How to Start Monitoring Fire Alarm Panels With No Existing Infrastructure

Monitoring fire alarms across multiple remote buildings is rarely as straightforward as it sounds. That's doubly true when those buildings aren't connected by any kind of communication infrastructure.

That means no fiber, no Ethernet, and no copper. It's just standalone structures that need to be brought into a single, centralized fire monitoring system.

This is the challenge one site recently presented to us. Their goal? Monitor 20 buildings, each equipped with a Fire Alarm Control Panel, and transmit alarms wirelessly to a centralized head-end for response, logging, and compliance.

If you're responsible for fire safety across a disconnected campus (ex. school, municipal complex, military base, or industrial facility), then you'll want to follow along with me here. This project showcases how you can solve a complex, code-sensitive problem without trenching cables or overspending on cellular data plans.

Let's walk through the problem, look at why conventional methods aren't enough, imagine the ideal system, and examine how a solution was tailored to meet every goal.

You Need Alarm Specificity, But You Have No Physical Network

The facility team responsible for this project had a tall order:

• 20 buildings spread across a campus, each with its own FACP
• No shared network - no Ethernet, no fiber, and no copper between structures
• A strong preference for point-specific fire alarm reporting (if it could fit in the budget)
• A centralized head-end station to receive and display alarms
• A requirement for remote annunciation on a dedicated PC terminal

Summary: They needed to build a modern fire alarm monitoring system from scratch, without the physical infrastructure that most systems take for granted.

This kind of scenario is not uncommon. Many facilities built in the mid-to-late 20th century were built before the idea of "campus-wide fire alarm monitoring". These sites were obviously never wired with future connectivity in mind.

If you're operating one of these legacy campuses, you already know the logistical headache that comes with trying to unify your fire panels under a single system.

Dated Fire Alarm Monitoring Approaches Aren't Sufficiently Prepared

You might think solving this kind of problem is just a matter of hiring a low-voltage contractor and pulling some cable between buildings. But in reality, that approach has some serious downsides:

1. Trenching for Cable Is Expensive and Disruptive

Even if your campus allows it, trenching or directional boring to run fiber or copper between buildings is often prohibitively expensive. You're not just paying for the cable. You're paying for permits, excavation, remediation, and the labor to install and terminate lines safely.

You could easily see costs of $10,000+ per link. And with 20 buildings within your campus, that adds up fast.

2. Cellular Monitoring Creates Recurring Costs

Another option some sites consider is equipping each building with a cellular modem to send alarm signals. While this avoids trenching, it introduces 20 new recurring data plans, ongoing IT oversight, and potential issues with signal strength in basements or concrete-walled areas. Plus, not all cellular solutions are UL 864-compliant for fire alarm transmission.

3. Off-the-Shelf Wireless Isn't Always Code-Compliant

Commercial Wi-Fi and consumer-grade wireless relays may seem tempting, but they aren't built for life safety applications. You need hardened, frequency-coordinated wireless systems that can survive interference, offer redundancy, and meet fire code requirements. Many off-the-shelf systems simply don't meet these qualifications.

4. Integrated Monitoring in Panels Can Be Limiting

Fire panels may offer internal event logging and display, but without an external system to receive, store, and report alarms, you're not truly monitoring anything. Instead, you're stuck walking building to building, hoping someone saw the blinking red light.

While traditional options exist, they're limited in terms of cost, reliability, and code compliance.

Wirelessly Connect All Buildings - Without Monthly Fees or Trenching

The ideal fire monitoring system would:

• Reliably transport fire, supervisory, and trouble alarms from every building back to a central location.
• Use wireless communication to eliminate the cost and disruption of physical trenching.
• Be UL 864-compliant (almost universally required for use in fire alarm applications).
• Optionally support point-specific alarm annunciation (with upgradeability for future needs).
• Offer modular installation - you can easily add one building or add ten buildings, based on how your needs evolve.
• Include redundancy options, so you're never relying on a single point of failure.

