Technology & Software in Fire Prevention

Fire prevention is a very crucial affair, and it should be taken seriously by everyone. If a fire ever breaks out, it puts everyone’s safety at risk. To minimize that risk as much as you can, you need to make sure that everyone has some type of fire prevention technology or software installed in not just their homes but workplaces and public places.

Before adding any fire prevention tech, it’s recommended that you check whether all gas appliances are functioning properly. A gas safety check cost ranges from £60-90 depending on the number of gas appliances that you use. This allows you to minimize the chances of gas leakage and prevent any kind of fire breakout.

You may be familiar with fire extinguishers, fire alarms, and water sprinkler systems, but with the advancement in technology and digitalization, fire prevention has gone further than these standard instruments.

Here are examples of fire prevention technology and software that everyone should have in their homes.

1. Air Sampling Smoke Detectors

Air sampling smoke detectors are extremely useful when it comes to giving warnings about a potential fire outbreak. They can easily locate a fire by taking in air through the air sampling ports and inspecting it for smoke particles. With the help of these ports, they’re able to check multiple locations of a building at once.

These smoke detectors work well in places with high ceilings because they take in the air through the ports with the help of fans. This allows them to detect something much faster and suppress the fire at an early stage. They are also suitable for places such as freezer warehouses and cold rooms. There are different types of air sampling smoke detectors such as:

• Kidde smoke detectors
• FAAST air sampling
• Vesda air sampling smoke detector

2. Water Mist Suppression Systems

These systems are extremely effective when it comes to putting out fires quickly. Water mist suppression systems do that by using less water at high pressures that are discharged from spray heads and specialized sprinklers. This method allows them to save water and cover more area during a fire outbreak, extinguishing fires quicker as the water that sprays is in the form of very tiny droplets.

 HI-FOG ® by Marioff is an example of a water mist suppression system that uses less water to put out fires quickly. Water mist suppression systems are used in well-populated areas, which can get damaged by heavily pressured water.

3. Video Image Smoke and Flame Detectors (VISD)

Video image smoke and flame detectors play an essential role in warning everyone before a fire even starts. So that it can give enough time for people to evacuate while preparing the equipment to put out the fire.

There are 2 sorts of video image detectors; they are called smoke detectors and fire/flame detectors. This technology uses 2 components to detect smoke and fire. These 2 components are cameras and computer algorithms.

To understand the smoke and fire behavior, the camera examines the location, transfers the video to the computer, and runs an algorithm. Most of these cameras are used to examine locations based on visual-spectrum imagery, while other more advanced cameras are infrared-sensitive and can operate in the dark easily with the help of IR illuminators.

You can even use security cameras to examine the area and send the footage to a central computer connected to the VISD software. Even though it is an affordable investment, it would be better to invest in cameras that are specifically designed for smoke and flame detection as it would make the examining and transferring process easier.

4. Integrated Voice Evacuation Systems

As the world progresses and evolves, the need for technology that allows orderly and safe evacuations also increases. In cases of large-scale properties, opting for more premium fire alarm systems with the features like voice activation can come in handy.

Integrated voice evacuation systems are suitable for public places such as schools, manufacturing industries, shopping centers, etc., as they’re able to address large crowds at once with the help of voice messages. When compared to traditional alarm systems in public places, voice evacuation systems are a better option to get the public to evacuate safely to a specific location.

According to research, people tend to panic more when they hear the loud sound of an alarm during a fire outbreak, whereas voice integrated evac systems can help soothe and control a large crowd in public places by providing strict instructions on where to go and how to get there. These systems are also helpful in implementing law enforcement, informing you of an intruder and other emergency cases.

5. Self-Expanding Fire Fighting Foam (SEF)

Although this technology is not well-known, there has been a slow increase in its demand as it’s proven to be very useful and effective during a fire outbreak. There are many benefits when it comes to using self-expanding firefighting foam:

• It Can Be Installed Anywhere

As most fire prevention technologies require specific locations to be fixed, SEF is one of those techs that doesn’t require a specific location. It can be installed anywhere according to your access and safety needs. It is a tool that doesn’t need a permanent water supply nor foam proportioning equipment. You only need to fill up the tank of the SEF with the amount of water required to meet its volume capacity.

• Long Life Guaranteed

SEF assures maintenance of quality 10 years or greater. Even though it may depend on the manufacturer, fire prevention technologies have very long life spans. Another benefit is that it doesn’t get affected by extreme temperatures.

Preventing Fire Is Easier with Technology & Software

In the past, people weren’t able to prevent fire outbreaks which led to the loss of many precious lives, equipment, and resources. But now, with the evolution of modern technology, there has been a major development in fire prevention technology to help people gauge the damage that fires can cause. This is where the technologies mentioned above can help people react faster and more effectively.

About the Author: Myrah Abrar is a computer science graduate with a passion for web development and digital marketing. She writes blog articles for Gas Safety Certs.