Fire breakouts can be extremely hazardous and can be a threat to millions of lives. Can technology help in dealing with the issue in any way?

FREMONT, CA: Faster and intelligent technology means enhanced fire safety technology. The technological advancements have made fire fighting faster, simpler, and more effective.

Scientists are coming up with incredible technologies to fight fires and keep people safe when a fire strikes.

Water Mist Systems

Water mist systems send a fine mist, instead of huge water droplets, that smothers a fire. The mist system creates more water droplets because of its small size. The droplets’ larger surface area converts water to steam quickly. The steam absorbs more heat from the fire, reducing the temperature of the fire, suppressing the fire speedier than regular water.

Besides, these systems reduce water damage. Even the utilization of dry chemical systems can damage buildings. These systems can be installed locally or can cover a complete room. Mist can effectively fight electrical fires, which make most systems multifunctional than typical sprinkler-type suppression systems.

Integrated Messaging System and Voice Evacuation

Integrated voice evacuation and messaging program caution occupants with pre-recorded messages when a fire breaks out. The technology gives voice instructions to the building occupants to escape from fire. The speakers play fire evacuation plans and other safety information for the occupants to respond accordingly.

The system’s scalability makes it suitable for small offices as well as large campuses with numerous buildings.

Birdi-Fire and Carbon Monoxide Detector

Birdi-Fire system monitors air quality, from big pollen numbers to the presence of carbon monoxide. The in-house monitor responds to the person’s smartphone and informs the first responder through the landline. The system has the capability of catching fast, and slow-burning fires quickly.

Sound Wave Fire Extinguisher

Two engineering students at George Mason University used sound to smother fires. Their water-free, chemical-free extinguisher utilizes sound waves for separating burning fuel from oxygen. Fire gets extinguished without oxygen, so using the soundwave extinguisher on a small fire can suppress it completely.

This extinguisher offers non-destructive fire safety technology, which is suitable for home use. Researchers have suggested that combining this technology with drones can help to fight large fires.

Video Image Smoke Detection (VISD)

VISD technology detects flames and smoke visually. It can pinpoint the location where smoke arises from. A computer evaluates whether the camera’s images display evidence of flames or smoke. Once detected, an alert is sent to the alarm system. The technology is also capable of reading the brightness, motion, contrast, and color of the smoke to assess the fire.

Fires are unavoidable even when all the crucial safety precautions are taken. However, these advances in technology can help fight the fire effectively with early detection and innovative suppression techniques.