With the events of 911, FIS felt the desire to contribute to national security. Our special expertise in fiber optics enabled us to create a number of innovative security solutions, including our Fiber Fence™ Perimeter Monitoring System.
The only system of its kind in the world, Fiber Fence has been installed to protect military and commercial facilities at home and abroad.
Fiber Fence Specification Sheet (PDF)
The Patented Fiber Fence™ Concept [top of page]
The Fiber Fence Perimeter Monitoring System combines advanced optical technology with simple mechanical devices, called MouseTrips®, to achieve performance and reliability superior to other monitoring systems. Fiber Fence does not require power anywhere along the perimeter. Cascaded Fiber Fence systems can monitor up to 80 km (50 miles) of fence line.
In a typical installation, fiber optic sensing cable is attached along the top, middle and bottom of a facility's existing chain link fence or perimeter wall.
The all-weather sensing cable passes through the MouseTrip triggering devices which are installed on the fence or wall at intervals around the perimeter.
At the heart of the Fiber Fence system is the Central Control Unit, which includes a laser that injects light into the glass core of the cable. A would-be intruder who cuts or tugs the cable, or causes movement to the fence by climbing, will trigger the nearest MouseTrip. Once triggered, the MouseTrip reduces the flow of light through the cable. This is detected by the system's Central Control Unit, which instantly alerts security personnel.
Fiber Fence 3000 System - Shows the location of an intrusion on an on-screen facilities map. These systems include a built-in Optical Time-Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) that calculates the location of a security breach. It does this by measuring the time that it takes for "backscattered" light to return from the bend in the fiber created by an activated MouseTrip. The OTDR can detect simultaneous intrusions, and its powerful laser provides for maximum monitoring distance.
The facility's security guard can view on-screen information (text, photos, etc.) that is associated with a triggered MouseTrip. This information may contain security guard directives and/or close-up photos of the area.
Compact Fiber Fence 50 System - Designed to monitor a single security zone, although multiple units can be used together to monitor an unlimited number of zones. The control unit has relay outputs that can accommodate various alarms, auto dialer, and so forth.
Din Rail Version - Fiber Fence 50 Control Units are also available as ultra-compact modules that can be installed side-by-side in a standard Din Rail rack to provide unlimited expansion capabilities.
Who Uses Fiber Fence?[top of page]
Fiber Fence provides solutions for any facility that is striving to improve protection for lives and property. These include factories, power plants, electrical substations, business parks, reservoirs, airports, water treatment facilities, storage facilities, military facilities, cell phone towers, harbors and much more. Fiber Fence is ideal for....
Facilities Requiring Long-Rang Monitoring - Fiber Fence is especially well suited for monitoring long perimeters. Fiber Fence systems do not require power anywhere along the perimeter, and cascaded systems can monitor up to 80 km (50 miles) of fence line.
Facilities Requiring Multilayer Security - Fiber Fence is an excellent backup system for other types of security systems, providing what the military terms "Defense in Depth."
Facilities Requiring Camera Backup - Fiber fence is not affected by poor visibility due to weather or darkness, providing excellent backup for security cameras. Fiber Fence is especially ideal for facilities that have notoriously poor weather, such as the heavy fog conditions that exist at power plants at their coastal locations.
Facilities Requiring Minimum Nuisance Alarms - Security systems that detect intrusions via electronic sensors or radio waves can be subject to frequent nuisance alarms, especially when exposed to electromagnetic interference, such as that produced electrical equipment. Fiber Fence sensing cable and MouseTrips are 100% immune to EMI. Power stations and military facilities are especially good candidates for Fiber Fence.
Fiber Optics Overview[top of page]
Based on the phenomenon of "total internal reflection" fiber optic technology enables information to travel in a beam of light through the glass core of an optical fiber. The enormous bandwidth capacity of a fiber optic cable enables it to carry much more information than its copper wire counterpart.
Telephone conversations, computer data, video transmissions, and high-speed Internet can all be carried simultaneously over a single fiber that's about the thickness of a human hair. Fiber Optic systems are also highly tamper-resistant, which makes the technology ideally suited for security applications.
Fiber Optics as a Security Solution[top of page]
Signals transmitted over optical fiber can travel very long distances with out re-amplification. This makes fiber optics ideal for security cameras and perimeter monitoring systems. Also, as pure light, fiber optic signals are immune to distortion from electromagnetic interference (EMI), which helps to prevent nuisance alarms. Furthermore, because fiber does not carry electricity, it does not present a spark hazard. This makes fiber especially ideal for use in environments where combustible gases may be present, such as chemical plants, fuel storage depots, underground telecommunications installations, and so forth.
A special advantage of some of our Fiber Fence Perimeter Monitoring Systems is their ability to monitor a virtually unlimited number of security zones, while taking up only one input on the system's Control Unit. This leaves 15 inputs free to accept a variety of other security devices. Fiber Fence systems that are equipped with an OTDR can identify the point of intrusion to within a few feet.
Unlike copper cable, fiber optic sensing cable is difficult, if not impossible, to circumvent using a jumper cable without being detected. Also, our MouseTrip sensors have an anti-tamper design. Any unauthorized person who attempts to open a MouseTrip will cause the device to trigger and immediately send an alarm.
Finally, fiber optic cable weighs less and has a smaller cross section than comparable copper cable, which makes fiber easier to install with minimal mounting hardware.
Fiber Fence Advantages[top of page]
Today's security systems use many different sensing technologies. These include Radio Wave Disturbance Sensors, Sound Sensors, Infrared Motion Detectors and so forth. However, compared to other types of security systems, Fiber Fence offers unique advantages. These include:
Immunity to EMI - Fiber optic sensors and cable not affected by EMI due to electrical storms, nearby power lines, electrical equipment, radio transmissions and so forth.
No Electrical Power Required Along Perimeter - No power is required in the field, making Fiber Fence both easy and inexpensive to install.
Installs on Existing Fencing - No special fencing is required. Fiber Fence installs on existing fencing or walls with minimal mounting hardware.
Minimal Nuisance Alarms - The Fiber Fence control unit and individual sensors can be adjusted to virtually eliminate false alarms due to environmental factors.
Unlimited Security Zones - Fiber Fence 3000 system can monitor an almost unlimited number of security zones. Each MouseTrip sensor represents one security zone, and dozens of MouseTrips can be connected in series using only one fiber optic cable.
Detects Both Intrusive and Destructive Events - Intrusions are detected when someone causes movement to the fiber or to the fence to which it is attached. The fiber optic sensing cable does not need to be broken in order to signal an alarm.
Destructive acts are also detected, such as when someone intentionally cuts the sensing cable, destroys a sensor or section of fencing. Because the sensing cable does not rely on electrical power, Fiber Fence will activate an alarm even if the sensing cable is severed.
Non-Sparking Sensors - Since Fiber Fence sensors do not carry electricity, the system is ideal for applications where combustible gases or fuels may be present.
