IHS: Adoption of wireless intrusion sensors remains weak in the commercial market

According to a new report from IHS Markit, an estimated 68 million intrusion alarm sensors were sold globally last year, of which 41 percent were wireless. However, the market research firm notes that only four percent of those sensors were used in large commercial security projects, while the remaining 96 percent were deployed within the residential and small- to medium-sized business sectors.

Anna Sliwon, an analyst for IHS Technology, said that while the use of wireless sensors remains limited in the commercial market, their popularity is on the rise for several reasons, including:

• Wireless sensors carry significantly lower installation costs as the installation process is much simpler and quicker. The lower install cost that comes with wireless sensors allows companies to allocate a greater portion of their security budget to hardware, enabling them to invest in additional or higher-quality sensors, or upgrades for the system, such as integration with video surveillance. 
• Wireless solutions are also more practical in unique installations like remote areas without easy access to power. To overcome range issues, mesh networks, which act as signal repeaters, are used for larger installations. Additionally, as the use of wireless sensors proliferates across commercial applications, consumers may choose to adopt wireless control panels to allow for easier future addition of extra sensors as they won’t require on-site IT configuration to add to the system.
• Prices of wireless sensors have also fallen fast, decreasing by 16 percent since 2012. Battery lifespan of wireless sensors has also improved in recent years, now lasting between one and five years depending on circumstances.
• More wireless sensors are available with UL certification, a prerequisite for many professional monitoring and insurance providers. 

Despite some of these advantages, Sliwon said that several concerns remain as it relates to the use of these devices, such as encryption to prevent them from being hacked or jammed, sensor price and ongoing maintenance costs. While the prices of wireless sensors continue to fall, IHS recently found that globally, a wireless PIR sensor costs 30 percent more than a wired variant on average.

However, Sliwon said that both manufacturers and installers that promote and install wireless sensors will likely reap several long-term benefits of the devices, especially with regards to improved efficiency and speed of service. Because wireless sensors can be easily added to a system, installation times are reduced which enables installers to serve more customers in a set period of time.  

Click here for more information about the report.