Protect your construction site from the perils of winter
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Protecting Your Construction Site
The perils of winter
A leading North American wireless fire safety solutions specialist has warned construction bosses to keep fire safety front of mind — after several people were injured in a spate of fire outbreaks in Brooklyn, New York.
A fire outbreak can happen at any time, but it is well known that the perils of winter weather can increase the risk of fire on construction sites, according to James Pecz, sales director at Ramtech North America. James, said: “News of fire outbreaks on construction sites in Brooklyn, including a recent incident on Fourth Avenue, which was the second major blaze in the neighbourhood in less than a week, is a stark reminder to construction bosses right across North America, to check fire safety procedures and review the evacuation technology onsite. This is especially important as the weather gets colder.
“Icy temperatures expose a lot of issues, from cracked pipes to increased flammability of hazardous materials. What’s more, even basic comms devices, such as airhorns, which you’d expect to work under any set of conditions, are rendered useless in the cold. Therefore, it’s back to basics – crosscheck itineraries, walk the floor and always keep account of all materials and personnel onsite.” To protect construction sites, Ramtech is encouraging site managers to adopt a technology-first approach pointing to innovative wireless and connected technology. This includes systems that can add value by automatically detecting and confirming the exact location of excess heat and smoke on construction projects, both minimising risk and forming an early warning detection system.
James added: “The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) continue to issue guidance to the construction industry in a bid to decrease fire incidents. The new NFPA 241 2022 standard – an updated set of rules that cover stricter measures around site communication, housekeeping and fire protocols – will be key to this. To help meet these standards, wireless fire and evacuation systems are placing the power at site manager’s fingertips, including WES3, – an EN54-25 compliant connected device that can seamlessly integrate into cloud-based platforms, such as REACT, for real-time monitoring.”
Talking about the benefits, James continued: “WES3 units placed at strategic points across the site are the best way to ensure that everyone onsite is aware of an emergency alert. Being wireless allows the system to function independently of cables or hardwiring, another concern for sites that may not have power yet. Using wireless fire safety evacuation systems, that can then also connect to REACT and alert offsite monitoring centres such as fire departments as well as access control and CCTV systems, gives an up-to-the-minute emergency response system.”
James concluded: “Once a fire begins, time is your worst enemy. Early detection is the key to getting the fire department onsite in time to eliminate the fire. A few air horns and fire extinguishers may not be enough to mitigate a fire before it gets out of control. Having an emergency alert and evacuation system in place can therefore save lives.”
Money Down the Drain: Prevent Water Damage During Construction Projects
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Money Down the Drain
Preventing water damage during construction projects
The damage caused through the Escape of Water (EoW) is something no construction site manager wants to contend with, but all too often must.
In fact, when it comes to insurance claims, water is still one of the most common – and most costly – issues for construction sites and facilities. James Pecz, global marketing and business development manager at Ramtech, discusses how technology is helping to improve water detection, and how site and facilities managers can embrace these systems to reduce the threat water damage can pose. Insurance loss data over the past 10 years shows that water damage has become a leading cause of Builder’s Risk claims. Whether from external sources or internal sources, water damage has a significant impact on a construction project. For facilities and site managers, ensuring that any new building or maintenance work can be completed on time and as budgeted is essential. Water damage can easily stop this from happening, as unfortunately not all water issues will present themselves easily.
The silent damage caused by a small, steady drip can wreak havoc for days or even weeks before it is found. Leaks that occur over a weekend or out of hours, also have the potential to go undetected for long periods and can damage walls, ceilings, carpets and other surfaces. The cost of repairs is often high because of the many layers of a building water can reach. In 2020, a report by QBE Insurance Group noted this type of damage was increasing, mentioning a £25m loss at a high-rise block in London where water had escaped from a single, failed joint. EoW impacts all parties, so no one is immune to the devastation.
The industry works to very strict timelines, so much so that there is often a clause on extra time used, so delays are extremely costly for the contractors employed by facilities managers. And perhaps biggest of all, and something that can’t really be quantified, is the reputational damage and impact on working relationships. When any issue strikes, its effects ripple through the supply chain and could put an end to future collaborations. So, what can you do about it? It’s all about prevention. The best protection from water losses is through early detection measures to avoid costly water damage.
