FlexPI Product Guide
Page 9
Wall protection
To protect walls, FlexPI sensor cable is attached directly to the wall. The cable spacing depends
on the required level of security, the building material, and the height of the wall. For areas where
the cable may be subject to damage from vandalism or equipment, the cable can be installed
inside metal conduit, which is attached to the protected surface. The type of cable fasteners used
to attach the cable to the wall also depends on the building material. Cable spacing ranges from a
maximum of 1.25 m (4 ft.) to a minimum of 30 cm (1 ft.) and the cable fasteners should be used
every 30 cm (1 ft.).
Roof protection
Most roofing materials can be protected from inside the building (see
). For large
industrial buildings, steel beams are frequently used to support the roof. If the beams are 1.8 m
(6 ft.) apart or less, the cable can be attached to the roof beams. If the spacing between beams is
greater than 1.8 m, attach the cable to the underside of the roof. For wooden trusses, which are
typically 60 cm (2 ft.) apart, the cable should be attached to each truss. This will provide a multiple
pass installation which is often necessary on a wooden surface. Proper calibration is critical for
roof installation to ensure adequate detection of a break-in attempt, while rejecting the noise and
vibration caused by heavy rain.
Floor protection
To protect a floor, you must have access to the underside of the floor. Depending on the type of
flooring, you can either attach the sensor cable to the support structure, or to the floor. As with
other parts of the building, the type of building material dictates the number of cable passes
required.
Embedding sensor cable
With careful planning, the sensor cable can be embedded in walls, floors, or even roofs during
construction. The recommended method is to install metal conduit inside the structure during the
construction phase. When the construction is complete, the sensor cable can be pulled through
the conduit. Using conduit for this type of installation allows the cable to be replaced or repaired if
there is cable damage, or a cable fault. Avoid any sharp bends in the conduit. Before installing the
conduit, remove any burrs or sharp edges that were created when the sections were cut.
Windows and skylights
Windows and skylights can create a vulnerability for intrusion attempts. The recommended
method for window/skylight protection is to install a security grille over the opening, and run sensor
cable completely around and in close proximity to the opening (see
). In addition, other
technologies such as glass breakage detectors and magnetic contacts can be used to increase the
level of security for windows and skylights.
Pipes and data cables
The FlexPI system can be used to protect pipes and data cables (see
and
). To
protect a pipe, the Flex sensor cable is attached directly to the pipe, typically in a spiral pattern
around the outside of the pipe. Any attempt to drill, cut, or otherwise damage the pipe will trigger
an alarm. Data cables that carry sensitive information are generally installed inside conduit. The
addition of a FlexPI cable to the conduit will provide protection against the penetration of the
conduit in an attempt to access the data cable.