That's exactly the kind of system we proposed for this customer - and the kind of system we can deploy for you.

Wireless DGMs + Prism LX Head-End + Custom Integration Options

After reviewing the site requirements and constraints, our team recommended a Digitize system built around DGMs (Data Gathering Modules) and a Prism LX head-end.

DGMs as the Wireless Bridge for Each Building

Each of the 20 buildings would be equipped with a Digitize DGM outfitted with a licensed-frequency mesh radio. These modules connect to the fire panels via dry contact outputs, capturing critical alarm events:

• Fire alarms
• Supervisory signals
• Trouble events

The DGM radios form a mesh network, allowing alarm data to hop between buildings until it reaches the receiver at the head-end. This mesh design makes sure that even if one path fails, the system can reroute the signal dynamically.

Prism LX as the Central Monitoring Head-End

At the heart of the system is the Digitize Prism LX, a UL-listed, full-featured fire alarm monitoring platform. This system is designed specifically for multi-building, campus-style environments.

The customer was given two configuration options:

• Single Prism LX system
• Dual-redundant Prism LX setup for maximum uptime and fault tolerance

The Prism LX collects and logs alarms from all connected DGMs. It can also drive a PC-based remote annunciator panel. This gives the facility team visibility into every event from a centralized workstation.

Optional: Get Point-Specific Integration via Custom Muxpad II Development

While the current design uses basic contact closures from the FACPs, the customer expressed interest in point-specific monitoring - the ability to know exactly which detector or pull station was triggered.

This level of integration would require Digitize to develop custom firmware support for their FACP's protocol within the Muxpad II, our serial-data interface device. If pursued, this would allow detailed event information to be captured and reported by the head-end.

Please note: This integration is optional, and can be implemented later if budget allows.

Installation Considerations: What You'll Need On-Site

Installing a system like this requires more than just plugging in a device. You'll need to plan for:

• Antenna mounting (on rooftops, masts, or poles)
• Line-of-sight planning between buildings (for optimal wireless performance)
• Power availability for each DGM (typically 120VAC or 24VDC)
• Secure enclosures if devices are mounted outdoors
• System grounding and surge protection, especially for lightning-prone areas

As with all new Prism LX deployments, Digitize provides on-site support. In this case, one of our senior engineers (John) will assist with startup and commissioning, ensuring everything is functioning as expected before handoff. In many cases, direct support from Digitize or installation service from our network of distributors is a key part of your project.

What You Receive in a Quote

The formal proposal we crafted for this client includes:

• 20 DGMs with wireless radios, configured for contact-closure alarm input
• Single or dual-redundant Prism LX head-end options
• PC-based annunciator software for one or more remote workstations
• Antenna recommendations and installation guidance
• Optional pricing for point-specific integration
• On-site startup assistance from a Digitize field engineer

Once the quote is finalized, the site can move into procurement and scheduling. The modular nature of the system means the customer can install in phases - starting with critical buildings first and expanding as needed.

This Approach Can Work for You, Too

This solution succeeds where others fail because it's:

• Built for disconnected campuses - no need for existing network infrastructure
• Cost-controlled - with no monthly data plans or subscription fees
• Code-compliant - fully UL 864-listed and suitable for central station monitoring
• Expandable - add buildings, enable point-specific integration, or add redundant head-ends as needed
• Service-backed - supported by real people with experience in fire alarm design

Whether you're monitoring a correctional facility, government campus, industrial plant, or public school system, you likely face similar challenges. The good news is that you don't need to reinvent the wheel - or break the bank - to monitor your fire systems effectively.

Ready to Eliminate the Guesswork in Fire Alarm Monitoring?

If you're facing a situation like this - with multiple fire panels, no shared infrastructure, and limited budget - there's a path forward. Digitize can help you create a wireless, modular, code-compliant monitoring system designed specifically for your site's needs.

Call Digitize today at 973-663-1011
Email us at info@digitize-inc.com

Let's design a system that works for your site - not the other way around.