Aiphone WB-CE Wall Box with Caged Light and Emergency Lettering
Overview
The Aiphone WB-CE is a 12-gauge stainless steel wall-mounted box designed to house intercom equipment while providing integrated emergency lighting and ADA-compliant signage. Built for commercial and institutional deployments where a unified call station and visual alert system must coexist, the WB-CE consolidates mounting, power delivery, and emergency notification into a single vandal-resistant enclosure. The WB-CE operates on 24V DC power, supplied via the recommended PS-2420UL power supply, making it compatible with standard intercom system infrastructure.
Key Features
- 12-gauge stainless steel construction: Resists corrosion and casual vandalism in indoor commercial environments (lobbies, transit stations, healthcare facilities). Stainless won't degrade visibly for years in normal service.
- Integrated caged emergency light: Operates on the same 24V DC circuit as the intercom, eliminating need for separate power runs. Light activation can be triggered directly from the call button press or integrated with a separate emergency response system.
- Red emergency lettering (ADA compliant): Meets accessibility requirements for visual identification of the call point. Red lettering improves visibility for users with color-vision deficiencies and supports wayfinding during emergencies.
- 4-inch depth for ADA mounting compliance: Allows installation above 27 inches mounted height without ADA violation, meaning the call button can be placed at 48 inches above finished floor (AFF) with the mounted equipment positioned at 60 inches AFF—standard for reach-range accessibility in public spaces.
- 24V DC power requirement (PS-2420UL): Low-voltage operation eliminates the need for line-voltage conduit and reduces electrical licensing overhead during installation. Standard intercom power supplies rated for 24V 2.4A supply the WB-CE and typical station loads without upgrade.
- UL Listed: Factory-tested to UL standards for electrical safety and fire performance, essential for code compliance in healthcare, education, and transit deployments where third-party inspection is mandatory.
Integration & Compatibility
The WB-CE is a passive mounting and power-distribution enclosure compatible with any Aiphone intercom system using 24V DC operation. Installation requires only standard 24V power input (via a terminal strip or barrier block), intercom signal wiring, and optional light/strobe control wiring from a relay or emergency panel. No software drivers, firmware updates, or network configuration—the box itself is a mechanical interface between the call station, power supply, and emergency light.
What's in the Box
No detailed package contents were available in the evidence. Contact the manufacturer or a qualified installer for a complete bill of materials and any fasteners or wiring terminals included with the WB-CE.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the WB-CE suitable for outdoor or wet environments?
A: The WB-CE is 12-gauge stainless steel, which resists corrosion, but there is no IP rating specified in the evidence. Stainless alone does not guarantee full weatherproofing. For outdoor or high-humidity applications, confirm drainage design and gasket placement with the manufacturer or a systems integrator.
Q: What power supply should I use with the WB-CE?
A: Aiphone recommends the PS-2420UL power supply, which is rated for 24V DC at 2.4A output. This supply handles the WB-CE light and typical intercom station loads without requiring additional power conditioning.
Q: Can the emergency light be controlled independently of the call button?
A: Yes. The light and call button share the 24V DC supply but have separate signal circuits. The light can be wired to a relay module or emergency panel for remote or automatic activation (e.g., tied to a security system alarm output).
Q: Does the WB-CE meet ADA mounting requirements?
A: Yes. The 4-inch depth allows mounting at 48 inches AFF (call button height) with the top of the box at 60 inches AFF, complying with ADA reach-range standards for accessible communication equipment. Red emergency lettering is ADA-compliant for color contrast.
Q: What are the exact dimensions?
A: The WB-CE measures 26 inches tall, 10-9/16 inches wide, and 3-7/8 inches deep. These dimensions fit standard single-gang or dual-gang rough-in locations with careful layout of internal equipment.
Q: Is the WB-CE listed for use in healthcare or educational facilities?
A: The WB-CE is UL listed, which satisfies electrical safety requirements in healthcare, education, and other code-controlled spaces. However, facility-specific ADA, Life Safety Code, or security standards may impose additional requirements—consult your architect or code official for final approval.
The Aiphone WB-CE is one of those products that gets overlooked until you're in the middle of retrofitting a call-down system in a hospital or university building and realize you need the call station, light control, and ADA signage all in one box without running separate power feeds. The WB-CE consolidates that complexity into 12-gauge stainless steel, and the 4-inch depth spec is the key detail that makes ADA-compliant mounting above 27 inches actually work on paper.
Technical Highlights:
- 12-gauge stainless steel: Won't corrode or pit in normal indoor service, and it's heavy enough to resist casual damage without being so thick that you need a hole saw upgrade. Real-world: you'll see these five or ten years down the road and they still look new.
- 24V DC operation via PS-2420UL: Low-voltage simplifies the electrical rough-in and keeps you out of line-voltage licensing overhead. The 2.4A rating is sufficient for the light, call button, and most Aiphone base units without auxiliary relays.
- 4-inch depth for ADA mounting: This is not just marketing—it's the difference between a call button at 48" AFF (accessible) and a box that violates reach-range rules. The depth allows the unit to sit flush on the wall while keeping the top of the enclosure at 60" AFF.
Deployment Considerations:
- The WB-CE is a passive box—it doesn't care about your VMS or network architecture. All the integration happens at the 24V wiring level. Make sure your integrator isn't expecting SmartThings or cloud connectivity because this is 1990s-era intercom infrastructure in a modern package.
- Stainless doesn't mean weatherproof. If you're installing this in a semi-outdoor or high-humidity space (like a loading dock or covered entry), confirm that drainage weeps and gaskets are in place. No IP rating is published, so don't assume it's IP67 just because it's metal.
Best fit: healthcare campuses, educational institutions, and transit facilities where ADA compliance is non-negotiable and you need the emergency light integrated into the call station itself. If you're building a new security office with a single hardwired call point, the WB-CE is the right answer.
