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Godalming (nr. Guildford)
Surrey GU7 1NG
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Innovations in fire detection systems for heritage properties
The Absolute Security team have been really impressed by the innovations in fire alarm monitoring and reporting when it comes to protecting listed and heritage properties. We have been working closely with the team at Nimbus Fire Alarm Management Systems in an installation for a national heritage property preservation organisation.
The Nimbus technology delivers highly precise monitoring and easy to use reporting. Its gateway integrates with many fire alarm manufacturers to provide more effective remote monitoring and control functionality.
As this functionality is built on cloud technology it means property and site owners can access Nimbus logs and reports through any desktop or mobile internet connection.
Easier and faster reporting
The technology has a number of benefits for fire officers in heritage sites and/or property owners. These include:
- Precise and prompt online reports on their fire alarm system hardware – giving details about the hardware’s performance, servicing and engineer notes.
- Reductions in false alarms, as Nimbus has the capability to identify and send alerts on confirmed fires.
- An easy to access central online log book of the fire alarm’s service history, panel and device data. This information can be searched by event, date, time, site, panel, loop and description.
- Event notifications such as confirmed fire, fire, fault and isolation, are sent out immediately by Nimbus via email and mobile app. These notifications include the device location (as programmed within the fire alarm system panel). The speed and means of notifications can significantly reduce resolution time.
- Unobtrusive design – the system’s design offers sophisticated protection without damaging the fabric and features of the property in its installation. It requires minimal cables and plugs into the fire alarm control panel simply and easily.
Helping to protect national treasures
Commenting on the Nimbus technology Will Hucklebridge, Operations Manager at Absolute Security said,
“The software’s ability to integrate with so many different fire alarm systems is very impressive. It ensures a property gains a precise but practical log of different facets of its fire alarm equipment’s history and events. This greatly helps those with a responsibility to monitor and control that property’s fire safety and compliance. The cloud-based approach is particularly helpful to those who have to manage a number of properties.”
He adds, “And the speed in which the system can issue alerts can make all the difference in the time it takes to respond to and successfully tackle a fire. With all properties this is essential, but particularly more so with heritage properties which often are treasured by the nation and a key part of our history.”
Find out more
If you would like to learn more about the Nimbus Fire Alarm Management system’s benefits to your property(ies), please contact the Absolute Security team on tel. 01483 791500 or email sales@absolutesecurity.co.uk
The rising popularity of gas suppression fire prevention systems
We’ve seen a growing interest recently in gas suppression fire prevention systems. These systems are far better at limiting the damage to equipment and possessions when a fire breaks out. This is because traditional fire prevention systems typically use water or foam to suppress the flames, and this can indeed damage items such as electrical goods, fabrics and paintings.
Gas suppression systems – the science bit!
Gas fire suppression systems have been around since the early 2000s. In essence, when a fire is detected, the system releases gases to reduce oxygen and stop the fire in its tracks.
One such approach uses inert gases, which reduces oxygen in the location to below 15%. This is because fires need more than that percentage to burn. In case you’re wondering, the air we breathe has approximately 21% Oxygen and yet we only need 12% to survive. By reducing the oxygen to below 15% the system, stops the fire but ensures it is safe for humans to enter the location afterwards.
The inert gas typically used in these systems is Inergen. This is naturally occurring and contained in the air we breathe.
Practical uses
Gas suppression systems have been popular for locations with extensive electrical equipment, such as Data Centres, Server Rooms, Healthcare equipment rooms and other IT-related sites. They are also being utilised by organisations with priceless/heritage objects such as museums, the antique and fine art sector and heritage properties.
More recently we’ve seen them gain popularity in the household market. For example, we were able to help a client who wanted a fire suppression system to protect his fleet of luxury cars. The 31 cars were housed in an underground car park in their home and they wanted a fire suppression system which would extinguish a fire, but not damage the vehicles in any way. Conventional systems using water or foam were clearly not suitable. We therefore designed and installed an inert gas suppression system which, when activated, would leave the vehicles unscathed.
The benefits these systems bring
Working in tandem with a fire detection system, gas-based fire suppression brings a number of significant benefits. As well as halting the fire in its tracks, it can minimise the damage involved in doing so, which means there is usually very little clean up or residue to deal with after the fire has been put out.
These systems are also harmless to the people on site and the property’s features and equipment. They react within seconds to extinguish a fire and this means reassuringly fast fire protection. It also means the property will experience minimum down-time and can quickly resume normal life/business soon after a fire. One final point to note is that both inert gas and clean agent systems are safe for the environment and have zero o-zone depletion potential.
Can we help?
If you would like to learn more about the benefits of any fire suppression systems for your organisation or home, please contact the Absolute Security sales team on e sales@absolutesecurity.co.uk or t 01483 791500.
Glow in the dark technology takes on a new dimension in fire safety
Emergency lighting is widely used as a secondary lighting source that switches on automatically when a building’s normal power supply disrupted to the primary lights. In the case of a fire within a premises, it can be really helpful in facilitating a safe evacuation.
Introducing Photoluminescent strips
One criticism of emergency lighting, however, is that the lights are usually located on the ceiling and, in the case of a fire, the smoke rises and collects smother all lights both primary and secondary. As a result of this concern, we’ve recently seen businesses show an interest in Photoluminescent strips.
Photoluminescent materials were originally designed to complement existing emergency lighting systems. Advances in technology and improvements in their light intensity now mean that, in many circumstances, they can replace secondary electrical/battery emergency lighting altogether.
Photoluminescent fire evacuation and guidance systems
We work with photoluminescent specialists Ecobrite Ultra who have devised evacuation/guidance systems which do not require electricity. The intensity of light and glow from the photoluminescent (glow in the dark) materials used, are making them a popular choice to signpost exit routes.
The strips and photoluminescent signage can be set at waist level or lower and so create a guidance system should ceiling lights get obscured by smoke or fail. As part of a system, lifesaving appliances and fire-fighting equipment can be signposted with the photoluminescent materials so, in the case of an emergency, they are easy to locate.
Lifespan and maintenance
The strips typically have a 10year life span and unlike electrical lighting do not require a regular maintenance programme. The intensity of the light in the materials has also been proven to be visible to those with impaired vision and Ecobrite Ultra is doing a lot of work with the RNIB.
Want to know more?
Photoluminescent materials can be used both inside and outside a building (for example to signpost external fire safety assembly points). If you would like to learn more about integrating them with your fire detection please contact our team on 01483 791500 or email sales@absolutesecurity.co.uk.