Digital technology touches every aspect of modern life and business  and fire safety is no exception.

There is an international trend towards state-of-the-art digital monitoring to protect high-value, hazardous facilities such as petrochemical, oil and gas, mining and other heavy-industry sites. As well as data centres and emergency services. At the heart of such systems- which supersede visual inspections of sites and a reliance on old hard-wired technology that connects alarms and controls - is a desire to safeguard people and property from the ravages of harmful events such as fires or critical system failures.

Yet there is still a lack of awareness in some quarters about such monitoring systems and the advantages they can deliver. This is a potentially risky - and costly - oversight for site managers given that the latest digital monitoring systems are cheaper to implement than traditional solutions, while they also aid compliance, free up personnel and require minimal training to get up and running.

How it works

Simply put, digital monitoring can eliminate the physical wiring needed to connect monitors to a central hub. It allows reliable observation of elements such as flame detectors, smoke alarms, sprinkler pressure valves, security alarms, motion sensors and gas detectors, while also assessing temperature and humidity on sites.

Wireless sensors are mounted in selected locations and transmit data and alerts over WiFi networks via email or smartphone apps. It is all hosted in the cloud.

Significantly, the monitors are not restricted to proximity to power sources or a control hub and can detect any on-site changes or incidents, negating the requirement for people to constantly travel to sites for visual inspections. Staff can check the systems remotely from an office or while they are in the field. This makes such systems ideal for far-flung or unattended sites.

Sophisticated digital monitoring systems use the innovative SNAP® operating system, a wireless, self-healing mesh network that collects and transmits information that is critical to any installation or site. The network is capable of monitoring about 5000 nodes or remote devices.

The advantages

Eliminates physical wiring

As mentioned, the replacement of direct-wire circuits with digital technology can significantly cut monitoring costs, while using the latest technology also provides access to an expanded range of services.

Immediate communications

For example, digital monitoring enables the immediate distribution of data and communications to work teams in the event of a fire or other critical incident. The data is automatically recorded in digital logs that create a secure audit trail.

Scalable and customisable

Such systems also offer complete reporting and management of all equipment - for example, fire-protection elements - which increases efficiency, saves on people power and eliminates human error. In addition to equipment status monitoring, the sensors can also capture accurate data for - and during - predictive, scheduled and emergency maintenance.

The portable hardware design makes the system easy to install and implement on any industrial site.

Total peace of mind

Most importantly, digital monitoring offers peace of mind for workplace leaders who are ultimately responsible for all aspects of their operations. They get fail-safe, real-time technology that protects their facilities and their people.

Delta Integrated Systems is a division of Delta Fire Australasia, which specialises in the installation and servicing of fire-suppression solutions to commercial and industrial sites. Visit Delta Integrated Systems for more details.

 

Wired connections are a much more significant investment than wireless due to the cost of the materials needed in setting up, the labour costs for installation and the maintenance costs required to keep all assets working in optimal condition. It's also highly impractical, especially on sites where monitoring is required for the issue of "Permits to Work". This is because of time-consuming jobs such as having engineers check valve positions in remote locations while keeping track of the valve state using a corkboard and pins.

Another issue with a wired connection is scalability. Building and extending wired networks requires careful planning and a significant budget to construct it. Wired systems need hardware to be purchased, installed and configured before they can be fully operational. Scalability is an issue for networks to be up and running quickly and for planning and cost purposes.

Why opt for a wireless option

Wireless technology in monitoring is definitely ideal when you think of the cost and scalability. 

Here's what you will get from a Delta Integrated Systems Wireless Solution: 

1. Used to monitor a wide range of products, including valves, sensors, gas detectors, Fire Alarm Panels, and more
2. Accepts any 4-20mA or simple switch input (dry contact)
3. Offers a 1km Line of Sight Communications
4. All communication devices are FCC-Approved
5. 2.4Ghz transmission negates concerns regarding transmission compliance
6. Offers instantaneous alert notifications locally and remotely, as required
7. All data is stored in the cloud or terrestrial based servers.
8. Management and service personnel apps

Another benefit of a Delta Integrated Systems Wireless Solution is that it can be connected to one of our two front end software solutions specifically tailored to the scope of your installation. The software can be cloud-based or locally installed.

Wireless technology expands condition monitoring capabilities where hardwired systems cannot and widens the scope of proactive machine monitoring throughout your site.

If you want to know more about this smart technology, contact us.

Learn more about our expert systems and how we can help your business.

Connecting devices across a site can be a costly prospect. It can also significantly impact how the equipment on a site can be monitored. Although this has been the method of choice for most organisations for many years, it's costly. It also has many disadvantages that are hard to overlook, like its lack of mobility, risk of damage and scalability.

