As a member of the Wireless Fire Protection Industry Cooperative, I frequently encounter the following questions from frontline firefighters, local government building permit officials, and property owners preparing for fire facility remodeling: 

Baseless Fears Stemming from Lack of Knowledge Regarding Updated Laws and Regulations

① "Will I face disadvantages during the permit process if I use wireless fire protection products?" 

② "I've heard that wireless systems have frequent malfunctions due to signal interference. If I install this and the alarm fails to go off during a fire, who takes the responsibility?"

③ "It seems like I would have to replace the batteries often because of their short lifespan; wouldn't a wired system be better?" 

All three questions are baseless fears arising from an ignorance of updated laws and institutional changes.

Even though the scope of application for wireless automatic fire detection systems (hereinafter "wireless fire detection systems") has been significantly expanded and the technology has made remarkable progress, confusion persists in the field due to a mix of long-held beliefs that wired systems are the only answer and vague anxiety toward new technology.

In complex sites where fire safety and electrical work are separately contracted, there is a barrage of questions regarding technical matters—ranging from approval application requirements and processing procedures to whether other legal inspections can be substituted, and even the completion requirements set by financial institutions and trust companies. 

The problem is the lack of clear guidance and field manuals to satisfy this demand, which leaves even the firefighters in charge of these tasks facing significant difficulties when responding to civil inquiries. 

Breaking the Stereotype That "Only Wired is the Answer"

Fire protection facilities, which are responsible for the safety of modern architecture, have remained within the rigid framework of "wired" systems since the enactment of the "Fire Services Act" in 1958. The belief that systems detecting fires and sounding alarms must be connected by physical wires has been an unwritten rule of our fire administration for decades. 

However, technological progress is rapidly breaking down our long-held stereotype that "only wired is the answer." It has already been four years since the fire protection sector reached a massive turning point toward "wireless and mobile-based AI fire protection."

New innovations naturally face growing pains as they take root in the field. Some in the fire safety sector still express doubts about the reliability and maintenance of wireless fire protection facilities. 

People use their mobile phones without any discomfort, yet they still ask, "What if the signal cuts out?" or "Don't you have to change the batteries all the time?" These questions are fears born of ignorance, failing to recognize the institutional refinements and technological leaps that wireless fire protection technology has undergone. 

First, we must correct the misunderstandings regarding communication reliability. The National Fire Agency has already established type approvals and technical standards for seven types of wireless fire protection products under Notification No. 2024-10. 

This signifies that wireless methods have secured a level of technical reliability legally equivalent to existing wired analog systems. The National Fire Agency rigorously verifies and checks for safety even the simplest "warning signs" without electronic circuits before they are released. 

Because fire protection products are directly linked to life safety, the National Fire Agency is inevitably meticulous about product type approvals and the establishment of technical standards. Wireless systems have passed all of the agency's demanding tests. 

Furthermore, Ministry of Science and ICT Notification No. 2025-15 permits the use of "447MHz band external feed lines," creating a legal and environmental foundation to build stable wireless fire forecast systems even in places with complex signal environments, such as apartment complexes and high-rise buildings. Wireless is no longer just an auxiliary tool; it has become a powerful alternative that eliminates blind spots. 

Maintenance efficiency is also a unique strength of wireless systems. People often confuse wireless sensors with standalone alarm products that use common batteries, but AI-based wireless fire detectors configured as a system are on a completely different level. According to KFI type approval standards, they must be equipped with long-life batteries capable of lasting over 10 years, and the battery status can be monitored in real-time through a receiver. 

It is a fact that field practitioners must realize: this system allows for much more economical and systematic management than the wired method, which requires searching through an entire building to find a single broken wire. 

The True Value of Wireless Fire Protection Lies in 'Installation Flexibility'

The true value of wireless fire protection is maximized by its "installation flexibility." In traditional markets, cultural heritage sites, and complex remodeling projects, the loss of business and damage to structures caused by wiring work are heavy burdens for property owners. 

Wireless fire detection systems can be installed quickly without additional wiring work, and they maintain fire detection functionality without interruption during facility replacement, perfectly preventing safety gaps. This goes beyond a simple change in technology; it is a model of "smart coexistence" that protects the property and business rights of citizens while raising safety standards to the next level. 

Of course, for these changes to take root in the field, active guidance, information dissemination, and monitoring by the National Fire Agency are essential. Only when local fire station officials clearly understand the latest revised laws and the strengths of wireless technology to provide accurate information to citizens can the "era of wireless fire protection" be established as a safe daily reality. 

AI-based fire detectors and fire forecast systems are advancing rapidly. The technology is ready, but the laws and regulations are lagging behind. What is needed now is a flexible administrative approach that discards the old bias that "only wired is correct" and actively adopts the practicality and safety of wireless fire protection as field guidelines. 

The future of fire protection must seek its path from today's AI-based systems. While mobile phones proved the advantages of wireless technology long ago, it is a fact that wireless fire protection systems have faced countless resistances from visible prejudices and invisible "wired cartels." Competition for market dominance against existing wired facilities is inevitable. 

It has been over 10 years since wireless fire protection equipment, based on mobile phone technology and wireless frequencies, came to us. Wired and wireless systems must coexist to protect the lives and property of the public from fire. This column aims to inform the public about the current state of AI-based wireless fire protection.

◆ Park Pil-gyu, Executive Director, Wireless Fire Protection Industry Cooperative