In today’s day and age, software is more than just a tool, it’s a business service. And it’s changing everything.
The Internet of Things, AKA IoT, is often the best tool for every party; that’s why the integration of IoT in the fire and life safety industry serves as an incredible opportunity.
Johnson Controls explains the specific benefit of this innovation: “[IoT]-connected fire alarm panels, smoke detectors, and other devices are helping to enhance safety, streamline operations, reduce costs and provide better documentation and reporting.”
Smart fire protection systems bring efficiency to a whole new level, making ire prevention that much more attainable for businesses and homes of every size. Not only do these smart systems improve the overall experience on the customer level, but as far as fire protection is concerned, these systems increase productivity for all employees. All that to say, IoT devices are not taking anyone’s jobs. Instead, these devices make it easier to get the job done, allowing fire protection professionals to focus on their core responsibilities–and what they’re most passionate about.
Hold Your Fire: What Is IoT
By definition, the Internet of Things is the interconnection of devices and data through the Internet. Everyday objects, such as your coffee maker, your radio, or your smoke detectors, can now use the internet to send and receive information. By using systematic diagnostic tools, IoT devices (which, by the way, are not limited to WiFi-accessible platforms) send push notifications when changes are detected in the environment.
For the Fire and Life Safety industry, this means IoT devices literally give occupants and first responders faster, better notification of possible dangerous activity. Basically, these devices allow for faster response to alerts, meaning emergencies are handled in a more effective and possibly life-saving way.
Literally speaking, “things” (such as fire alarm systems, fire sprinkler systems, etc.) that directly correlate to the fire and life safety industry identify and use data from their surrounding environments through embedded sensors, processors, and communication-hardwired software. Essentially, IoT devices exchange data and information according to the specific changes noted by the “things.” Make sense?
IoT in Action: Servicing the People
In this article written from the Industrial IoT Viewpoints page, they do a great job describing the logistics of IoT and explaining why the move towards smart detection software is a step in the right direction.
Here’s what IoT devices do specifically in terms of detection servicing, according to the article: “In a central alarm system, all detectors are connected to a central controller and send a signal directly to this controller. The controller actively monitors multiple locations and when it receives alarm input from the detection devices, it activates notification devices such as horns, strobe lights, and speakers to alert the occupants.”
With Inspect Point in your toolkit, this means your inspection process becomes a whole new level of reliable, fast, and efficient. Fire protection companies who use IoT software and device connection, create an almost foolproof inspection process. Plus, your employees can get more done without sacrificing quality and safety.
The IoT connection with the fire protection systems and devices, along with the use of the iPad to complete the inspection, creates a digital checklist. Add in automation, and you’ve got an efficient process that effectively records the performance and status of various systems. The trained eye of your inspectors and technicians confirms these status updates and provides insight into how they–and their IoT connection–are performing.
Because IoT devices are connected to each specific building, knowing the ins and outs of the particular building structure and what should be working and what isn’t working makes the inspector’s job so much easier. Not only does this improve productivity for fire and life safety inspectors, but the customer experience is infinitely improved as well.
System Diagnostics & Analytics
Incident Management
Here’s where incident management comes in. The use of these intelligent platform systems and devices provide both building occupants and fire safety employees with smart (and safer) tools to prevent dangerous instances from occurring.
More than likely, the device will notify the necessary folks when something in the environment seems amiss. Then, the problem can be fixed. In a worst-case scenario, when there is a fire or an immediate threat, these devices notify every party immediately. Everyone and everything is better protected.
Fire & Life Safety Analytics
Remember when our parents and teachers taught us emergency protocols in case of a fire or similar emergency? Well, as an adult, you should certainly keep up with making plans in case of an emergency in your home or workplace. What is there to lose when everything and more (… thanks IoT) can be gained from these smart detection systems?
What is the benefit and how does it relate to emergency planning, you ask? Well, here’s that super helpful article again to answer that very question for you: “Sensor and detector data along with other surveillance data can be combined with algorithms and analytics to help quickly prepare better emergency or evacuation plans.”
What goes into this process? What exactly is analyzed?
“Analytics can consider various factors such as the number of people in the building, building maps, location of the fire, rate at which fire is spreading, direction of fire to come up with better evacuation plans. Analytics based evacuation plans can prevent congestion, by guiding the crowd in different parts of the building to take the optimum route to ensure and fast and effective evacuation.”
Here’s the thing–and you’ve probably already figured it out. But it’s so important. The use of this smart software allows for information sent and received through the IoT to produce immediate and efficient action. Occupants, workers, and first responders are all the more prepared for disasters and their prevention.
Fire and Life Safety: Made Better With IoT Integration
“By linking your industrial sensors, robotics, trucks, and other equipment with your enterprise applications, through the Internet of Things (IoT), companies have better visibility into what’s happening in the environment.” See? That quote, featured in a Cisco article, knows what’s up.
Look, it’s just a fact at this point. Fire and life safety is so much better off with an effective IoT integration. From Cisco again: “Organizations are now looking at these solutions [referring to IoT device integration in the industry] to be more than fire detection and alarm systems by providing additional capabilities and becoming incident management systems.”
IoT devices and their use in fire and life safety, especially when paired with Inspect Point, is saving lives.
For more information about how we’re supporting fire protection professionals as they protect their communities.
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