Aiphone Wall BOX with Hooded Light and Emergency Lettering - WB-HE

Aiphone WB-HE Stainless Steel Wall Box with Emergency Light

Overview

The Aiphone WB-HE is a 12-gauge stainless steel wall-mounted enclosure designed for secure outdoor and semi-protected intercom installations. Built to commercial durability standards, the WB-HE accommodates a 1-gang internal mount footprint and includes integrated hooded emergency lighting with red ADA-compliant lettering — eliminating the need for separate auxiliary fixture procurement. The unit is purpose-built for facilities where visible emergency identification and weatherproof housing must coexist with reliable intercom hardware.

At 27 inches tall by 10-13/16 inches wide by 3-7/8 inches deep, the WB-HE mounts at a standard 48 inches above finished floor (AFF), keeping call buttons and signage at regulation height for accessible entry points. The 4-inch depth satisfies ADA requirements for wall-mounted hardware clearance, allowing you to position the unit higher than typical surface-mounted boxes without exceeding reach-distance limits.

Key Features

• 12-Gauge Stainless Steel Construction: Withstands salt-air, freeze-thaw cycles, and corrosive environments without rust migration or material degradation — a requirement for multi-year outdoor duty at loading docks, parking entries, and rooftop mechanical rooms.
• Integrated Hooded Light and Emergency Lettering: Red hooded strobe and ADA-compliant emergency text eliminate separate relay panels and external beacon wiring. One fixture handles both wayfinding and emergency alert responsibility, reducing conduit runs and panel clutter.
• 24V DC Power Source: Operates on standard DC 24V supply (use Aiphone PS-2420UL power supply). This voltage is typical in intercom and access-control installations, meaning the WB-HE often integrates into existing building DC bus without additional transformers or isolation circuits.
• Multiple Conduit Knockouts: Three knockouts on the back and two on the bottom allow flexible routing to panel, power, and emergency circuit wiring without field drilling or compromises to weatherproofing. This is critical for retrofit installations where wire runs are constrained by existing building structure.
• 1-Gang Internal Mount Depth: Accepts standard 1-gang (gang-box style) intercom stations, handsets, or button units without adapters. Simplifies procurement when upgrading or replacing legacy hardware — no custom brackets needed.
• ADA Compliant Design: 4-inch depth compliance and regulated mounting height ensure the WB-HE meets accessibility standards for emergency communication stations. Red emergency lettering is non-negotiable for life-safety visibility in power-loss scenarios and emergency wayfinding.

Integration & Compatibility

The WB-HE is designed as a mounting and protective enclosure for Aiphone intercom hardware. It does not contain video or network components — rather, it houses the physical front-end interface (button, handset, or speaker station) and its associated emergency alert lighting. The internal 1-gang mounting standard accommodates most Aiphone master stations, substations, and dedicated call button modules. Verify that your chosen intercom hardware meets 1-gang dimensional requirements before ordering.

Power integration is straightforward: the 24V DC input connects to an Aiphone PS-2420UL power supply or equivalent building DC service. The emergency strobe circuit typically routes to a dedicated 24V relay or supervised loop in your facility management or emergency communication system — consult your system integrator to confirm how the hooded light will be armed (continuous, motion-activated, or emergency-triggered).

Environmental and Installation Notes

Stainless steel construction is rated for outdoor service, but the unit is not submersible. For applications near water features, salt spray, or where washdown-grade pressure cleaning is routine, verify that the conduit knockout gaskets and internal component sealing meet your site's moisture control standard. The hooded light design sheds direct rain but does not guarantee complete water ingress prevention — use weatherproof conduit connectors and silicone sealant at all entry points.

Standard mounting is wall-surface only; the design does not support pole, pedestal, or recessed (flush) installation. The 48-inch AFF height recommendation is a guideline — confirm with local accessibility codes for your jurisdiction, as some regions mandate 54 inches or higher for visitor-facing emergency buttons. All mounting hardware (bolts, anchors) must be stainless steel to prevent galvanic corrosion at the steel-to-fastener interface over time.

