Denley Nunn, Regional Sales Manager at Cygnus, explains how Johnsons Workwear upgraded its fire alarm system with SmartNet-Pro 

Can you tell us about a recent Cygnus installation and the challenges it aimed to address? 

Johnsons Workwear, an industrial garment laundry business based in central Bristol, updated its fire alarm and detection systems with the help of installers, Cannon Fire & Security, after a fire risk assessment highlighted the existing 30-year-old system was inadequate. The assessment advised that its three buildings would require a category L1 fire alarm installation. 

The primary challenges included the risk of asbestos, installation time and potential operational downtime. To address these challenges effectively, Cannon Fire & Security chose Cygnus’ world first EN 54 certified and 100% wireless SmartNet-Pro fire detection and alarm system. This system ensured a highly reliable and efficient installation. 

What made Cygnus the right choice for this project? 

Cygnus’ award-winning SmartNet-Pro was chosen for its 100% wireless technology, significantly reducing the need for extensive cabling. The nature of the properties brought certain complexities due to their age, namely the amount of metal framework of the building which would require other wireless fire alarm systems to install a significant number of hard-wired expanders.  

Additionally, the risk of asbestos needed to be considered, as extensive drilling would present health and safety risks. SmartNet-Pro, being 100% wireless, required only minimal drilling to fix devices to ceilings and walls. This ensured minimal disruption, allowing Johnsons Workwear to continue operation during installation, and saving both time and costs. 

How did the installation process unfold, and were there any unique challenges? 

The installation process began with a pre-site meeting and walk-around to plan an initial hard-wired solution. Dominic Gundry-White, Managing Director of Cannon Fire & Security I met with the Cygnus team who discussed SmartNet-Pro and how the product uses wireless mesh technology to eliminate the requirement for any hard-wired cabling or boosters, characteristics which were ideal for Johnsons Workwear.  

By switching to Cygnus’ SmartNet-Pro, the installation took two weeks with no disruption the client, instead of the proposed eight weeks, which would have caused a lot of disruption. 

The site consists of two industrial laundry buildings and a separate boiler house, which have all been connected using one SmartNet-Pro control panel. The installation utilises 170 Cygnus SmartNet-Pro devices including detectors, sounders, call points and input/output units. 

How does this project showcase Cygnus’ capabilities for future installations? 

This project highlights Cygnus’ ability to provide reliable, robust, and adaptable fire detection and alarm solutions that are significantly faster to install than traditional wired systems. SmartNet-Pro, the world’s first EN 54 certified and 100% wireless fire detection and alarm system, utilises the renowned and patented Cygnus wireless mesh technology. It allows for 511 devices and up to 96 zones on one panel, with the ability to network up to 5 panels providing a combined solution of more than 2,500 devices.  

This article was originally published in the March 2025 issue of International Fire & Safety Journal – to read your FREE digital copy, click here.