Smart Walls with Integrated Fire-Sensing Technology: A Proactive Safety Solution for Modern Buildings

1. Concept of Smart Wall with Integrated Fire-Resistant Sensors

A Smart Wall is an upgraded type of wall structure that goes beyond the traditional role of partitioning, load-bearing, soundproofing, or thermal insulation, becoming a system capable of monitoring and proactive response. Unlike conventional walls, smart walls are integrated with temperature, smoke, humidity, microwave sensors, or fire-sensitive materials within the structural layers. As a result, the wall not only provides protection but can also detect early risks such as fire, cracks, or mold and transmit warning data to the building management system.

Recent research has expanded this concept, turning the smart wall into part of the smart building ecosystem, where the wall can integrate fire protection modules (such as water mist spraying or fire-resistant materials), environmental sensors (CO₂, VOCs), and IoT connectivity to synchronize with security and energy management systems. Some microwave sensor technologies can even detect fires behind brick or concrete layers, enabling the wall not only to “resist fire” but also to “report fire.” In other words, the smart wall represents the convergence of building materials and technology, transforming a passive structure into an active “guardian,” enhancing safety, energy efficiency, and building lifespan.

2. Types of Sensors

Structurally, sensors can be installed directly into the finishing layer of the wall, such as recessed boxes, technical cavities, or embedded in panel modules. Additionally, sensors can be directly embedded into building materials, such as fiber optic sensors, conductive films, or heat-sensitive microcapsules.

Common sensor groups include:

• Temperature sensors such as thermistors or RTDs, capable of detecting rapid temperature changes.

• Smoke/particulate sensors, including photoelectric or ionization types, for detecting thin or dense smoke.

• Toxic gas sensors, measuring CO, HCN, or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using electrochemical, MOX, or PID technologies.

• Pressure and impact sensors, designed to detect pressure changes or shocks during fire or explosion events.

3. Differences Between Traditional Fire-Resistant Walls and Smart Walls with Integrated Sensors

Traditional fire-resistant walls are built from materials such as brick, concrete, gypsum, or specialized fireproof boards. Their role is passive—simply blocking flames, containing smoke, and insulating heat to meet safety standards, extending the fire resistance duration of the structure. However, these walls provide no warning or active assistance when an incident occurs.

In contrast, smart walls with integrated sensors retain the passive functions of fire-resistant materials but add proactive capabilities. Integrated temperature, smoke, toxic gas, and pressure sensors enable early fire detection before flames spread. Once abnormal signals are recorded, the wall can automatically trigger alarms, transmit information to a control center or mobile devices, and even activate other safety systems such as water mist suppression or smoke barrier closures. Thus, the wall evolves from a passive barrier into an active “guardian,” significantly reducing damage and enhancing safety for both people and property.

4. Feasibility

• Low-cost gas sensors: Commercial gas sensors—though sometimes subject to cross-sensitivity—can still detect early gases generated during fires (VOC, CO, CO₂) at the incipient stage. Early fire detection is feasible, but the system must be calibrated to match the specific construction materials used.

• Besides gas sensors, temperature sensors should be installed inside the structure to cross-verify readings, as gas sensor sensitivity degrades over time.

• Combining both improves reliability, creating a smart early-warning system that relies on both combustion gases and temperature changes.

• Crucially, calibration must match the building’s materials, as each emits characteristic gases during combustion.

5. Technical Requirements for Installation

Before testing or deployment, gas sensors (especially for CO, CO₂, and VOCs) must be verified and calibrated for accuracy. In real buildings, sensors should be installed for easy replacement or recalibration after prolonged use. VOC sensors, in particular, should be calibrated with a representative gas or organic compound.

References

[1] Wall-Smart Ltd., “Company posts,” LinkedIn. Available: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wall-smart-ltd-/posts/?feedView=all&viewAsMember=true. Accessed: Sept. 13, 2025.

[2] F. Alimenti, G. Tasselli, S. Bonafoni, D. Zito, and L. Roselli, “Inter-Wall Fire Detection by Low-Cost Microwave Radiometric Sensors,” in Proc. 38th European Microwave Conference, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Oct. 2008, pp. 63–66.

[3] C. Zhong, T. Li, H. Liu, L. Zhang, and X. Wen, “Fire Reconstruction and Flame Retardant with Water Mist for Double-Roofed Ancient Buddhist Buildings,” Buildings, vol. 15, no. 7, p. 1109, Mar. 2025. doi: 10.3390/buildings15071109.

[4] A. Solórzano, J. Eichmann, L. Fernández, B. Ziems, J. M. Jiménez-Soto, S. Marco, and J. Fonollosa, “Early fire detection based on gas sensor arrays: Multivariate calibration and validation,” Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, vol. 352, p. 130961, Oct. 2021. doi: 10.1016/j.snb.2021.130961.

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