Early detection is the best prevention
While digitalisation across the industry is slow, by advancing solutions we can significantly raise the standard for water detection among other challenges and help to prevent future expenses. By leveraging technology, building owners, site and facilities managers, can get a much higher level of protection than with conventional manual processes, or via fixes designed to shut off the mains without identifying the origin of the leak. In most cases, this can be done cost effectively too, with forward-thinking technology that combines detection, communication, documentation, and connectivity, which can all be intertwined once systems can speak to each other.
Water-detecting cable and tape has been a popular modern approach to EoW, with its ability to surround areas most at risk – such as server or plant rooms. Ramtech’s water detection solution for instance can fit around any shape or size of area compared to more bulky sensors. Where facilities are dealing with large water tank storage areas, this may also be a prime location for sensors, particularly as they are often placed at the top or roof level of a building.
To address the out-of-hours problem and to help with more remote locations where leaks are harder to identify, alerts need to also be a priority. As while the water mains can be stopped, being able to have an alert that pinpoints the exact location of a problem enables facilities managers to respond faster. Having traditionally targeted fire and smoke detection for sites, we recently expanded our wireless REACT system to automatically account for water detection. This is achieved by integrating our water-detecting cable and tape with connecting interface and control units, which deliver an automatic 24/7 alert and response system for site personnel, should the worst happen.
Using wireless water detection technology is especially useful as part of the site Water Management Plan, to help meet Construction Insurance Risk Engineers Group (CIREG) requirements. This is in addition to satisfying recommendations from insurers, such as whether the water plan remains active following handover to identify latent defects. This type of technology has the potential to stretch even further in future too. As a business dedicated to advancing wireless safety technology, we are already looking at waterproof linear heat detection cables, ideal for exposed scaffolding. In addition, there is potential to have environmental, gas and humidity detection, leaving no stone unturned.
By choosing to work with contractors who embrace responsive, wireless water detection technology, site and facilities managers can be reassured that if the EoW does happen, then it can be addressed without delay. With technology advancing this way, the sky is the limit, and it is becoming too costly to work without these methods given the demands of the industry now.
How to Avoid Water Damage During Construction
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How to Avoid Water Damage During Construction
Fire damage might get headlines, but water damage, whether to projects under construction or completed buildings, delivers massive financial blows to owners, developers and contractors. The impact is massive, reaching many billions of dollars per year. One water leak on the 19th floor at a construction site of a high-end apartment building in New York City resulted in $30 million in property damage and millions in delayed delivery penalties. In most cases, water detection is reliant on contractor teams raising the issue manually when they visibly spot a leak. This is of course much more difficult when a leak is hidden or unnoticeable, however. In more sophisticated scenarios, detection can include sensors that trigger the water mains to be switched off – but this doesn’t solve the leak, it just buys time to temporarily find the source.
Contractor teams will then need to go and determine where the water damage is coming, which again reverts back to a manual approach. A physical walk-through of a building is best practice in good water management, but it is not as reliable as a method of detection. Construction and facilities management are already complex, challenging work environments, with constant monitoring, significant heavy labour, upper management reporting and administration in all the mix. Involving manual detection in this only adds increased time and cost pressures, plus it does not necessarily mean issues will be discovered.
Overall, what these methods do not prioritise is the ability to respond early, with the problem often being discovered too far down the line. Getting to the source of the problem in good time is an essential part of reducing the damage. There is also a growing need for solutions that have the ability to alert site managers, so action can be quickly taken. Utilising technology is one way to allow for a more agile and cost-effective solution that could also work with current systems to enhance them for a more robust approach.
Stop water damage before it happens
By leveraging technology, building owners, site and facilities managers, can get a much higher level of protection than with conventional manual processes. In most cases, this can be done cost effectively too, with forward-thinking technology that combines detection, communication, documentation and connectivity, which can all be intertwined once systems can speak to each other. Water-detecting cable and tape has been a popular modern approach to Escape of Water, with its ability to surround areas most at risk – such as server or plant rooms. Our water detection solution for instance can fit around any shape or size of area compared to more bulky sensors. Where facilities are dealing with large water tank storage areas, this may also be a prime location for sensors, particularly as they are often placed at the top or roof level of a building.
To address the out-of-hours problem and to help with more remote locations where leaks are harder to identify, alerts need to also be a priority. As while the water mains can be stopped, being able to have an alert that pinpoints the exact location of a problem enables facilities managers to respond faster. Having traditionally targeted fire and smoke detection for sites, we recently expanded our wireless REACT system to automatically account for water detection. This is achieved by integrating our water-detecting cable and tape with connecting interface and control units, which deliver an automatic 24/7 alert and response system for site personnel, should the worst happen.
