Method of Responding to a Fire Event
Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a method and system of responding to a fire event occurring at a premises, and in particular, but not exclusively, to a method of responding to a fire event occurring at a premises using a plurality of fire event response actions.
Background
Currently, fire events that occur at a premises are handled by trained staff located at the premises. These trained staff are usually referred to as fire marshals and are responsible for undertaking a variety of different tasks when a fire event is occurring. For example, the fire marshals may be responsible for sweeping the floors to ensure that all staff members at the premises are accounted for and safely removed from the premises. A further example might be to liaise with the local fire department to ensure that the fire event is dealt with efficiently. These fire marshals are typically trained to undertake the tasks related to securing a premise during a fire event. These tasks can often be very specialized and may be challenging for a non-trained person to undertake.
With the onset of remote working becoming more common in the workplace, fire events are now not being dealt with efficiently. In many instances, some or all of the fire marshals may be working from home, limiting the effectiveness of the response to the fire event occurring at the premises. In these instances, non-trained people at the premises are often 2 5 left to handle the fire event, causing potential increases in the risk to the staff located at the premises.
In view of this decreased efficiency in handling fire events at premises, there is a requirement for a more efficient means of handling responses to fire events to ensure that damage and risk to life at the premises are reduced.
Summary
There is provides a method of responding to a fire event occurring at a premises, wherein a plurality of members is associated with the premises, wherein each of the plurality of members has a user computer device, and wherein the method comprises: sending, from a server, a plurality of fire event response actions with respective associated statuses to at least some of the user computer devices, the server storing the plurality of fire event response actions and the respective associated statuses in a database; receiving, by the server from a first user computer device, an opt-in response to one or more of the plurality of fire event response actions; updating, on the database, the statuses of the one or more of the plurality of fire event response actions to reflect the opt-in response associated with the one or more of the plurality of fire event response actions received from the first user computer device; and sending, from the server, at least one of the updated plurality of fire event response actions with the respective updated associated statuses to at least some of the user computer devices. Embodiments of this method may allow for a more efficient response to a fire event. By sending the fire event response actions to one or more of the user computer devices, any member at the premises may be able to action the fire event response action, thus helping to secure the premises during the fire event.
Optionally, the method further comprises the steps of: receiving, by the server from the first user computer device, a confirmation that at least one of the one or more of the plurality of fire event response actions has been completed; and updating, on the database, the statuses of the at least one of the one or more of the plurality of fire event response actions to reflect the confirmation that the at least one of the one or more of the plurality of fire event 2 5 response actions has been completed. Embodiments of this method may allow for a central system to remain updated on the progress of the different fire event response actions during the response to the fire event.
Optionally, the updated list of fire event response actions, including the completed fire event response actions, is sent to the one or more user computer devices.
Optionally, only the one or more of the plurality of fire event response actions which have not yet been completed are sent to the one or more user computer devices. Embodiments of this method may provide a more concise set of fire event response actions for users to opt in to as the fire event response actions already opted into are no longer visible.
Optionally, a fire event response action may be opted out of after the user has opted into the fire event response action. Embodiments of this method may allow for a user to make an informed decision over whether or not they are capable of completing the fire event response action once they have opted in.
Optionally, the one or more of the plurality of fire event response actions is one fire event response action.
Optionally, the first user computer device is limited to opting in to the one fire event response action.
Optionally, the first user computer device is limited to opting in to the one fire event response action at a time. Embodiments of this method may allow the user of the first user device to only opt in to one fire event at a time, increasing the likelihood that the fire event response action is responded to efficiently and/or correctly.
Optionally, the first user computer device may opt in to more than one fire event response action at a time. Embodiments of this method may allow the user of the first user computer device to complete more than one fire event response action at a time, for example, when the user is the only person present at the premises.
Optionally, the method further comprises the step of sending, from the server to the first user computer device, instructions related to the one or more of the plurality of fire event response actions that have been opted in to. These instructions may provide the user of the first user computer device with guidance on how to complete the fire event response action.
Optionally, the plurality of fire event response actions are sent to the plurality of user computer devices using push notifications. This may ensure that all users of the user computer devices are made aware of the fire event and its respective fire event response actions.
