By Ana María Restrepo
Hundreds of users require the advantages of various security systems for their companies, which offer, in addition to protection, other functions such as the renowned control of time and attendance of employees or the administration of some spaces and automated systems.
The possibility of having the functions of several systems at the same time is achieved thanks to the union of various surveillance devices, which are monitored from a central point, allowing each of them to work independently, but also providing security elements to the other systems and as such to the company.
The integration allows existing installations to become subsystems of a single solution, with greater capacity and more intelligent, making all solutions report on the same application such as alarms, CCTV, access controls, asset control and fires. We might think that the functionality of a solution is limited to what it was conceived for, however when joined with other systems it is possible to transcend beyond its initial conception and achieve a greater objective.
Last year, in the September –October 2007 edition, we proposed that the integration of fire systems with others was not very feasible due to the lightness with which one must respond to events. A year later the scene changes and these systems are being integrated through TCP/IP networks, as long as this integration is monitored from the same site to be protected, because the existing fire safety regulations have restrictions regarding fire detectors being operated remotely.
All against fire
The integration allows a CCTV to join an access control system to photographically record who enters the place, or to allow the entry of that person through the visual identification of it, combined with the access system that can well be through cards or biometrics.
There are systems that in one way or another would not have a relationship as such, because how feasible it is that an access control helps me in the detection of a fire, but if it is real that an access control can allow me to detect the intrusion to a place and communicate with the alarm panel.
One of the biggest integrations being made in the field of fire detection is the link between video surveillance cameras and fire systems.
To talk about integration and how it fights fires, VENTAS DE SEGURIDAD spoke with Juan Carlos Rodríguez, GE's sales director in Mexico and Francisco Oliva, technical director of Industrias Especializada Oliva S. de R.L. de C.V, IESO.
As mentioned earlier, the integration of other security solutions with fire detection can be achieved through the TCP/IP network, which allows CCTV, access, fire and alarms to run and interact on the same platform. The monitoring of these systems is done via the web, preferably from a local headquarters, although it can be done remotely, as long as the relevant laws are complied with. According to Oliva, for the purposes of the "Inspection, Testing and Maintenance" procedures, it is recommended that monitoring be carried out from the site.
But fire systems are also integrated with each other, as is the case with automatic pre-action and deluge sprinklers that require a detection system for their correct operation; in the case of deluge systems it can be of the mechanical or electronic type.
Contributions to save lives
The link of all the security devices allows a better protection of the area to be monitored, in addition to supporting the interaction with other automated systems such as the air conditioning of the environments, energy saving, lighting and the management of elements such as elevators. All these systems help the detection and extinction of fire incidents that may occur in certain sectors, as they facilitate the evacuation or discreet announcement of the event, which Juan Carlos reinforces by affirming that the other systems allow a faster and more complete interaction in case of emergency, as well as global on-site security management.
For his part, Francisco explains that fire detection systems, in addition to notifying and giving the signal of the problem or evacuation, also interact with other systems, such as closing fire doors, closing air conditioning ducts, etc.
Currently one of the solutions that contributes most to the detection of fires is video surveillance, which helps to corroborate the existence or not of a fire outbreak reported by the panel, also allows real-time monitoring of the process of a declared fire and the correct evacuation of people in a place, as Rodríguez explains. When the detectors sense the presence of smoke through optical and previously molecular processes with radioactive substances, the high temperature or its rapid increase in an area is then recorded, at that moment the alert occurs, which is distributed to the control panel to take the necessary measures, at the same time, the integrated subsystems communicate bidirectionally with the integration platform, commonly via Ethernet network, to provide control and controls to it, without losing its independence of operation, thus offering a global control of these systems from a single command post, having a graphic and interactive environment in its daily operation.
Likewise, Oliva adds that the other systems help to save valuable information to correct risk procedures of building users, location and causes of fire outbreaks, etc.
According to juan carlos, and taking into account that fire protection systems are the least integrated with other solutions, this union began more than 10 years ago with platforms such as Edwards, where access and video were handled in an integrative system and little by little more integration solutions have been developed from five years to date, such as Facility Wnx and Lenel.
Detection in Latin territory
Although in Latin America the presence of electronic security systems is very strong and every day there is more evolving in terms of the implementation and installation of new technologies, Rodríguez affirms that "in the region there is still little integration that is achieved compared to the United States and Canada, where this is requested continuously, unfortunately by not having its own and mandatory legislation on fire detection systems, a culture of prevention and equipment of buildings with fire detection systems is not promoted in a mandatory way and therefore integration with other systems is not encouraged either. "
For his part, Oliva shares Rodríguez's reflection and affirms that "in Latin America there are basically two situations that have promoted fire protection: the increasing statistics of claims, with their regrettable human losses and the hardening of the requirements by insurers. In general, our national and municipal standards have not been updated at the pace demanded by our society."
Video detection
The latest technology used for automatic fire detection with the presence of smoke or fire is video, which, unlike traditional detection methods that require signs of fire, such as smoke or heat, reach the device itself, discover the fire from its beginnings.
Traditional detection systems do not provide adequate protection, so being integrated with video surveillance can ensure that the emission of smoke or fire is determined very early, preventing incidents from happening to major, especially in those spaces where there are points that are not covered by smoke detectors, fire or heat, such as processing plants, hangars, tunnels, historic buildings, among others. It should be noted that with a video detection system you can detect fire or smoke through glass doors and windows.
There are some security cameras that make it possible to identify the area of the fire, since they are located near the detectors to allow the visualization of the place and its constant monitoring. There are also some cameras with special features that support detection such as thermal imaging cameras, which discover changes in temperature by monitoring infrared emissions.
We also work with the processing of images of thermal changes, since heat-sensitive pads are located in areas prone to risk, these pillows change color when the temperature increases and are monitored by thermal imaging cameras.
Smoke detection video was first developed 18 years ago, based on the analysis of images from a standard camera by means of a computer. Video detection can easily identify various smoke and flame characteristics.
Looking to the future
Fire detection continues to improve its technologies like other systems, with the passing of the days more developments are conceived that allow risks to be minimized and greater protection is provided. For Juan Carlos, the trend in the fire detection segment is inclined towards systems with greater intelligence, less human dependence and a lower need for preventive maintenance, as well as the reduction in their costs to make them more accessible to the bulk of the market. Position supported by Francis, who says the trend is to improve at a faster rate than other sectors of the Latin American economy
For both professionals, the future of system integration in the world of fire must be presented as a greater interaction, not only with safety subsystems but with building automation systems, where preventive and corrective decisions are automatically made, also in case of emergency they must act in a coordinated manner without human intervention, minimizing the collateral damage of an incident.
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