Water damage, whether in construction projects or in operational facilities is a major source of pain, but technology has now made it an avoidable hazard. Owners, developers and general contractors have the necessary tools to stop water damage before it becomes catastrophic. The built community has a tremendous opportunity to use technology to mitigate water damage, bringing projects in on schedule and reducing the financial exposure for all parties involved.
New European language support added to WES and REACT
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New European language support added to WES and REACT
To better support customers across Europe – Dutch, Danish and Norwegian language support has been added to the Ramtech WES Connect control unit, WES app and REACT.
Adding to our ever-increasing global presence and mission to enhance fire safety worldwide, the three new language additions have been made to support relationships with partner companies and customers on the continent. This includes partnerships in our new language support territories, including VPS NL in the Netherlands and Norgem in Norway and Denmark.
The new language options add to existing territory support in English, French, Italian, German, Polish and Swedish. Adam Kovics, export sales manager, said: “At Ramtech, we are committed to ensuring our products reach new locations, which is why continually reviewing the language support available is so crucial. “Adding these additional languages to our products extends the reach of these valuable pieces of technology. The WES Connect control unit is the real brains behind the WES system – all fully EN54-25 compliant solutions. Data can be captured from up to 999 devices via the control unit, wherever they may be located across a site. The unit then passes this data on to the user consistently, monitoring active fire alarms, medical alerts, heat and smoke detector activations, low battery warnings and signal failures.
“In addition, WES Connect includes 4G cellular connectivity, allowing customised alerts to be sent to up to six different phone numbers, ensuring that relevant persons, such as site managers, are notified in the event of an emergency.
“In addition, WES Connect includes 4G cellular connectivity, allowing customised alerts to be sent to up to six different phone numbers, ensuring that relevant persons, such as site managers, are notified in the event of an emergency.
Four ways Ramtech can support your holiday park
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Four ways Ramtech can support your holiday park
From small, rural holiday parks to big national brands, Ramtech’s personalised wireless monitoring solutions are designed to give site managers peace of mind — and now that autumn is here, it is the perfect time to think about investing in site security.
With three decades of experience in the wireless technology industry, Ramtech’s comprehensive systems are a simple and effective way to keep site managers and holiday homeowners connected and aware. While we all hope that there will never be a holiday home intrusion or accident, the reality is that this can’t be guaranteed. In the quieter months, risks of break-ins, arson and theft can increase — so being prepared for any eventuality is always the best course of action. Ramtech’s WISE system, which is a reliable business information and 24/7 monitoring platform providing real time alerts, data, and information about security coverage, is linked to the Ramtech REACT platform, a mobile device app and a management/admin tool accessed via a web browser to create a fully integrated, instant emergency response system. Powered by long-life batteries and connected to a reliable radio technology, the WISE security system allows thousands of devices to be linked to a central base station that creates an instant alert via email, text, or pager. WISE is not dependent on SIM or WiFi to function, which is great for secluded cabins to coastal retreats with little or no data or internet coverage. You can even use WISE in conjunction with other useful systems, such as the Ramtech WES3 – an EN54-25 compliant addressable wireless fire alarm system, with automatic smoke and heat detectors designed to respond to site incidents and maintaining 24/7 coverage. Whichever Ramtech system you choose, we guarantee excellent support. Discover the four ways holiday parks are supported when they choose Ramtech’s wireless technology:
1) All year-round protection
Ramtech’s systems are designed to suit a variety of sites and offer continuous 24/7 safeguarding from the point of installation. Once installed our cloud-based, user-friendly security solution gives you round-the-clock protection, with alerts sent to your phone in real-time. Take the pressure off your team and leave the monitoring to Ramtech’s all-encompassing systems. Our WISE platform reduces the complexity of your risk management processes and you can rest easy in the knowledge that your site will be backed up by extensive support from our office and field-based teams.
2) Quick and easy installation
Thanks to the wireless nature of the systems, the installation process is speedy, simple, and carried out by the Ramtech team. As nothing is wired, you are provided you with a working system and immediate protection in minutes. What’s more, there is no costly electrical engineering involved and no time-consuming fitting.
Ramtech engineers will ensure your system is up and running, as well as demonstrate all the features. The system is even adaptable to your site, meaning you can add, remove, or reposition units easily as needed. You can monitor alerts via the handy REACT mobile app, so you can respond rapidly to notifications as soon as they come in.
