Siemens points towards potential offered by cloud connectivity

One of the issues associated with the conventional maintenance of fire safety systems is the potential impact on day-to-day operations. This is particularly true of public buildings where the sound of alarms and the disruption caused by the presence of maintenance technicians can be an issue.

This is one of the main reasons behind the development of systems which can perform certain checks automatically without the need for any human intervention. Siemens not only offers Advanced Signal Analysis detectors which detect fire sources early while distinguishing them from deceptive phenomena, but also models equipped with Disturbance Free Testing technology. This has been brought about through advances in smart technology, with Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled detectors conducting tests automatically.

Site visits can be confined to annual service inspections, with more frequent automatic checks undertaken remotely (and silently) to provide greater confidence that the system is performing correctly. Cloud connectivity has been fundamental to this development, offering the capability to effectively digitalise fire safety.

Secure connectivity

Portals are now available which connect with the cloud, while the Siemens Building X Fire Apps (consisting of the Fire Manager on PC and a cloud suite of mobile apps for iOS and Android mobile) are also available to ensure the smoother commissioning and configuration of systems, as well as providing the opportunity to access information on fire safety sites irrespective of a given individual’s location.

Importantly, these connections to sites are secure through cloud gateways, providing a range of details regarding the status of the system and replicating the information available from the on-site safety panel.

Data gathered from IoT-enabled detectors can include function tests, soiling and danger levels, all of which can be sent to the cloud to offer invaluable and real-time insights into performance.

Proactive maintenance

Such devices are a major contributor to a proactive rather than a reactive approach towards maintenance, continuously and automatically measuring and evaluating the performance of a system or device and thereby both anticipating failures and the need for maintenance checks. They‘re also useful in automatically testing devices located in areas which are difficult to access (such as ceiling voids, secure areas and occupied hotel rooms).

The advent of remote services made possible through digitalisation means that any issues can be detected remotely, including checking that any changes to a system have not adversely affected its performance. Should a problem be identified, if it cannot be resolved remotely, a maintenance engineer can visit the site armed with information, reducing the time required to investigate.

With flexible remote access 24/7 and devices that can guarantee no false alarms, spaces are undisturbed. Fewer site visits also offers significant environmental benefits, with less travelling reducing the use of fuels and lowering carbon dioxide emissions.

*For further information on Siemens Smart Infrastructure (Buildings) visit www.siemens.co.uk/cerberus

**Additional detail concerning Siemens Smart Infrastructure is available online at www.siemens.com/smart-infrastructure