Optionally, the plurality of fire event response actions are sent to the plurality of user computer devices using time-bound notifications.
Optionally, the plurality of fire event response actions are sent to the plurality of user computer devices geo-location notifications. This may allow the plurality of fire event response actions to be sent to user computer devices located at the premises.
Optionally, a compulsory opt-in or opt-out is required in response to the plurality of fire event response actions. This may ensure that all users of the user computer devices respond (by opting in or opting out) to the request for completing a fire event response action. This may reduce the likelihood of a user deliberately avoiding responding to the fire event response actions during the fire event.
Optionally, the method further comprises sending, from the server to the plurality of user computer devices, a request to confirm whether they are at the premises; receiving, from at least some of the user computer devices, a confirmation that they are located at the premises; and sending, to at least some of the user computer devices that have confirmed that they are located at the premises, a plurality of fire event response actions with respective associated statuses. Embodiments of this method may allow only users that are present at the premises and available to complete the fire event response actions to be sent the fire event response actions.
Optionally, the method further comprises: determining a location of at least some of the user computer devices; determining which of the at least some user computer devices are at the premises; and updating the database on the server to reflect the determination of which of the at least some user computer devices are at the premises, wherein the plurality of fire event response actions are sent to at least some of the user computer devices that are located at the premises.
Optionally, the location of at least some of the user computer devices is determined through a network connection or a global positioning system (GPS). The network connection may be in the form of the internet (i.e., Wi-Fi, 4g, or 5g connection) or in the form of a localized intranet.
Optionally, the method further comprises: sending, from the server to the at least one user computer device, a request to confirm location at the premises; and receiving, at the server from the at least one user computer device, a confirmation of location at the premises. This may ensure that the fire event response actions are only sent out to users located at the premises, thus reducing the likelihood that a user not located at the premises opts in to a fire event response action.
Optionally, the method further comprises: verifying, after receiving the opt-in response to one or more of the plurality of fire event response actions, that the first user computer device is located at the premises. Embodiments of this method may provide a second line of defence to ensure that only user who are located at the premises are opted in to the one or more of the plurality of fire event response actions.
There is further provided a system for responding to a fire event occurring at a premises, the system comprising: a server comprising a database, wherein the server performs operations comprising: sending a plurality of fire event response actions with respective associated statuses to at least some user computer devices, wherein the plurality of fire event response actions are stored within the database; receiving, from a first user computer device, an opt-in response to one or more of the plurality of fire event response actions; updating, on the database, the statuses of the one or more of the plurality of fire event response actions to reflect the opt-in response associated with the one or more of the plurality of fire event response actions received from the first user computer device; and sending at least one of the updated plurality of fire event response actions with the respective updated associated statuses to at least some of the user computer devices.
Embodiments of this system may allow for a more efficient response to a fire event. By sending the fire event response actions to one or more of the user computer devices, any member at the premises may be able to action the fire event response action, thus helping to secure the premises during the fire event.
Optionally, the server further performs operations comprising: receiving from the first user computer device, a confirmation that at least one of the one or more of the plurality of fire event response actions has been completed; and updating, on the database, the statuses of the at least one of the one or more of the plurality of fire event response actions to reflect the confirmation that the at least one of the one or more of the plurality of fire event response actions has been completed. Embodiments of this system may allow for a central system to remain updated on the progress of the different fire event response actions during the response to the fire event.
Optionally, the updated list of fire event response actions, including the completed fire event response actions, is sent to the one or more user computer devices.
Optionally, only the one or more of the plurality of fire event response actions which have not yet been completed are sent to the one or more user computer devices. Embodiments of this system may provide a more concise set of fire event response actions for users to opt in to as the fire event response actions already opted into are no longer visible.
Optionally, a fire event response action may be opted out of after the user has opted into the fire event response action. Embodiments of this system may allow for a user to make an informed decision over whether or not they are capable of completing the fire event response action once they have opted in.
Optionally, the one or more of the plurality of fire event response actions is one fire event response action, and wherein the first user computer device is limited to opting in to the one fire event response action.
