became instantly evident that SmartNet-Pro would be the ideal solution for A5 Hub to fulfil the immediate requirements of the biomass boiler as well as expand to replace the existing non-operational fire detection and alarm system for the main factory and seven units.
“In total the installation took just over a week to complete, whereas if we had used a wired solution the installation would have taken a couple of months due to the scale and complexities of the site.
“Installing SmartNet is our preferred wireless solution.
Cygnus Systems stated that the installation addressed both the urgent need for boiler protection and the long-term requirement for reliable fire detection across all units.
The company added that the project demonstrates how wireless solutions can be deployed quickly in multi-unit industrial settings.
Landlord feedback on installation
Victoria Morton, Landlord of A5 Hub, said: “Through referral from one of my contractors, I contacted Ceaton Security who recommended SmartNet-Pro due to the fast speed required for installation with its minimal disruption.
“I was thoroughly impressed by the speed in which Ceaton Security were able to install SmartNet-Pro, as well as the lack of disruption installation caused to the site.
“I am currently in the process of arranging a pre-site meeting with Ceaton to install SmartNet in another one of my properties.
Cygnus Systems said that the positive feedback reflected the product’s installation speed and adaptability.
It added that the system can be applied across a variety of commercial and industrial sites with similar operational constraints.
SmartNet-Pro technical specifications
According to Cygnus Systems, SmartNet-Pro is the first EN 54 certified and fully wireless fire detection and alarm system in the world.
The company said the system can accommodate 511 devices and up to 96 zones on a single panel, with networking capability for up to five panels via software release code.
This allows for more than 2,500 devices to operate across a connected network.
Cygnus stated that the system uses its patented wireless mesh technology, featuring self-forming and self-healing capabilities with multipath redundancy and channel hopping.
It added that SmartNet-Pro can be installed up to twenty times faster than wired alternatives.
Training for certified installation
Cygnus Systems said attendance at its Cygnus Academy is mandatory for SmartNet installers.
The company stated that the training ensures installers can configure and fit the system to the required standard.
Paul Biggs said: “Six of our installers at Ceaton Security have attended the Cygnus Academy, gaining Cygnus SmartNet Certified Installer status.
“We found the training informative and would highly recommend it to other installers.”
Cygnus added that its training programme supports consistent quality of installation across all projects.
Relevance for fire and safety professionals
The project highlights the potential for wireless fire detection systems in complex, multi-unit industrial sites where wired solutions may be slow or costly to install.
It demonstrates how installation timelines can be reduced without compromising on system scale or coverage.
The technical features of SmartNet-Pro, including large device capacity and mesh networking, may be relevant for professionals planning upgrades in similar operational environments.
Wireless fire detection installed at Treforest industrial hub: Summary
Cygnus Systems has reported that its SmartNet-Pro wireless fire detection and alarm system has been installed at the A5 Hub in Treforest, South Wales.
The installation was carried out by Ceaton Security.
The system was required to meet the building’s insurance requirements for a biomass boiler and to replace a non-operational fire detection system in the main factory.
The A5 Hub consists of a main factory, a boiler unit and seven smaller units.
A wireless system was chosen to avoid complex and costly cabling.
Installation took just over a week to complete.
The SmartNet-Pro system can support 511 devices and 96 zones on a single panel.
Up to five panels can be networked for more than 2,500 devices in total.
The system uses Cygnus’ wireless mesh technology with self-forming and self-healing capabilities.
Attendance at the Cygnus Academy is required for SmartNet installation.