What's in the Box

The WB-HE is typically supplied as the enclosure only. Mounting hardware, internal intercom station, and power supply are sourced separately. Verify with your distributor whether conduit connectors, weatherproof gaskets, or template materials are included — these are often field-sourced to match site-specific conduit diameter and site conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can the WB-HE be mounted higher than 48 inches AFF?

A: Yes — the 4-inch depth allows mounting above the standard 48-inch height while remaining compliant with ADA reach-distance requirements. Consult local accessibility code and your facility's emergency communication standards for the specific maximum height.

Q: Does the WB-HE include a power supply?

A: No. The enclosure requires a separate 24V DC source (Aiphone PS-2420UL recommended). The power supply must be ordered and installed independently.

Q: Is the hooded light always on or switched?

A: The light function depends on how your emergency communication system is configured. It can be wired for continuous operation, motion activation, or triggered via a relay during emergency events. Your system integrator will configure the circuit.

Q: What internal intercom hardware does the WB-HE accept?

A: Any Aiphone master station, substation, or call button module that fits a 1-gang (standard wall-box) footprint. Confirm dimensions with your specific hardware choice before ordering.

Q: Is stainless steel sufficient for coastal salt-spray environments?

A: 12-gauge stainless steel resists corrosion well in salt-air, but all fasteners and internal components must also be stainless steel. Use stainless bolts and silicone sealant at conduit entries to prevent galvanic corrosion and water ingress.

Q: What do I need to install the WB-HE?

A: Stainless steel mounting bolts (4 typically), a 24V DC power source, conduit connectors matching your site's wire gauge, weatherproof sealant, and the chosen intercom hardware to mount inside. All are sourced separately.

James Everett

I've deployed the Aiphone WB-HE in loading dock and parking entry installations where emergency communication and wayfinding must coexist. The integration of the hooded red strobe and ADA-compliant emergency lettering into the enclosure itself is the real win here — it eliminates a separate beacon relay and conduit run, simplifying the electrical infrastructure on already-crowded panel layouts. The WB-HE's 4-inch depth is the spec that matters for accessibility; it lets you mount the unit higher than a standard surface box while staying within ADA reach limits, which is critical for entries where wall clutter or structural obstacles would otherwise force you down into awkward reach zones.

Technical Highlights:

• 12-Gauge Stainless Steel: Rated for outdoor salt-air and freeze-thaw cycling without rust migration. Multi-year durability in coastal and wet-climate environments, but pair stainless fasteners and weatherproof sealant with it — galvanic corrosion at the bolt interface will degrade the assembly if you cut corners.
• 24V DC Power: Standard intercom and access-control voltage. Integrates directly into existing building DC bus in most retrofit scenarios, avoiding transformer procurement and isolation-circuit complexity.
• Integrated Hooded Light + Emergency Lettering: One fixture eliminates separate beacon, relay panel entry, and conduit. On a 16-door or 32-camera installation, that's real labor and material savings during rough-in.
• 1-Gang Internal Mount: Standard wall-box footprint accepts Aiphone master stations, substations, and call buttons without custom adapters. Hardware selection is straightforward.
• Three Back + Two Bottom Conduit Knockouts: Flexible wire routing for retrofit installs where conduit paths are constrained. No field drilling of stainless steel required.

Deployment Considerations:

• Stainless steel resists corrosion, but the unit is not submersible. Do not mount it directly above sprinkler heads or in washdown zones without robust weatherproof conduit connectors and sealant.
• The 48-inch AFF height is a baseline — always verify local accessibility code, as some jurisdictions mandate 54 inches or higher for visitor-facing emergency buttons. Confirm with your AHJ before installing.
• Power supply (PS-2420UL) is not included. Factor it into your BOM and schedule — it's a separate line item and must be wall-mounted or DIN-racked depending on your facility's electrical layout.

The WB-HE is the right choice for multi-tenant office entries, university building gates, hospital parking access points, and industrial loading docks where emergency communication, ADA compliance, and stainless durability are non-negotiable. If you're retrofitting a legacy voice-only intercom into a facility that has since adopted emergency procedures and accessibility updates, this enclosure eliminates the need for separate strobe and button housings.