Aiphone NIR-4S Corridor Light
The Aiphone NIR-4S is a flush-mount corridor call indicator designed for multi-room intercom installations requiring visual status signaling at the room or zone level. Built from fire-resistant ABS plastic and operating at 48V DC, it mounts directly into standard 1-gang electrical boxes for seamless integration into healthcare facilities, assisted living environments, and multi-tenant residential systems. The fixture serves as a call-presence indicator within Aiphone's networked intercom ecosystem, providing immediate visual feedback when a room-level call is active.
Key Features
- Flush-Mount 1-Gang Installation: Fits standard electrical boxes without requiring trim rings or surface-mount adapters. Simplifies corridor retrofit and reduces visible hardware footprint.
- Fire-Resistant ABS Plastic: UL-listed material composition meets interior fire safety codes for regulated healthcare and residential environments.
- 48V DC Power Supply: Low-voltage design eliminates 120VAC wiring complexity. Requires IS-PU-UL power supply (sold separately); single supply can service multiple fixtures.
- NIM-20B and NIM-40B Compatibility: Integrates with Aiphone multi-room intercom master stations. Works alongside NIR-2 reset buttons and other corridor light variants (NIR-1, NIR-31, NIR-32, NIR-34) in a unified call management architecture.
- Lightweight and Compact: 1 lb weight and minimal depth simplify rough-in framing and reduces load on 1-gang box infrastructure.
- Made in Japan: Manufactured to Aiphone quality and durability standards; includes 2-year manufacturer warranty.
The NIR-4S operates as a room-level call indicator within Aiphone's networked intercom infrastructure. When a call arrives at a specific zone or room, the light illuminates to alert staff or residents in adjacent corridors. In healthcare settings—particularly skilled nursing facilities and assisted living communities—corridor lights reduce staff response time by eliminating the need to monitor master station displays continuously. The fixture complements hardwired call button systems and works in tandem with audio intercom stations mounted at nurse pods or administrative hubs.
Power delivery is centralized through the IS-PU-UL supply, a UL-listed 48V DC provisioning unit. This architecture simplifies feeder wiring: a single pair (or twisted pair) runs from the IS-PU-UL to each NIR-4S indicator, eliminating the need for individual 120VAC circuits per fixture. In multi-floor or multi-wing facilities, daisy-chaining multiple indicators off a single IS-PU-UL reduces panel load and simplifies troubleshooting. Verify IS-PU-UL capacity against total connected NIR fixture count before installation.
The flush-mount design assumes standard 1-gang electrical boxes already in place (either existing in renovation projects or pre-framed during new construction). No surface-mount enclosures, J-boxes, or retrofit rings are required. The fire-resistant plastic housing meets interior fire codes without special clearance documentation in most U.S. jurisdictions; however, confirm local AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) requirements before specifying in highly regulated environments (hospitals, senior care facilities). Material composition also resists UV degradation in naturally lit corridors, extending service life in high-ambient-light conditions.
Aiphone's NIR-4S integrates into facilities already standardized on Aiphone multi-room intercom infrastructure. ONVIF Profile T or video intercom integration is not applicable to this analog indicator light; it operates purely as a 48V DC call-status signaling device. For facilities requiring IP-based call management or integration with video door stations (Aiphone's KB-8, IX-3, etc.), evaluate Aiphone's IP intercom platform separately. The NIR-4S is most cost-effective in dedicated nurse-call or multi-room audio-only deployments where visual indication at the corridor level eliminates staff bottlenecks at a single master station.
Marty AllisonPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
The Aiphone NIR-4S is a workhorse corridor light for analog intercom deployments in healthcare and senior living. We've seen it spec'd into dozens of assisted living communities where nurse-call systems need visual confirmation at the point-of-care—a resident presses the call button in their room, the NIR-4S lights up in the hallway, and staff respond without looking back at the master station. That distributed visibility is the core value proposition. Operationally, it's straightforward: low-voltage 48V design, standard electrical box mounting, fire-resistant housing that passes local AHJ review without special documentation. The main trade-off versus networked IP call lights is that you're limited to Aiphone's analog ecosystem—no integration with third-party VMS platforms or mobile alerting systems. That's fine for purpose-built nurse-call installations, but if the facility is moving toward IP convergence, you'll be retrofitting in 5–10 years. For traditional multi-room intercom shops, this is the right choice.
Technical Highlights:
- Flush-Mount 1-Gang Fit: No trim rings, no surface adapters, no reframing required. Slip it into an existing electrical box and dress the wiring. Retrofit speed is measurably faster than surface-mounted alternatives, and the integrated look performs better in patient-facing spaces (hospitals, senior living communities) where visible hardware raises infection control or aesthetics concerns.
- Fire-Resistant ABS + UL Listing: Material passes interior fire safety codes in regulated healthcare and residential environments. You won't need special AHJ variance documentation in most U.S. jurisdictions. We've deployed hundreds without pushing back on code compliance.
- 48V DC Power Simplicity: Single IS-PU-UL supply can service multiple fixtures. Feeder wiring is low-voltage twisted pair—no 120VAC conduit runs, no breaker panel load concerns. Total installation labor and material cost is lower than multi-circuit 120VAC alternatives.
- NIM-20B / NIM-40B Intercom Ecosystem: Works alongside existing Aiphone master stations and call buttons. If the site is already committed to Aiphone analog intercom, the NIR-4S is the native choice. If evaluating from scratch, confirm the facility's long-term technology roadmap—this product doesn't bridge to IP-based systems.
- Lightweight (1 lb) and Compact: Minimal structural load on 1-gang box infrastructure. Useful in retrofit situations where electrical infrastructure is aging or already near capacity.
Deployment Considerations:
- Confirm IS-PU-UL power supply capacity before installation. If you're daisy-chaining 8+ fixtures, calculate cumulative load and verify the supply can handle peak simultaneous indicators. Undersized supply leads to brownout and intermittent light failures under high call volume.
- Plan feeder routing from the IS-PU-UL to each fixture during rough-in. Low-voltage twisted pair can run in the same conduit as speaker wire or telephone cabling, but maintain at least 6 inches separation from 120VAC or higher-power circuits to avoid inductive coupling and false triggering.
- The NIR-4S is indicator-only; it does not include a reset button. Pair it with the NIR-2 reset button (mounted nearby in the corridor) if your call protocol requires manual call clearing at the light location. Some installations integrate the reset into the master station control, so plan the call flow during design phase.
- Fire-resistant ABS will yellow under sustained direct sunlight (south-facing exterior corridors). Use in interior hallways or install UV-blocking window film if necessary. Replacement is straightforward and inexpensive.
- Confirm electrical box depth: a standard 1-gang box provides ~1.5 inches of backset. If your box is shallow (drywall anchor box), verify clearance for wiring terminals before committing to the installation location.
The NIR-4S is the right fit for facilities with existing Aiphone intercom systems (NIM-20B, NIM-40B) that need distributed call indication without upgrading to IP-based platforms. For new-build or technology roadmap scenarios, clarify whether the organization is moving toward networked call systems—if so, evaluate Aiphone's IP offering or alternative networked nurse-call systems before finalizing specification. Otherwise, this is a mature, cost-effective solution. See the Aiphone catalog for compatible master stations and power supplies.
