Method for operating a remotely monitored hand fire extinguisher

Abstract

The present invention relates to a remotely monitored handheld fire extinguisher which transmits a status message via a GSM signal and / or allows the status of the handheld fire extinguisher to be retrieved. The present invention further relates to a method for remotely monitoring a handheld fire extinguisher, wherein the handheld fire extinguisher can be certified with a digital signature when ready for use.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for monitoring a hand-held fire extinguisher according to the features in claim 1.

[0002] Handheld fire extinguishers are a known technology, kept at various locations to allow those nearby to quickly and effectively fight a fire. These extinguishers are commonly used in public institutions and commercially operated businesses, as well as in private homes. In most cases, having handheld fire extinguishers is a legal requirement.

[0003] To ensure that hand-held fire extinguishers, once installed, can be used directly for years to come, there are various laws, standards and regulations in occupational safety that require these hand-held fire extinguishers to be checked for functionality at regular intervals.

[0004] For this purpose, it is absolutely necessary that a suitably trained and qualified person visits each individual hand-held fire extinguisher on site at the specified time intervals, subjects it to at least a visual and technical inspection, and leaves a test seal and corresponding test report.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to demonstrate, starting from the prior art, a way to monitor hand-held fire extinguishers while simultaneously complying with specified testing standards and minimizing the workload for testing.

[0006] The aforementioned problem is solved by a method for a remotely monitored hand-held fire extinguisher according to the features in claim 1.

[0007] The hand-held fire extinguisher has a container with a fire extinguishing medium, a handle for transport and operation of the hand-held fire extinguisher, a discharge nozzle and optionally a hose.

[0008] The method according to the invention is characterized by the fact that a remote monitoring module is provided for monitoring the condition of the portable fire extinguisher. With the aid of the remote monitoring module, condition data of the portable fire extinguisher can be recorded, evaluated, and transmitted or retrieved, as described below in this application. According to the invention, the method is characterized by the fact that a test report is then created or processed using the condition data, and this test report or the result is then sent to the operator of the portable fire extinguisher and / or to third parties by means of a digital signature. These third parties could be, for example, an insurance company, a public authority, a fire safety officer, or a partner company. The test report or result can also be sent in the form of a digital test label or a digital seal. Based on this test label or seal,The seal then indicates that the inspected hand-held fire extinguisher has met all criteria and is ready for use.

[0009] The inspection report is subject to the respective national legislation, the responsible technical inspection service, and other fire safety measures and conditions. The final result should be a status report or the outcome of the inspection. The fire extinguisher is ready for use. It meets the requirements of the inspection report and is operational. The inspection report is therefore a record of a visual and / or mechanical on-site inspection, which is, however, made possible remotely via remote monitoring.

[0010] The test report and its results can then be stored, for example, in internal company documentation. The test report can also be printed, particularly on an adhesive label, and then attached to the fire extinguisher. In this case, a seal or label, such as a barcode or QR code, would be printed, signifying that all test criteria have been met. The test report can also include a QR code, allowing a safety officer to immediately verify its authenticity by scanning the code. This verification can then be performed, for example, by checking the report's storage in a database.

[0011] This offers a significant advantage compared to previously known methods. Previously, an employee had to physically inspect and certify the condition and operational readiness of each fire extinguisher at predetermined intervals. The combination of remote monitoring and digitally certified test reports and results allows these tasks to be performed entirely remotely. This results in immense savings, as employees no longer need to make on-site visits to test the functionality and operational readiness of each fire extinguisher. This saves personnel time and resources, as no vehicles, travel time, etc., are required.If the test certificates, i.e., the test report and / or the test result, are stored digitally, so that, for example, the fire extinguisher can be scanned via a barcode or QR code and a check can then be carried out to determine that a digital test certificate is stored for this fire extinguisher, this also saves printing costs and paper costs as well as costs for any stickers and thus plastic costs, which is both economical and environmentally friendly.