3) Annual services included
All systems are kept in top condition, year-round. As part of your subscription, engineers will perform remote health checks and one in-person check a year. Your units are continually monitored by the team, so in the unlikely event any problems arise, or your system goes offline, we will be the first to know.
We also provide support through dedicated ‘how to’ videos, additional online support such as live demonstrations and a customer support helpline, where you can talk to your product experts.
4) Expert support on hand 24/7
If you ever need advice or help with your system, speak to one of our experienced team members over the phone. If the issue can’t be solved remotely, we’ll arrange for an engineer to visit your site, at no extra cost to you.
Ramtech responds to construction industry demand with new water detection solution
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Ramtech responds to construction industry demand with new water detection solution
While fire is responsible for the largest insurance losses in construction, escape of water is still the most common – and most costly – for construction project teams.
In response to this, leading wireless solutions provider Ramtech has extended its REACT platform to provide automatic 24/7 water leak detection on construction sites, in addition to fire and evacuation solutions as part of its WES system.
By extending functionality of its wireless solutions to also cover water leak detection, which can be commissioned in a matter of minutes by connecting into Ramtech’s fire and evacuation alarm WES system – construction professionals can simultaneously avoid costly losses caused by both fire and escape of water. Available in both cable and tape formats, the completely wireless water leak sensors are light-weight and simple to install with no need for specialist tools or equipment. Even out of hours, or in remote site locations where a leak is unlikely to be visually identified, the REACT system will continuously monitor and alert relevant personnel if a leak is detected.
Using wireless water detection technology is especially useful as part of the site Water Management Plan, to help meet Construction Insurance Risk Engineers Group (CIREG) requirements. This is in addition to satisfying recommendations from insurers, such as whether the water plan remains active following handover to identify latent defects. James Pecz, global marketing and business development manager at Ramtech, said: “Our REACT platform has always given site personnel a powerful means of raising an alert straight from their mobile phone if they detect a water leak anywhere on site. However, with the addition of the wireless sensor technology, we now have an automatic 24/7 system, that serves as a natural progression designed to meet industry demand for more comprehensive and fully integrated monitoring solutions.
“We have worked closely with our customers to make sure we deliver the right levels of protection specifically for construction sites, so that managers and owners can be assured of a quick and reliable temporary solution to safeguard the site throughout the building process from the risk of water damage, alongside fire risk.
“In the current era of increasing deductibles, accelerated schedules, and contract penalties, even relatively small water incidents can result in large losses. We are pleased to be able to offer this solution as a means to mitigate the threat posed.”
Safeguarding history: fire protection for heritage buildings
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Safeguarding history
Fire protection for heritage buildings
Losing any building to a fire is always a tragedy – but when there is a wealth of history or significance also at stake, the loss is irreplaceable. James Pecz at Ramtech, discusses the fire protection challenges associated with heritage projects and how they can be safeguarded from the risk of fire thanks to innovative wireless fire safety technology.
The world watched in great sadness and shock as flames engulfed Paris’ Notre Dame – one of the most famous and culturally significant buildings of our time. The twelfth-century Catholic treasure had been undergoing renovations at the time, although after a lengthy investigation, the cause of the fire was still fairly inconclusive. The blaze was a stark reminder that hundreds of years’ worth of legacy can be turned to ashes and destroyed in mere minutes. Historic England* describe fire as ‘probably the most devastating of disasters’ for protected buildings. While heat and smoke are obviously detrimental, the water used to fight the fire can cause problems too, along with the impact of having a building exposed to the elements.
Historic England’s research in 2019 indicates that there were over 1,000 incidents requiring Fire & Rescue attendance including:
- Listed buildings: Grade I listed buildings x 15, Grade II* listed buildings x 47, Grade II listed buildings x 343
- World Heritage Sites x 16
- Conservation Areas and locally listed buildings x 554
Factors to consider
For site owners, their contractors and fire safety professionals, preserving the safety of the site and those on it from fire risk during construction is extremely important. If a fire did occur, being able to identify the source would limit devastating, irreplaceable damage and ensure that those present on the site could be quickly located and evacuated. This is why fire alarm systems need to remain active day and night, so whether a site is occupied or not, there can be real-time insights given to enable sites to quickly react to potential disasters and mitigate risk by alerting the local fire brigade and other responsible building personnel immediately.
