ADT detects the need for change

There is a solution for every puzzle. But try this one. Why would a company or landlord that has installed an alarm system fail to maintain it? Thousands of UK fires each year cost hundreds of lives and billions of pounds. Prevention ranks high on the Government’s agenda of problem solving after the country spent over £2bn on the red rescue service in England in 2007/08. The total cost of fire to the economy is estimated at more than £7bn in 2004, while in 2007, 355 people died.

For Martin Harvey, regional director at ADT Fire and Security, prevention and detection is more than a job. It is a mission. His company is at the forefront of technological advances that have helped reduce the number of deaths in recent years. But he knows there is more to saving lives than creating state-of-the-art systems that can fail when service schedules are ignored or batteries not renewed.  “A lot of it comes down to corporate responsibility,” he explains. “Where fires are concerned, most lives are lost because someone didn’t do their job properly.”

Remote systems
ADT is working on remote systems that aim to take the human element out of the equation. Renowned for research and innovation in the alarm industry, the company has a history of bringing new products to market. In 1999, ADT launched the first carbon monoxide detector in the UK. Most people do not die from fire, but from toxic fumes. Today the MU601 and 801CH carbon monoxide alarms are part of a unique product range.

The company’s detection solutions for homes, businesses and public sector organisations have included the introduction of dual intruder and fire alarm detectors.

The most important development involves multi sensory devices. Not only can the new alarms detect smouldering fires at high speed thanks to optical, heat and carbon monoxide features, but they reduce the amount of false alarms, one of the biggest hidden costs to business. 

False alarms
In 2002 the Home Office reported that there were 409,000 false alarms, and nearly half of these were due to faulty apparatus. Hospitals are among the worst public sector organisations affected, but for the private sector the costs of lost working time can be significant. “There’s no doubt one of the biggest problems our own industry is trying to tackle false alarms,” says Mr. Harvey. “Using technology to our best advantage we are beginning to identify much more quickly whether a real fire has been detected or not.”

Multi sensor alarms are important to reducing false call outs because they are based on that greatest detector of all: a conscious human being. People use their senses of taste, sight and audio to detect trouble. 

ADT’s 3oTec does the same thanks to its optical, heat and carbon monoxide multi sensors. “It one of the most efficient and effective detector in the world,” says Mr. Harvey.

“Each fire has a distinct signature. We carried out 10,000 different tests and were able to compare how the characteristics of these elements were being identified. This gives us a good indication of the type of flame it is. Whether it is a plumber that has set up a Bunsen burner, toast burning or something more serious.”

Flashing beacons
Hotels are among the first industries to have understood the need to make use of new technology to protect guests, particularly those with audio or sight problems. Flashing beacons or vibrating alarms are increasingly available on request for disabled clients.

New guidelines in Britain make reference to tactile devices such as radio alarm systems that are ideal for people working in isolation or for deaf people. ADT systems have been specially adapted to meet the requirements of The Disability Discrimination Act, which aims to ensure equal safeguards are available to everyone.

The ADT models go beyond the legal and industry standards. “If you are a deaf person you have no chance unless a vibrator or flashing alert is available,” explains Mr. Harvey

“New British Standards included written requirement for disabled people. Most manufacturers came up with flashing beacons next to alarms, but there was possibly too little research into how beneficial these systems were. In America the systems are much brighter. We think ours are stronger than the British Standard levels.” Despite the ongoing work around detection, the two greatest challenges facing the safety industry today are the same as they were 20 years ago.  

Installation and service
Mr. Harvey – who is chair of the Fire Industry Association – says preventing false alarms and encouraging end users to install and service alarm systems correctly are the keys to success. He worked alongside The Chief Fire Officers’ Association (CFOA) on a recent policy document, which was drafted to help reduce the 100,000 false alarms, which go out each year. CFOA’s recommendations included ensuring the system is designed to do the job, is installed correctly and is serviced regularly. But who is responsible?

Accountability
The Fire Safety Order (FSO) 2005 – which became law on October 1, 2006 – revoked all previous legislation. At a stroke, all certificates and plans have ceased to be valid and have been replaced by a system of risk-based assessment, whereby accountability lies squarely and firmly with ‘the responsible person’ in any business. It is no longer the Fire Service’s duty to make sure the workplace is safe. That duty lies with ‘the responsible person’ and they will be held accountable under the new legislation.

“Under the old regime the brigade came round and offered expert help to a business,” says Mr. Harvey. “That’s all changed under the new regulations and the fire services are no longer the helpful advisors. They are now the ones that prosecute if you are getting it wrong. The service is now a policing agency.” The British Standard 5839 part one – covering all aspects of the design, installation and maintenance of alarm systems – has recently been revised and includes changes that may affect how companies approach their maintenance planning.

Those unsure about the adequacy of their system can employ companies like ADT who are qualified to both understand the legal requirements as well as the unique solutions organisations of all sizes and types must meet. The firm recently provided Aberdeen City Council with state-of-the-art Fire Fighting Systems using Novec 1230 Fire Protection Fluid to protect valuable archives. Mr. Harvey predicts that remote servicing and diagnostics are the future.

Better controls will reduce false alarms and identify emergencies quicker, he says, simply because the human element of decision making is slowly being withdrawn. 

One in three smoke alarms fail to work and warn residents of an ignition because of missing or non working batteries. “The technology will help to a certain extent, but a lot of the work we are still involved in is end user advice,” he says.  “If a company has 200 stores around the country, a fire safety manager needs to know that his regional managers have carried out basic checks each week.” Keeping checks on people at the end of the day will save lives.”

For more information, please call 080 08 22 33 911 or visit adt.co.uk