[0012] Unlike previously known NFC tags, it is therefore not necessary to store the test report on the NFC tag itself. Instead, the test report, test result, and thus the test seal can be stored remotely. This allows, in particular, fire extinguishers to be tested remotely. The test result is stored on a server or in the cloud. The test result is then linked to the fire extinguisher's identifier, such as a barcode or QR code. If the fire extinguisher is then checked on-site as part of a random inspection, the test result and test seal can be retrieved from the server and confirmed by scanning the barcode or QR code. This completely eliminates the need for on-site inspection and the application of a test seal or label.

[0013] The digital signature in question is a qualified digital signature or qualified electronic signature (QES), or a comparable qualified signature. This ensures that a handwritten signature of an inspector, reflected in their inspection report or inspection sticker, is securely stored and tamper-proof. The inspector or the inspection body, which, for example, monitors the remote monitoring software, thus adheres to the required inspection standards, i.e., the minimum requirements of the respective country-specific or other regulations, such as internal operating regulations, fire safety regulations, or similar, as well as the minimum standards necessary for the inspection itself and for certifying the inspection.

[0014] The remotely monitored handheld fire extinguisher can be designed as described below. It expands a container with a fire extinguishing agent. This can be a stored-pressure extinguisher. However, it can also be a handheld fire extinguisher with a rechargeable system.

[0015] Furthermore, a handle is provided for transporting and / or operating the hand-held fire extinguisher. This handle is located, in particular, near one of the upper ends of the container.

[0016] Furthermore, an outlet nozzle is provided. Optionally, this outlet nozzle is located at one end of a hose.

[0017] According to the invention, the hand-held fire extinguisher is now characterized by the inclusion of a remote monitoring module. This remote monitoring module is specifically located in the handle area. The remote monitoring module measures and thus includes sensors for the pressure and temperature within the container and / or the surrounding environment, particularly the ambient temperature. Furthermore, the remote monitoring module includes a motion sensor. The remote monitoring module can then transmit the status of the hand-held fire extinguisher via a GSM signal; alternatively or additionally, the status of the hand-held fire extinguisher can be retrieved via the GSM signal.

[0018] In particular, an M2M GSM connection is used for this purpose. This enables virtually continuous communication with a corresponding receiver while consuming very little energy. Thus, status reports can be sent several times a week, several times a day, and even several times an hour, and status reports can be queried as needed or at predefined intervals.

[0019] According to the invention, it is further provided that the end of the hose, or the nozzle located therein, is detachably attached to the hand-held fire extinguisher, particularly to the extinguisher's container. A plug contact is also provided that records any change in the position of the hose end and transmits this information to the remote monitoring module. This allows, for example, the detection of tampering or similar activity. If, for instance, such a hand-held fire extinguisher is located in a school and young people attempt to insert chewing gum into the nozzle, this unauthorized use or removal can be recorded. This offers a further safety advantage over manual inspection at predetermined intervals, as the end of the nozzle or the end of the hose is thus continuously monitored. Furthermore, a protective device can be provided to monitor one end of the nozzle.For example, a type of seal or sensor can be provided here that monitors any kind of access to or modification of the outlet nozzle and issues a corresponding message.

[0020] Furthermore, it is provided that a cover is placed over the upper part of the container, preferably over the handle, with the remote monitoring module integrated into the cover. The cover can cover the entire handle. However, the cover can also be integrated into the handle itself, so that, depending on requirements, the hand-held fire extinguisher can be gripped together with the cover.

[0021] Furthermore, a power supply unit is provided, which is assigned to the remote monitoring module. The remote monitoring module may also have tamper protection. This is, for example, a sensor that monitors the immediate surroundings of the remote monitoring module. In particular, the sensor is linked to the cover. Removing the cover would therefore indicate possible tampering and would also trigger an error signal.