Optionally, the first user computer device is limited to opting in to the one fire event response action at a time. Embodiments of this system may allow the user of the first user device to only opt in to one fire event at a time, increasing the likelihood that the fire event response action is responded to efficiently and/or correctly.
Optionally, the first user computer device may opt in to more than one fire event response action at a time. Embodiments of this system may allow the user of the first user computer device to complete more than one fire event response action at a time, for example, when the user is the only person present at the premises.
Optionally, the server further performs operations comprising: sending, to the first user computer device, instructions related to the one or more of the plurality of fire event response actions that have been opted in to. These instructions may provide the user of the first user computer device with guidance on how to complete the fire event response action Optionally, the plurality of fire event response actions are sent to the plurality of user computer devices using push notifications. This may ensure that all user of the user computer devices are made aware of the fire event and its respective fire event response actions.
Optionally, the plurality of fire event response actions are sent to the plurality of user computer devices using time-bound notifications.
Optionally, the plurality of fire event response actions are sent to the plurality of user computer devices geo-location notifications. This may allow the plurality of fire event response actions to be sent to user computer devices located at the premises.
Optionally, a compulsory opt-in or opt-out is required in response to the plurality of fire event response actions. This may ensure that all users of the user computer devices respond (by opting in or opting out) to the request for completing a fire event response action. This may reduce the likelihood of a user deliberately avoiding responding to the fire event response actions during the fire event 10 15 20 Optionally, the server further performs operations comprising: sending to the plurality of user computer devices, a request to confirm whether they are at the premises; receiving, from at least some of the user computer devices, a confirmation that they are located at the premises; and sending, to at least some of the user computer devices that have confirmed that they are located at the premises, a plurality of fire event response actions with respective associated statuses. Embodiments of this system may allow only users that are present at the premises and available to complete the fire event response actions to be sent the fire event response actions.
Optionally, the server further performs operations comprising: determining a location of at least some of the user computer devices; determining which of the at least some user computer devices are at the premises; and updating the database to reflect the determination of which of the at least some user computer devices are at the premises, wherein the plurality of fire event response actions are sent to at least some of the user computer devices that are located at the premises.
Optionally, the location of at least some of the user computer devices is determined through a network connection or a global positioning system (GPS). The network connection may be in the form of the internet (i.e., Wi-Fi, 4g, or 5g connection) or in the form of a localized intranet.
Optionally, the server further performs operations comprising: sending, to the at least one user computer device, a request to confirm location at the premises; and receiving, from the at least one user computer device, a confirmation of location at the premises. This may ensure that the fire event response actions are only sent out to users located at the premises, thus reducing the likelihood that a user not located at the premises opts in to a fire event response action.
Optionally, the server further performs operations comprising: verifying, after receiving the opt-in response to one or more of the plurality of fire event response actions, that the first user computer device is located at the premises. Embodiments of this system may provide a second line of defence to ensure that only user who are located at the premises are opted in to the one or more of the plurality of fire event response actions.
Further features and advantages of the method and system of the present disclosure will become apparent from the claims and the following description.
Brief Description of Drawings
Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams, in which:-Figure 1 shows a system for responding to a fire event occurring at a premises; Figure 2 shows an example method for responding to a fire event occurring at a premises; Figure 3 shows a second example method of responding to a fire event occurring at a premises; Figure 4 shows a third example method of responding to a fire event occurring at a premises; Figure 5 shows a fourth example method of responding to a fire event occurring at a premises; and Figure 6 shows a fifth example method of responding to a fire event occurring at a premises.
Detailed Description
Figure 1 shows a system 10 for responding to a fire event occurring at a premises. The system comprises a server 100 comprising a data store 105. The data store may be in the form of a hard drive disk (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), or a cloud storage service. The data store 105 comprises a database which stores a plurality of fire event response actions and their associated statuses. The associated statuses reflected whether or not each of the plurality of fire event response actions have been opted in to and whether they have been completed or not.
The plurality of fire event response action may contain guidance instructions on how the fire event occurring at the premises should be handled by staff at the premises. For example, they may contain instructions related to where the fire exits are located, where the fire extinguishers are located, what rooms to sweep when accounting for people at the premises, and how to assist disabled people from exiting the premises.
