Baldwin Boxall scales OmniCALL into fully networked EVCS platform

OmniCALL now supports multi-building and campus-wide installations, including retrofit in occupied buildings, without changing the two-core wiring approach or the commissioning process.

The updated platform will be demonstrated on Stand H20 in Hall 4 at The Fire Safety Event, which runs at the NEC in Birmingham from 28-30 April.

Proven in live deployment

As stated, OmniCALL has been introduced to the market over the past year through live projects, where the core architecture and system behaviour have been proven in day-to-day use.

This launch marks the point at which the platform is presented as a complete and scalable EVCS offer, ready to be specified at sites that need more than a single panel, more than a single building and a clear route to future expansion.

The scale-up is enabled by new networked hardware and an architecture designed to remain consistent as projects grow. OmniCALL can now support up to 100 networked panels, with a recommended system maximum of 512 outstations and 512 assistance alarms across any given installation, although larger systems are possible if required.

The latest additions include the OCCPL 128-way Master Station, the OCEPL Network Expansion Panel and the compact OCEPS panel intended for phased works or smaller projects that may need to develop into wider systems.

The system networks over copper, fibre or both to suit a site’s infrastructure and distance requirements. Outstations are self-powered and auto-address during commissioning, thereby supporting a predictable set-up process across different project sizes and helping to reduce time spent on manual configuration.

Practical installation

While the platform’s reach has expanded, OmniCALL is built to keep installation practical. Baldwin Boxall’s two-core, non-polarity-dependent and fire-rated cabling approach simplifies wiring and minimises disruption, particularly so where works are taking place in occupied buildings.

On refurbishment projects, installers can often retain existing Baldwin Boxall EVCS cabling, while OmniCALL can also retrofit on to existing two-core loop systems, helping to reduce invasive re-cabling where conditions allow.

Performance and compliance

OmniCALL is fully compliant with BS 5839-9:2021 and designed to meet BS 8893:2024 requirements.

“OmniCALL has been proving itself on real sites for the past year,” said Nick Baldwin, sales and marketing director at Baldwin Boxall. “That matters because an EVCS only earns trust when it has been installed, commissioned and used under live project conditions.”

Baldwin continued: “What has changed now is the scale. OmniCALL has grown into a networked platform that can handle multi-building and campus-wide sites without losing what makes it straightforward to install and commission. Using two-core cabling rather than traditional four-core EVCS wiring can reduce copper content by up to 50%.”

Further, Baldwin noted: “The way in which the system is deployed can reduce cabling further, including assistance alarms that can be powered from outstations rather than needing separate runs back to the Master Station. For specifiers and installers, it’s a consistent approach from small systems all the way through to complex estates, including refurbishment projects and occupied buildings.”

*Further information is available online at www.baldwinboxall.co.uk