NEW TECHNOLOGY
PRODUCTS AND APPS Fire detection management A software solution that provides building managers with full control over fire detection and monitoring will be launched this autumn. The Ockular software system by Kentec has been designed for use in complex buildings and enables the creation of a site map to monitor fire safety and detection and quickly locate the source of a fire. Suitable for medium to large systems, it automatically highlights a fire device activation in a particular area to enable immediate viewing and investigation. The software provides an additional layer of detail to fire protection systems through a graphical representation of the building and its detection devices. “A control panel will tell you there is a fire and give you a location message, but if it is a complex building, such as a heritage building, it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact location of the activation,” explained Kevin Mears from Kentec. “What Ockular does is provide a floorplan and highlight both the room and detector. It’s a management tool for the fire system.” Ockular was developed for use in medium to large infrastructure with complex layouts such as shopping centres, railway stations and even stately homes. Ockular is fully configurable on site using an administrator login and a separate application that interfaces with the existing fire system(s) via an IP connection. It supports dual screens allowing for a dedicated screen for the 2D graphic map and a separate screen for system management and configuration error reports. This ensures that the system is maintained and updated whenever the panel configuration is revised. System features include programmable macro buttons for panel control operations and map navigation; the ability to enable or disable devices in a particular area via the graphical interface; and event reporting and log filtering with an automatic archive facility. It will also display the relevant emergency assembly and fire control points.
“Using the event filter, you can review data specific to incident type, location, or time frame, and carry out basic diagnostics by checking the health status of individual detectors,” added Mears. “Each detector has an analogue value, which is a representation of how much smoke it can sense. This information can be pulled from the graphics to allow you to identify detectors that are not functioning properly and take corrective action.” An intuitive interface enables system users to import image files of the building’s floorplan, as well as drag and drop detector information from the existing fire system. Kentec can provide training to system users and the system is available worldwide.
concentration reaches a pre-set threshold. The system features a two-stage alarm, with the alarm LED simultaneously activating the alarm relay of the ASD system. The system also includes a menu-assisted configuration where calibration is accessed from just three keys, with an Autocal feature that automatically adjusts the measurement signal of the test gas during calibration. A large display continuously provides information relating to the gas concentration levels and the operation status. The integrated solution was a joint effort by Patol with gas detection specialist GFG.
Cerberus Pace is fully compliant with EN 54-16 and European local codes. It can cover all redundancy levels from individual backup components to complete double structures. Moreover, the network can be made redundant by expanding the EN 54-16 standard single-loop topology to a double-loop or double-tree topology, or combinations thereof. In case of short circuits, 100V-loop isolators keep the speaker line functional and end-of-line modules report any malfunctions. For public address system announcements, advertisements or background music, the system offers high-quality sound and low audio latency. The voice alarm overrides these applications in an emergency. Cerberus Pace comes with dedicated configuration software. It can be configured while live and controlled via remote access for maintenance and public address applications.
Evacuation controlled
Gas and smoke detection combined Gas detection capability has been added by Patol to the Securiton range of aspirating smoke detection. The new detection capability has been achieved by attaching a wall-mounted gas monitor housed in a Perspex enclosure to the pipework of the aspirating system. Air that is drawn from the pipework by the ASD system pump then passes through the gas monitor before entering the ASD chamber. The monitor checks for the presence of toxic or flammable gases such as carbon monoxide, oxygen or hydrogen in a single unit that combines a transmitter and a controller. The monitor features pluggable smart sensors and a large LCD display for ease of reading, and the alarm is triggered if the gas
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A highly flexible public address and voice alarm system has been developed that can be customised for buildings of any size or type. The Cerberus Pace (public address and controlled evacuation) system is modular and scalable and offers a full range of components, including control panels, call stations, digital audio matrix, and network switches. Made by Siemens Building Technologies, it can be used in any location where narrow escape routes might require a phased evacuation. Pre-recorded evacuation messages can be initiated by the fire detection system, manually or by other emergency systems. Emergency responders can also make live announcements through a fire brigade call station to the entire building or selected zones. The system can be connected to any fire detection system from Siemens or a third-party system that has a compatible I/O interface. It accommodates legacy speaker line structures through the use of smart end-of-line modules.
Pulsing fast A range of visual alarm devices and visual indicating devices designed to improve the functioning of fire detection systems and speed up evacuation responses in a real-fire event has been launched by Johnson Controls. The company used the findings of independent research into the effect of light patterns on triggering human reactions to inform the design and functionality of the range. As a result, the visual alarm devices flash at a pulse width of less than 20 milliseconds when activated, which has been shown to be more effective for alerting people to an emergency. The devices also use Johnson’s self-testing technology, which the company says enables real light and sound output levels to be checked and recorded in a fraction of a second for each device. The test data is sent to the
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