[0022] Furthermore, data is transmitted via the GSM connection, which functions independently of other infrastructure, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or similar systems. This allows the fire extinguisher to be positioned completely autonomously, even in industrial buildings without any other network coverage. The data retrievable or transmitted via the remote monitoring module includes at least the following parameters: the device / location ID, which contains information such as the fire extinguisher's year of manufacture, its location, and its model; a date / time stamp indicating when the data was retrieved; pressure, temperature, and movement parameters; information about the plug connection, protective device, and tamper protection; and information about the battery status. A GPS module for location tracking may also be included.

[0023] Another feature of the remotely monitored fire extinguisher according to the invention is a malfunction indicator. If any of the previously described sensors fail to deliver a signal or deliver a faulty signal, an error query is transmitted from the receiving station or a cloud service. The remote monitoring module acknowledges this error query. However, if at least one parameter, signal, or sensor continues to provide feedback with a faulty signal or no parameter value at all, the fire extinguisher enters an error mode. This error mode can then send a visual and / or audible signal, such as a warning tone and / or flashing warning lights, thus signaling locally that the fire extinguisher has received an error message. This informs people in the vicinity that the fire extinguisher is not ready for use. Because the receiving station or cloud service...If a faulty fire extinguisher is recorded in the cloud, a service technician can be dispatched to repair and / or replace the extinguisher in question. This increases the operational safety and, above all, the operational readiness of remotely monitored fire extinguishers compared to those monitored using conventional on-site inspection methods, as operational readiness is constantly and continuously verified.

[0024] Further advantages, features, properties, and aspects of the present invention are the subject of the following description. Preferred features are illustrated in the schematic figures. These serve to facilitate understanding of the invention. Figure 1 a remotely monitored hand-held fire extinguisher, Figure 2 an adapter disc, Figure 3 a remote monitoring module.

[0025] Figure 1Figure 1 shows a remotely monitored hand-held fire extinguisher according to the invention. This hand-held fire extinguisher has a container 2 in which a fire extinguishing agent (not shown in detail) is located. A handle 3 is arranged on the top side to allow the fire extinguisher to be carried and also to be activated by the handle 3. A hose 4 extends from the handle 3. A nozzle 5 is arranged at the end of the hose 4, so that, if necessary, the fire extinguishing agent can be directed precisely onto a fire via the nozzle 5. According to the invention, a remote monitoring module 6 is arranged in the area of ​​the handle 3. This module measures the temperature and pressure of the fire extinguishing agent within the container 2. It also detects movements, i.e., when the fire extinguisher is lifted or moved to a different location. A lower base tray is also shown. A plug connector 8 is arranged on the lower base tray.The discharge nozzle 5 is inserted into this plug connector 8 in the assembled state. This allows for the detection of any activation or removal of the discharge nozzle 5, indicating use or at least tampering with the fire extinguisher. A cover 9, which is positioned over the upper part of the fire extinguisher, is also shown. Furthermore, a remote communication module, in particular a GSM module, is arranged in the remote monitoring module 6. This module wirelessly transmits a signal 10, in particular via a mobile communication standard, to a receiving station 11 (not shown in detail). The receiving station 11 could, for example, be a company that maintains and inspects fire extinguishers.

[0026] Figure 2Figure 1 shows an adapter disc. An opening 12 of the container 2 can thus be reduced from a larger diameter 13 to a smaller diameter 13. Therefore, existing containers 2 can also be retrofitted with the solution according to the invention, since the remote monitoring module 6 is preferably located in the area of ​​the handle 3 and thus has a screw thread. Therefore, various existing fire extinguishers can also be retrofitted.

[0027] Another essential part is now shown in the schematic image from Figure 3The remotely monitored fire extinguisher features a remote monitoring module 6. This module transmits data about the extinguisher's condition and operational readiness to a receiving station 11. A certified body can then read this data and verify it according to the relevant standards and / or laws or requirements. If the remotely monitored fire extinguisher meets all requirements and is ready for use, the certified body 14 can transmit a certificate 15 with a digital signature. This certificate can then optionally or additionally be stored, for example, in a cloud 16. It can also be printed out and affixed directly to the fire extinguisher, for example, as an adhesive label or similar. Alternatively, it can be stored, for example, in an office building or with a designated safety officer or fire protection officer.The fire extinguisher can, for example, also have a barcode. The certificate is then updated and stored in a database or cloud for this barcode. A fire safety officer or a legally mandated occupational safety inspector can then scan the barcode to check the current inspection status of the fire extinguisher. This eliminates the need for a technician to visit a locally stationed fire extinguisher at predetermined intervals to perform a visual and / or technical inspection and then certify its operational readiness with a physical seal. This saves both travel time and on-site inspection through the combination of remote monitoring and a digitally signed certificate. This conserves resources and labor while also protecting the environment. Reference symbol:

