Churches have long stood as vital centres of worship, community and cultural identity. As places of religious practice, they host regular services, ceremonies such as weddings and funerals, and seasonal celebrations that bring people together in faith and reflection. Beyond their spiritual function, churches often serve as community hubs, offering support services, hosting events and acting as safe spaces for those in need.
Many churches in the UK are also historic buildings, some dating back hundreds of years. As such, they are important not only for their spiritual value but also for their architectural and historical significance. Preserving these structures is essential, and they are often protected under listed building status. This makes careful maintenance and sensitive upgrades a priority.
In addition to their religious and historical importance, churches are frequently destinations for tourists, drawn by their striking architecture, cultural heritage and quiet beauty. Whether nestled in the heart of a city or standing alone in the countryside, churches contribute richly to the local landscape and identity.
Risks
Churches, particularly older ones, face several unique fire risks due to their age, design, and varied usage. Key fire hazards include:
- Aging Electrical Systems
- Many churches were built long before modern electrical standards. Outdated wiring and overloaded circuits can easily spark fires, especially during events or services that require additional lighting or heating.
- Open Flames and Candles
- Candles are frequently used in religious ceremonies and devotional practices. If left unattended or placed near flammable materials, they pose a significant fire hazard.
- Heating Systems
- Churches often rely on older gas or oil-powered heating systems. Poor maintenance, faulty components or flammable surroundings can increase the risk of ignition.
- Stored Materials
- Churches often store paper, textiles, wooden furnishings and cleaning chemicals — all of which can fuel a fire if ignited.
- Limited Modern Fire Protection
- Many churches were not built with modern fire detection or suppression systems in mind. Thick walls, high ceilings and architectural limitations can make traditional wired systems difficult or costly to install, leading to gaps in coverage.
Challenges
Creating an effective fire detection system for churches involves navigating a range of architectural, technical and conservation-related hurdles. Common challenges include:
- Heritage Preservation
- Listed and historic churches often have strict regulations regarding alterations. Drilling into walls or running cables can damage protected features, making traditional wired systems difficult to install.
- Architectural Complexity
- High ceilings, thick stone walls, vaulted roofs and unusual layouts can all hinder the placement and performance of standard fire detection equipment.
- Aesthetic Impact
- Church interiors are often visually striking and must be preserved. Modern devices can look intrusive, and visible cables or bulky detectors may detract from the building’s character.
- Intermittent Occupancy
- Churches may be unoccupied for long periods or used unpredictably. This requires a system that remains reliable and responsive, even with minimal human presence.
- Budget Constraints
- Many churches rely on donations or limited funding, making cost-effective solutions a necessity. Balancing affordability with reliability and compliance can be a major obstacle.
Wi-Fyre Xenos
The Wi‑Fyre Xenos range is a modern wireless fire detection system, ideal for complex or heritage buildings such as churches. It uses wireless technology to provide reliable fire detection without the need for intrusive cabling, helping to preserve historic interiors.
Each system is built around a translator module, which can support up to 128 wireless devices, with expanders used to extend coverage over large areas. The system operates on the 868 MHz band and uses dual-channel mesh networking for added resilience.
The Xenos range includes smoke, heat and multi-sensor detectors, manual call points, sounders, beacons and input/output modules. All devices are battery-powered, with lifespans of up to 10 years, and feature tamper detection, status LEDs and QR codes for easy setup.
Installation is quick and low-impact. Most devices can be pre-programmed off-site and commissioned using dedicated survey and configuration tools. The system is fully EN54 compliant and integrates with a range of industry-standard control panels, including Haes and Advanced.
Wi‑Fyre Xenos is particularly well-suited to churches due to its discreet appearance, scalability and minimal installation disruption — making it a smart solution for protecting historic and sacred spaces.
Design Considerations
Panel Placement
The Advanced MxPro 5 range comprises EN54‑approved addressable fire alarm control panels available in 1, 2, 4 or 8‑loop formats. Designed for scalability and flexibility, the panels support graphical LCD displays, intuitive programming, network expansion and comprehensive diagnostics. Crucially, MxPro 5 supports wired, wireless or hybrid loops and is fully compatible with Wi‑Fyre Xenos, enabling seamless integration with Xenos wireless detectors in heritage and complex installations.
The Haes Esprit addressable fire alarm control panels (available as 1‑2 or 1‑4 loop variants) support up to 240 devices per loop, include two programmable sounder circuits, a large graphical LCD, auto‑learn and loop diagnostics, false alarm management and EN54‑2/‑4 approval. They are fully compatible with Wi‑Fyre Xenos, enabling seamless integration of wireless or hybrid systems.
Detector Placement
Xenos detectors can be installed on ceilings or walls using low-profile bases, with placement guided by EN54 recommendations and a wireless site survey. Detectors can be paired with optional sounder and/or visual alarm device (VAD) bases, allowing combined detection and alerting — ideal for open spaces or where additional warning coverage is required.
Call Point and Wall Sounder Placement
Manual call points in churches should be installed near main exits, entrances and at key congregation areas — typically at 1.4 m height — ensuring they’re visible, accessible, and easy to operate in an emergency.
Wall-mounted sounders and VADs in churches should be placed at exit routes, congregation points and high-traffic areas, positioned above head height for visibility and sound dispersion without obstructing heritage features.
Typical Wiring Diagram
Wi‑Fyre Xenos uses advanced mesh network architecture to ensure robust and reliable wireless communication across all devices. Each Xenos expander and field device can relay signals from others, forming a self-healing, multi-path network. This means data can travel through multiple routes, maintaining communication even if a path is blocked or a device fails.
Expanders are strategically placed to optimise signal coverage and allow detectors, call points and other devices to connect without relying on a single point. The system automatically selects the strongest and most efficient route, adapting in real time to environmental changes or interference.
This architecture is ideal for churches, where thick walls, high ceilings and unusual layouts can disrupt direct signals. The Xenos mesh network maintains performance across large or complex buildings, supporting up to 15 expanders per translator and providing up to 8km of open-air coverage.
Why Choose Eurofyre?
- Wi-Fyre Xenos Support
- Eurofyre’s team of fire detection specialists are experts in wireless fire detection. We offer a Xenos Survey Kit to buy or hire to make conducting a Wi-Fyre Xenos site survey quick and easy. We also provide Xenos programming support to help with off-site programming.
- Complete System Supplier
- Eurofyre supplies all aspects of fire detection and its associated safety products, including Wi-Fyre Xenos, and can provide expert advice and consultation.
- Demonstration and Training
- We offer demonstrations and expert training on a range of systems, including Wi-Fyre Xenos, in our very own sophisticated training facility.
- After-Sales Support
- Eurofyre offers both on-site and telephone support to assist you in ensuring that your system is fully functional and operating at maximum efficiency. Our after-sales care and support are second to none.
For more information about Wi-Fyre Xenos, or to discuss any of the other products that Eurofyre have to offer, please feel free to get in touch either by phone on +44 (0) 1329 835 024, by email to sales@eurofyre.co.uk or via the online enquiry form situated on our contact page.
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