On top of the practical fire safety concerns, heritage projects have the added concern of protecting the building fabric from any unnecessary alterations to maintain its historical value. So, choosing a fire protection system that does not rely on an external power source and will not impact the building fabric is another consideration.
Wireless solutions in action
To monitor and locate fire risk during the construction phase, while the permanent solution is waiting to be installed, a temporary fire alarm system is essential. To support heritage buildings, Ramtech has wireless solutions that can be deployed no matter the size, location or timeframe that the temporary fire safety system is required for.
For instance, when Great Scotland Yard and London contractor Galliard Homes needed to protect a Grade II-listed former metropolitan police headquarters undergoing a transformation into a luxury five-star hotel, it was important to have a system that could span across the vast Edwardian building, which was being extended (boasting 92,000 sq. ft. over seven stories). To protect the iconic structure Ramtech deployed a system of over 30 WES alarm call points and dust proof detectors. A GSM base station with text message alerts was also used to monitor the building for fire out-of-hours.
Similarly, the restoration of Bolton Albert Hall completed by contractor Willmott Dixon required extensive internal alternations while the building was still occupied by Bolton City Council, so a system of more than five WES alarm call points and heat detectors were deployed in the refurbishment areas.
For projects that span long periods of time, such as the £30m renovation at Nottingham Castle by G.F Tomlinson – which lasted three years – or the six-year conversion project at Donaldson’s – a Grade A listed former school in the centre of Edinburgh – by City & Country, having a system that can be scaled up or down quickly without the need for time consuming wired installation is a must.
In Edinburgh, more than 60 WES alarm units were deployed across the site, to move with the flow of the project. Over at Nottingham Castle, protecting close to 1,000 years of history from the risk of fire during a significant refurbishment was an incredible undertaking. The castle trusted Ramtech’s WES alarm system and solution in place was strengthened by combining with Ramtech’s REACT platform. A cloud-based solution that can raise alerts in real time, sent straight to mobiles via a handy app, REACT ensures those that need
immediate notifications and detailed insights can receive them in the most efficient way.
Other heritage projects that have featured WES systems include St George’s Hall in Bradford, Norwich Castle and The Fry Building at the University of Bristol. The possibilities for wireless safety systems are endless and ensure no heritage site ever needs to go without adequate protection.
Keeping our history alive
Heritage buildings are irreplaceable, like the lives of those working on site. To safeguard the future of heritage sites, fire safety must remain a priority. The fire protection industry can do its part to raise standards by promoting the innovations available to it. At Ramtech, we are dedicated and passionate about providing the best solution to protect them and our technology is designed to accomplish this. We believe that by harnessing wireless technology, the construction industry benefits – these systems can be completely tailored to meet the modern challenges of individual sites, while protecting their history for future generations to enjoy. For more information on Ramtech’s solutions, please get in touch either by phone on +44 (0)115 957 8282, by email to solutions@ramtechglobal.com or via the online enquiry form situated on our contact page.
TURNING THE HEAT UP ON FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS
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TURNING THE HEAT UP ON FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS
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As a responsible construction manager, you want to be certain that the products you use to protect your workforce and assets from fire are effective, reliable and compliant with the appropriate legislation. Indeed, it is law that a fire risk assessment is carried out on a site and appropriate measures are put in place.
As a responsible construction manager, you want to be certain that the products you use to protect your workforce and assets from fire are effective, reliable and compliant with the appropriate legislation. Indeed, it is law that a fire risk assessment is carried out on a site and appropriate measures are put in place.
Here, Adam Jurka, looks at why having an EN54 compliant wireless fire alarm system provides the best way forward.
EN54 sets benchmarks for the design, operation, production, testing and manufacture of fire detection and fire alarm products. Effectively, best practice guidelines suggest you to protect your construction site with a suitable fire alarm system, and EN54 is the standard against which fire alarm systems should be measured.
The Construction Products Regulation requires that where a harmonised technical standard exists for a product it must comply with the provisions of that standard. The 30 parts of EN54 is the harmonised standard relating to fire detection and fire alarm systems. The Regulation also states that fire safety products must have a CE mark (although this is transitioning to the new UKCA marking at present), for which they are required to have a properly completed Declaration of Performance (DoP), and to obtain this the products must be tested by an approved external agency, known as a notified body.
If the fire alarm system you are thinking of specifying for a construction site has been tested by a notified body you’ll see a four digit test centre number after the CE mark. To be absolutely sure, ask your supplier for their DoP certificate. If the certificate you are presented simply covers, for example, an individual component within a larger unit, it does not follow that the whole unit meets EN54 requirements.
