The following site-specific information helps with the planning and design of a wireless site. You can use the information that you collect in case you require to troubleshoot implementation. This information is meant as a guide only. The information does not all need to be known, or completely filled out to make design and installation decisions, but a better site understanding typically leads to a better performing design.
It is recommended to perform the site-survey with use of the ZFR-HPSST-0 (Field Controller Bus) Survey tools and following the instructions provided.
- It is recommended to test as close to the wireless equipment to be installed (temporary mount the tool on a ladder in the probable location of a ceiling repeater/coordinator, position the sensor where the router will be located).
- Record bidirectional communication from the tool – sensor pair. Due to differences in the signal reflection, there could be different LED blinks seen across devices.
- Note down the blink count along with the test-route taken.
- Perform the site-survey during occupied hours.
The following project and site information is representative of useful
information to collect to correctly estimate and design the wireless solution.
Note: The
fields marked with an asterisk (*) are considered mandatory and required for
evaluation while the rest are optional.
| Question | Typical options or value | Site response |
|---|---|---|
| Application type | Education, hospital, open office, airport, retail, residential | |
| Job type* | New construction, retrofit | |
| Floor details* | Single floor, multi-story (number of floors) | |
| BAS type or planned | - | |
| System Controller type or planned | - | |
| Ethernet drop available | Yes, No |
| Question | Typical options or value | Site response |
|---|---|---|
| Floor plan* | To identify location of devices | |
| Floor plan details | To help understand scale | |
| Ceiling material* | Concrete, metal | |
| Ceiling type* | Drop, exposed | |
| Ceiling devices allowed | Ability to install wireless routers below the ceiling tile | |
| Wall material* | Yes, No | |
| Wall material* | Drywall, concrete block, pulled concrete, concrete block with filled concrete, plaster with metal screens, wood frame, metal stud | |
| Pictures available | Provides better understanding of site | |
| Locations of potential wireless interferers | Wi-Fi applications and RF sources such as microwaves, audio visual equipment |
| Question | Site response (Yes / No / Specify) |
|---|---|
| Are there existing wireless solutions on-site that could interfere with the Johnson Controls wireless solution? * | |
| Does the building tenant’s plan include wireless solutions that could interfere with the Johnson Controls wireless solution? * | |
| Will the building’s Wi-Fi solutions be unmanaged? * Note: Multi-tenant
office buildings often have independent IT departments that do not
coordinate Wi-Fi usage
|
|
| Does the customer require validated environment (21CFR Part 11) compliance? * | |
| Are non-Johnson Controls controllers in the network targeted for TMR Wireless (is interoperability with third party wireless devices a requirement)? * | |
| Does the customer require direct management, prohibit, or restrict any wireless system on their premise? | |
| Do any BAS system applications prohibit an occasional offline or delayed communication response? * |