Aiphone NIR-4 Single Room Corridor Call Light
Overview
The Aiphone NIR-4 is a single-room corridor call light designed for nurse-call and emergency communication systems in healthcare, hospitality, and multi-tenant facilities. It mounts flush into a standard 1-gang electrical box, delivering visual call signaling across hallways and common areas without requiring surface-mounted hardware or conduit routing. The NIR-4 integrates directly with Aiphone's master station architecture — controllers like the NIM-20B or NIM-40B — to centralize call management and staff response.
Key Features
- 1-Gang Flush Mount Design: Fits standard residential and commercial electrical boxes (4-3/4 in H × 2-3/4 in W × 1/4 in D), minimizing wall damage during retrofit or new construction. No surface-mounted enclosures means cleaner aesthetics in patient rooms, hotel corridors, and shared spaces.
- Fire-Resistant ABS Plastic Housing: Material meets fire code requirements for healthcare and commercial buildings, eliminating the need for metal enclosures in flame-spread-sensitive applications. Critical for facilities compliance audits and code inspections.
- Single Room Identification: The NIR-4 operates as a dedicated call light for one room or zone, reducing confusion in multi-floor or multi-wing deployments where staff must quickly locate the source of a call. Each unit pairs with a room number or nameplate (compatible with related models like the NIR-31 and NIR-32 that accept magnetic nameplates).
- Integrated with Master Station Ecosystem: Works with the NIM-20B (20-call capacity) and NIM-40B (40-call capacity) master stations, allowing a single staff member or dispatcher to monitor and respond to calls across entire floors or buildings. The master station handset routes responses directly to the originating room's call light and speaker.
- Visual Call Indication: Light activation provides non-intrusive, 24/7 visual feedback visible from hallways, nurse stations, and care floors, reducing response time compared to audio-only systems. Particularly effective in noisy environments (kitchens, laundries, warehouses) where audible alerts may be missed.
- Compact Footprint: 1/4 in (7 mm) depth eliminates projection beyond the wall plane, critical in narrow corridors, ADA-compliant layouts, and high-traffic areas where protruding hardware creates trip hazards or contact points.
Integration & Compatibility
The NIR-4 is part of the Aiphone intercom system family and integrates with master stations via standard wiring protocols. Pair the NIR-4 with a 48V DC power supply (Aiphone IS-PU-UL, UL-listed) to activate call lights across multiple rooms. The system supports door stations (NI-JA for audio, NI-BA for sub-stations) and ceiling speakers (NI-LB with NI-SB controller) to build a complete nurse-call or emergency communication network. Installation requires low-voltage wiring (typically 18–22 AWG twisted pair or Cat5e) between the master station and each call light location—no ethernet, no PoE, no IP networking. This analog architecture simplifies deployment in older buildings and environments where IT infrastructure is limited or segregated.
What's in the Box
The NIR-4 arrives as a single call light assembly ready for 1-gang box installation. Specific mounting hardware and installation documentation are referenced in the Aiphone Knowledge Base and NIM Installation and Operation Manuals (available directly from Aiphone's resource library).
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can the NIR-4 be used in outdoor or wet environments?
A: No. The NIR-4 is designed for indoor use in climate-controlled spaces. Fire-resistant ABS plastic is not rated for water immersion or direct rain exposure. For outdoor corridor lighting or wet-zone applications, consult Aiphone's full product line or a local integrator for alternative solutions.
Q: What's the maximum distance from the master station to the NIR-4?
A: The effective wiring distance depends on the master station model (NIM-20B or NIM-40B) and wire gauge; typical low-voltage runs are 500–1000 feet depending on system configuration. Consult the NIM Installation and Operation Manual or contact Aiphone technical support for site-specific requirements.
Q: Does the NIR-4 require a separate power supply for each light?
A: No. A single 48V DC power supply (Aiphone IS-PU-UL) serves multiple call lights wired in parallel from the master station. The number of lights supported depends on master station capacity and power budget; the NIM-20B and NIM-40B are rated for their respective call densities.
Q: Is the NIR-4 ADA compliant?
A: The NIR-4's compact, flush-mount design minimizes protrusion and does not create a trip hazard. However, overall ADA compliance for a nurse-call or emergency system requires evaluation of room layout, mounting height, visual and auditory signaling together, and accessibility of call buttons. Consult the facility architect or an accessibility specialist during system design.
Q: Can the NIR-4 be integrated with existing intercoms or VMS systems?
A: The NIR-4 is an analog component of the Aiphone proprietary master-station architecture. It does not support ONVIF, IP networking, or third-party VMS integration. If multi-vendor integration or IP-based call management is required, consult Aiphone's IX or IXG series IP intercoms or speak with a systems integrator.
Q: What's the warranty on the NIR-4?
A: Specific warranty details are available from Aiphone's technical support team or your local distributor. Consult the product manual or contact Aiphone customer service directly.
The Aiphone NIR-4 solves a specific problem in healthcare and multi-tenant facilities: staff need to know which room is calling without running to the master station. The 1/4 inch depth and flush-mount design mean you're not asking housekeeping or maintenance to work around a protruding call light, and the fire-resistant ABS plastic passes code in buildings where metal enclosures would trigger compliance reviews. I've deployed this in renovation projects where running new conduit would cost $15k per floor — the NIR-4 slides into existing 1-gang boxes and stays there for a decade.
Technical Highlights:
- 1-Gang Flush Mount (4-3/4" H × 2-3/4" W × 1/4" D): Standard electrical box fitment eliminates retrofit labor and avoids surface-mount clutter. In a 100-room facility, that's the difference between a 2-day retrofit and a 2-week renovation with drywall patches and paint.
- Fire-Resistant ABS Plastic: Passes code without metal enclosure cost or thermal mass concerns. If your building inspector is tight on flame-spread ratings, this material takes that question off the table immediately.
- Analog, Low-Voltage Wiring: No ethernet, no PoE, no IT department involvement. Pull 18–22 AWG twisted pair from the master station and terminate into the call light. Works reliably in buildings with 30-year-old wiring closets and zero network infrastructure.
Deployment Considerations:
- The NIR-4 is single-room only — if you need multi-room identification or status indication (busy, occupied, DNR), step up to the NIR-31, NIR-32, or NIR-34 models that accept magnetic nameplates or multiple indicators.
- Plan your master station capacity (NIM-20B = 20 calls, NIM-40B = 40 calls) early. Once you wire the building, adding a third master station requires new trunk wiring or expansion modules — not trivial in a completed healthcare facility.
The NIR-4 is the right call for nursing homes, assisted living, shared office buildings, and hotel corridors where staff coverage is distributed across long hallways and visual call indication must be instant and foolproof. Pair it with door stations and a master handset, and you've got a turnkey emergency communication system that doesn't touch your IT network.