To comply with the appropriate EN54 rating, the complete unit – and every unit in the system including the base station, fire call point or smoke and heat detection unit – should have been tested in accordance with the relevant section of EN54.
Fire practice
The reality is that construction sites often have little or no technology-based fire protection system in place, which means that they rely on people present seeing the fire and then alerting others. This can present a number of issues as personnel on higher floors may not necessarily hear the alarm. On larger construction sites, these variables and risks are multiplied several-fold.
Bringing this into stark reality is the fact that fires on construction sites are far more frequent than most people realise. For instance, Zurich Insurance estimates that there are around 104,000 fires each year on site, costing around £400m.
Consider the scenario of a fire on site. Once workers become aware, a process that can take a critical amount of time, they immediately evacuate the area to a safe muster point. What happens if, in the confusion, the alarm – which could simply mean someone ringing the bell – is not audible to everyone throughout the site? In the vital minutes before everyone became aware, the fire could have spread and seriously limited their escape routes.
A properly planned wireless fire alarm system overcomes these issues. A good system includes manual fire alarm call points that are installed on site in accordance with the project’s Fire Plan. These should be wirelessly interlinked, creating a completely secure mesh network so that the alarm can be manually triggered throughout the site by personnel from any call point. Where automatic heat or smoke detectors are incorporated into the system, it provides automatic cover 24/7, ensuring that the site is protected even when personnel are not present.
At the same time, a base station allows fire officers to identify quickly which fire point or heat/smoke detection unit has been activated, allowing emergency services to be deployed to the exact source of the fire. Modern wireless fire alarm systems are able to provide this site wide coverage, whether it’s a multi-use redevelopment project or a large and complex demolition – the wireless frequency passes through all solid materials found on site.
Conclusion
The need for wireless fire alarm systems is likely to grow, especially with the move to timber framed buildings and high rise developments to make optimum use of available land. Both present their own specific dangers from fire and we are seeing more clients take proactive steps to ensure their sites include a wireless fire alarm system that is fully compliant with EN54-25 requirements.
Conclusion
The need for wireless fire alarm systems is likely to grow, especially with the move to timber framed buildings and high rise developments to make optimum use of available land. Both present their own specific dangers from fire and we are seeing more clients take proactive steps to ensure their sites include a wireless fire alarm system that is fully compliant with EN54-25 requirements.
Ramtech North America 2021 Partner of the Year Award
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Ramtech North America 2021 Partner of the Year Award
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Our incredible partners are constantly raising the bar in the delivery of the Ramtech technology that is transforming the construction industry around the world. We wanted to celebrate our shared success and highlight the partner who is going the extra mile. That’s why, in 2021, we launched the ‘Ramtech Partner of the Year Award’.
Our incredible partners are constantly raising the bar in the delivery of the Ramtech technology that is transforming the construction industry around the world. We wanted to celebrate our shared success and highlight the partner who is going the extra mile. That’s why, in 2021, we launched the ‘Ramtech Partner of the Year Award’.
Without further ado, let’s introduce this year’s well-deserved winner.
Space Age Electronics is our North America Partner of the Year. Space Age Electronics has worked closely with Ramtech since our early roots in North America and has demonstrated a true dedication to our vision and mission. The organization always keeps their customer at the forefront of everything they do and continues to further the development and innovations of products that are code compliant in order to continue to assist the industry with life safety solutions.
Massive congratulations Space Age Electronics for being nominated as this years’ winner.
We’re always looking to recognize our partners for their amazing achievements, no matter their partnership tier. The truth is, though, that there just aren’t enough awards to go around to all those deserving. It’s always going to be a hard call to make. Next year, we’re looking to expand the awards even further, opening more opportunities for partners to earn accolades and give their business a boost.
A watchful eye: how wireless technology is protecting void properties from fire
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A watchful eye: how wireless technology is protecting void properties from fire
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While fire safety may seem obvious for occupied properties, there is often more risk of a blaze starting in an empty building despite the common assumption that damage may be minimal. Thankfully, there is remote monitoring technology out there to help safeguard these sites, and as more spaces lie empty in the wake of the pandemic, adopting these systems should be considered. Adam Kovics, export sales manager – Europe, at wireless solutions firm, Ramtech, discusses.
