Emergency Call Device Occupancy Signaling Fire Search
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Solution Overview
Problem
Firefighters face challenges in conducting secondary searches for victims in burning buildings, as they often need to prioritize zones and may miss individuals trapped in areas without alarms or with locked doors, especially during the chaos of a fire.
Innovation Solution
The emergency call device (ECD) system, which includes a visual indicator, occupant-activated button, and communication connection to a fire alarm control panel, allows occupants to signal their presence in specific zones, enabling responders to prioritize searches and communicate with trapped individuals through a fire alarm system that includes visual, auditory, and potentially video communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If firefighters conduct a complete secondary search of the entire premises, then all possible victims can be found, but the search time and exposure to danger increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by having occupants automatically register their presence in zones before the fire incident occurs. The FACP continuously monitors zone occupancy status and stores this information, so that when a fire alarm triggers, firefighters receive pre-prepared occupancy data immediately, eliminating the need to manually search every zone for victims.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously collecting occupancy information from occupants (through manual buttons or automatic detection) and providing this data back to the FACP. When a fire alarm occurs, the FACP immediately provides feedback to firefighters about which zones are occupied, enabling targeted search efforts rather than exhaustive searching of all zones.
2Productivity
If firefighters prioritize zones based on fire location, then search efficiency improves, but victims in non-prioritized zones may be missed
Solution Approach 1:
The system resolves this contradiction by providing continuous feedback on actual occupancy status in all zones. The FACP receives and stores occupancy information from all zones, not just the fire location. When firefighters prioritize zones, the system supplements this prioritization with accurate occupancy data from all areas, ensuring that even non-prioritized zones are accounted for if they contain occupants.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies dynamics by making the search prioritization adaptive rather than static. The FACP dynamically updates occupancy status information based on real-time inputs from occupants and detection devices. Firefighters can adjust their search priorities dynamically based on this live feedback, combining efficiency-driven prioritization with reliability-driven completeness.
3Loss of information
If occupants are required to manually activate ECD buttons to signal presence, then the system can identify occupied zones, but the complexity of operation increases during emergency
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies self-service by enabling automatic occupancy detection that requires no action from occupants. Detection devices (motion sensors, door contacts, smoke detectors) automatically register and communicate occupancy status to the FACP. This eliminates the need for occupants to manually activate buttons or perform any actions, reducing operational complexity while maintaining accurate occupancy information.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements partial action by providing multiple detection methods with varying levels of occupant involvement. While automatic detection devices handle most occupancy registration without occupant action, the system also provides manual buttons as a supplementary option. This partial manual intervention ensures occupancy information is captured even when automatic detection fails, without requiring full manual activation in all cases.
4Loss of information
If the FACP continuously monitors all zones for occupancy, then complete victim accounting is achieved, but the device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies segmentation by dividing the monitoring function into distributed components. Instead of one complex centralized monitoring system, occupancy detection is segmented into multiple independent detection devices (motion sensors, door contacts, smoke detectors) placed in various zones, each independently reporting to the FACP. This reduces the complexity burden on the central FACP while maintaining complete monitoring coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts the continuous monitoring function from the FACP and places it in distributed detection devices throughout the building. These extractioned monitoring functions operate autonomously in each zone, sending data to the FACP only when needed or at scheduled intervals. This extraction reduces the processing burden and complexity of the central FACP system while maintaining complete occupancy data collection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The ECD system enhances the efficiency and safety of searches by allowing responders to prioritize occupied zones and communicate with individuals in distress, ensuring that all areas are checked and cleared, and providing an additional means for occupants to alert responders even if they are not in the immediate vicinity of the fire.
Implementation Method 1
The visual indicator(s) may comprise at least one LED each
Implementation Method 2
The sound generator that may itself comprise at least one of a buzzer or a speaker
Data Source
AI summary
An emergency call device (“ECD”) is described that can be fitted into pre-programmed fire detection zones of a building. During an emergency, occupants are prompted to press a button on a nearby ECD, indicating to a controller the occupants' presence at that location.