[0028] 1 - Handheld fire extinguisher 2 - Container 3 - Handle 4 - Hose 5 - Discharge nozzle 6 - Remote monitoring module 7 - Base plate 8 - Plug contact 9 - Hood 10 - Wireless signal 11 - Receiver station 12 - Opening 13 - Diameter 14 - Certified body 15 - Certificate 16 - Cloud 17 - Code

Claims

1. Method for testing a hand-held fire extinguisher (1), comprising a container with a fire extinguishing medium, a handle (3) for transporting and / or operating the hand-held fire extinguisher (1), an outlet nozzle (5) optionally with a hose (4), characterized in that a wireless remote monitoring module (6) for monitoring the condition of the hand-held fire extinguisher is assigned to the hand-held fire extinguisher (1), and the remote monitoring module (6) sends condition data of the hand-held fire extinguisher (1), wherein this condition data is read out and a test report / test result with a digital signature is sent to the operator of the hand-held fire extinguisher (1) and / or to third parties and / or stored in a database.

2. Method for testing a hand-held fire extinguisher (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the digital signature is a qualified electronic signature.

3. Method for testing a hand-held fire extinguisher (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in thata test seal with a code, in particular a barcode or bar code, in particular a QR code or bar code, is printed out or sent and applied to the hand-held fire extinguisher (1), wherein when the code is read in, the most recently available test data, at least the test result of the hand-held fire extinguisher, can be retrieved.

4. Method for testing a hand-held fire extinguisher (1), comprising a container with a fire extinguishing medium, a handle (3) for transporting and / or operating the hand-held fire extinguisher (1), an outlet nozzle (5) optionally with a hose (4), characterized in that the hand-held fire extinguisher (1) is assigned a wireless remote monitoring module (6) which monitors the pressure and temperature in the container and has a motion sensor, wherein the remote monitoring module (6) transmits the status of the hand-held fire extinguisher (1) by means of a GSM signal and / or the status of the hand-held fire extinguisher (1) can be retrieved.

5. Method for testing a hand-held fire extinguisher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the end of the hose (4) is attached to the hand-held fire extinguisher (1) and a plug contact (8) records a change in the position of the end of the hose (4) and transmits it to the remote monitoring module (6).

6. Method for testing a hand-held fire extinguisher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a protective device monitors one end of the outlet nozzle (5).

7. Method for testing a hand-held fire extinguisher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the remote monitoring module (6) is retrofitted.

8. Method for testing a hand-held fire extinguisher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a hood (9) is placed over the upper part of the container, in particular over the handle (3), wherein the remote monitoring module (6) is integrated into the hood (9).

9. Method for testing a hand-held fire extinguisher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that an M2M-GSM connection is used as the GSM transmission unit.

10. Method for testing a hand-held fire extinguisher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a power supply unit is present which is assigned to the remote monitoring module (6).

11. Method for testing a hand-held fire extinguisher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the remote monitoring module (6) has a manipulation protection, in particular a sensor, such that unauthorized third-party access can be detected.

12. Method for testing a hand-held fire extinguisher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in thata message which can be retrieved via the remote monitoring module (6) has at least one of the following parameters: device ID, date / time stamp, pressure, temperature, movement, plug contact (8), protective device, battery status.

13. Method for testing a hand-held fire extinguisher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that an adapter plate is inserted into an upper opening (12) of the container, which reduces an opening size of the opening (12).

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