Across Europe there are hundreds of thousands of buildings lying dormant, which is likely to have risen with the impact of the pandemic. While European statistics aren’t readily available, as a reference, in England, there were 665,600 vacant dwellings in October 2020, which had increased by 2.7 per cent (17,500) on the previous year. Fire safety is often associated with the risk to those inhabiting or working within buildings. But in the UK, the Home Office recorded 14,308 primary fires* as well as 1,730 fires within derelict buildings between 2019-2020, so the figure is likely to rise above this when taking an entire continent into account.
The risk and responsibility
Void or empty properties of concern typically include old factories, warehouses, office buildings, rail depots, shipyards, historic buildings, old housing and more. Often while there may not be occupants, there are remnants of the past such as wiring, old furniture, and other waste products that could become highly flammable material.
The lack of activity and safety checks inside these types of buildings means they have different fire risks. Arson, criminal damage, illegal occupation and theft are much more common in empty buildings as opposed to those that are occupied.
Pre-existing materials or excess materials brought in by individuals potentially taking shelter could escalate a fire should one break out. Pests are also more likely to roam unnoticed, chewing through wires that may spark an electrical fire. The onus is on the building proprietor to ensure there are fire safety measures in place even those that have been deserted. The same legal obligations apply for an empty building as if it was in full use.
While it may seem difficult to lose out on rent and still have the responsibility of the safety of the site, ensuring there are measures in place is bound to make your property more attractive for a future tenant or purchaser.
Connectivity for the future
Fortunately, right now, our world is more connected than ever before. The internet has become such a vital component of the world’s infrastructure that it is unlikely many of us get through our day without linking up to the web at one point or another.
This has created its own ecosystem called the Internet of Things (IoT), which spans nearly 100 billion physical objects and enables them to communicate with each other. As the IoT continues to expand, the world is only going to become more entwined.
As technology that is faster and able to store more data emerges, it becomes intuitively efficient and practical for the end user – having a real impact on outcomes and preventing disasters.
Peace of mind security
Automatic detection is very important at the type of building sites previously mentioned, and smart equipment integrated with an IoT software platform creates a safer community where we can all be more connected. This innovation has given property owners, project supervisors and safety personnel the ability to receive alerts for a variety of events in real-time – helping to prevent accidents, unauthorised access, vandalism and disasters.
The pandemic has really led to the wider adoption of technology, due to the implementation of measures such as social distancing, which meant only a limited number of personnel could be on site at one time. Technology has been able to fill some of the gaps in terms of monitoring safety systems and generating data remotely.
Until the world finds its feet again, many buildings could remain empty and vulnerable. The emerging technology and the requirement from the industry is a lot less to do with detecting and responding to fires – it is more about monitoring sites, identifying risks and preventing emergencies in the first place. The entire sector is looking to technology to provide pre-emptive, proactive management of risks; responding to them once they have occurred is already too late.
Wireless fire alarm systems have advanced greatly over the past few decades and contribute to solving these problems. Our WES3 fire alarm system features automatic heat and dust resistant smoke detectors, giving an early warning to a potential fire. When paired with our REACT platform, off site notifications can be received by managers, who can then decide what to action. The WES units can be deployed in almost any style or size of building and have a three-year battery lifecycle to keep maintenance to a minimum for the duration of most projects.
Once ordered, these systems can be delivered the very next day and easily self-installed or professionally fitted by Ramtech.
Investing in protection
Vacant, derelict or void buildings are dangerous places to work, with the threat of fires being ever-present. Ensuring adequate fire measures have been adopted to keep the public and property safe should the worse happen is crucial.
Having a robust system to watch over an empty building may cost a little more upfront, but the potential savings involved should a fire breakout will more than offset such bills.
For more information on Ramtech’s solutions for void/vacant properties, please feel free to get in touch either by phone on +44 (0)115 957 8282, by email to solutions@ramtechglobal.com or via the online enquiry form situated on our contact page.
Investing in protection
Vacant, derelict or void buildings are dangerous places to work, with the threat of fires being ever-present. Ensuring adequate fire measures have been adopted to keep the public and property safe should the worse happen is crucial.
Having a robust system to watch over an empty building may cost a little more upfront, but the potential savings involved should a fire breakout will more than offset such bills.
For more information on Ramtech’s solutions for void/vacant properties, please feel free to get in touch either by phone on +44 (0)115 957 8282, by email to solutions@ramtechglobal.com or via the online enquiry form situated on our contact page.