It's always important to consider the benefits and possible drawbacks when considering new technology for your business. Given the issues with wired connections, a point to point system is becoming the go-to choice for organisations looking to eliminate the need for hardwiring to save time and money.

Delta Integrated System's range of wireless monitoring can be connected to almost any system or device and can send information wirelessly between devices, using a range of inputs and outputs. This allows far fewer limitations when it comes to distance, giving your IT team huge flexibility in collecting information and allowing various machines to communicate with one another. In addition, it is an easy to install and a low cost alternative for basic machine to machine (M2M) communications.

Delta Integrated System's integrated wireless monitoring devices key features:

• 1000m Line of Sight Communications
• All communication devices are FCC Approved
• 4Ghz transmission negates concerns regarding transmission compliance
• 3 digital (dry contact) inputs
• 1 4-20mA input 1 local (relay driver) output

How this has worked

The client required a set alarm point on a temperature transducer sent via their wireless monitoring system to the site Distributed Control System (DCS) where it would be enunciated and the plant operators would have the choice of either taking manual or setting the DCS to take automatic action. An output was to be transmitted back to the field to shut down a steam valve. The plant is a working process area owned by a mining corporation that was reluctant to shut the plant down to carry out any modifications due to the possibility of a loss of income.

The solution was to monitor output from a 4- 20 mA temperature transducer using an MI node with a set point alarm based on a chosen value from the transducer. The MI node would transmit this alarm to a receiver node connected to the plant Distributed Control System (DCS) where the plant operators would choose to take manual or set the DCS to take automatic action. The output from the DCS was connected to the input of the receiver node and transmitted the valve shut down signal to the node in the field.

If you want to know more about this smart technology,  schedule a call with one of our expert consultants.

You can also LEARN MORE about our expert systems and how we can help your business.

 

The future has arrived when it comes to protecting high-value, hazardous facilities. As smart managers seek to protect their sites from potentially catastrophic events such as fires or critical system failures, they are switching to state-of-the-art digital monitoring systems.

Such technology means businesses can move on from visual inspections of sites and a reliance on old hard-wired technology that connects alarms and controls. Instead, they can monitor a site from any location with an internet connection and a smartphone, laptop, or tablet. Digital monitoring is applicable to almost any site, from mining, petrochemical and oil and gas facilities, to data centres, stadiums, food-processing and emergency services operations and warehouse storage and logistics centres.

For all the benefits, though, there is still a lack of awareness in some quarters about such monitoring systems and the advantages they deliver. Here are some benefits to weigh up.

1. Cost savings - eliminating the physical wiring needed to connect monitors to a central hub is a game-changer. This can significantly reduce the cost of labour and materials when setting up monitoring systems. With digital monitoring, the ability of sensors to capture accurate data for predictive, scheduled and emergency maintenance also builds in cost efficiencies.

2. Stronger compliance - with digital monitoring, all incidents are automatically logged as part of a secure auditing trail for reporting purposes. It is safe from tampering, which limits any potential liability.

3. Freeing up personnel - you can eliminate or reduce the need for people to physically attend a site to check for faults or hazards. In addition, staff who are responsible for overseeing sites do not have to stuck in a control room because monitoring can be done via a laptop or a smartphone from any office or home, or in the field.

4. Flexibility for remote or unattended sites - with old, hardwired systems, the placement of monitors was dictated by the need to be close to power sources or a control hub. Digital systems, on the other hand, can go anywhere and be checked around the clock. Data is transmitted over WiFi networks via email or apps, and the system is hosted in the cloud.

5. Superior to manual inspection - the operating system with the best digital monitoring systems is an innovative wireless, self-healing mesh network that collects and transmits critical information. As the software is so sophisticated, it can deliver complete reporting and incident management while eliminating human error. Removing the need for physical inspections also speeds up response times in the event of a potentially harmful incident.

6. Fast to implement - digital monitors can be installed on sites during a single visit, while the back-end software is quick to install and ready to go.

7. Minimal training - although the digital monitoring systems are hi-tech, the user interface is intuitive and doesn't require any specialised industry knowledge to learn. The software can be opened in any modern browser and also comes with a phone app for on-the-go notifications and updates.

8. Tailored - the specific safety needs of sites can differ as managers seek to protect their properties and people, so the fact that digital monitoring software is easily customisable means that it can suit any site or situation.

As with any advanced technology, it is important to seek guidance and installation support from experienced suppliers to implement digital monitoring solutions. Don't delay, though, because your business assets and employees' lives could be at stake if you rely on outdated technology.

Delta Integrated Systems is a division of Delta Fire Australasia.