The plurality of fire event response actions are tasks/actions that should be completed in order to secure a premises during a fire event. For example, these tasks may include sweeping a floor to ensure all people are accounted for and removed from the premises as quickly as possible. Other fire event response actions may include liaising with the fire response team; turning off electricity in certain areas of the premises; or assisting disabled people exit the premises safely.
The server 100 is connected to a plurality of user systems 125i, 12 Sii, 12Sii via a network connection 110. In Figure 1, three user systems 12Si, 12Sii, 125iii are shown, however, as would be understood by the skilled person in the art, any number of user systems could be used with the present disclosure. The network 110 may allow for data to be transferred between the server and the user devices (in both directions both from the server 100 to the user devices 125i, 12Sii, 12Siii and vice versa).
For example, the network can be the internet [e.g., Wi-Fi, 3g, 4g, or Sg). The plurality of user systems 125i, 125ii, 125iii each comprise a user 120i, 120ii, 120iii and a user computer device 115i, 115ii, 115iii. The user computer device 115i, 11Sii, 115iii may be in the form of a mobile phone, a laptop computer, a desktop, a smart watch, a table, or any other form of personal computer device. Each computer device 115i, 115ii, 115iii is associated with its user 120i, 120ii, 120iii. Each user system 125i, 125ii, 125iii comprises of a computer device 115i, 115ii, 115iii and user 120i, 120ii, 120iii.
The server 100 is configured to send the plurality of fire event response actions to the plurality of user computer devices 115i, 115ii, 115iii. The users 120i, 120ii, 120iii can then access the plurality of fire event response actions on their respective user computer devices 115i, 115ii, 115iii. As detailed below, this permits the users 120i, 120ii, 120iii to opt-in or opt-out from completing one or more of the respective plurality of fire event response actions.
The system 10 is configured such that when one or more of the plurality of users 120i, 120ii, 120iii has either opted into or opted out of the plurality of fire event response actions, the plurality of user systems 125i, 125ii, 125iii communicates with the server 100 using the network connection 110. Each of the plurality of fire event response actions has a respective associated status in the data store 105. The respective associated statuses are updated to reflect whether their respective fire event response action have been opted into or opted out of. Each of the user systems 125i, 125ii, 125iii may choose to opt into no fire event response actions or may choose to opt in to one or more no fire event response actions.
Turning now to Figure 2, there is shown an example method for responding to a fire event occurring at a premises. The method shown in Figure 2 can be put into effect using the system 10 of Figure 1.
At step 200 a fire event occurs at a premises. The fire event could be any fire event. For example, the fire event could be caused by faulty equipment, combustibles catching fire, or arson. The fire event may be occurring inside a building at the premises or could be occurring outside on/around the premises.
At step 205 the fire event is detected at the premises. The fire event may be detected by a sensor (for example, a smoke alarm or a heat sensor), or could be detected by a human at the premises. The sensor or human will then alert a central system that the fire event is occurring.
At step 210, the plurality of fire event response actions are sent to the user systems 1251, 125ii, 125iii. As detailed above, the fire event response actions all have an associated status (i.e., whether they have been opted in to, and, whether they have been completed). Each fire event response action may be linked to securing the premises during the fire so as to limit damage and reduce risk to people in/around the premises.
At step 215, a first user system 125i opts in to one of the fire event response actions. The first user system 125i may then be sent instructions on how to complete the first fire event response action they have opted in to. For example, the first fire event response action may be to secure a floor of a building ensuring that no one is left behind. In this instance, the first user 120i of the first user system 1251 is sent instructions related to how to secure the floor on the building. The instructions may contain general information on how to perform the action and may also contain specific information related to the action (for example, the first user 120i may be informed on exactly where a fire extinguisher is located on that particular floor of the building).
At step 220, the first user 120i has completed the first fire response action and sends a confirmation through their respective user computer device 115i to the server 100 that the first fire event response action has now been completed. The status of the first fire event response action is then updated on the server 100 at step 235 to reflect that it has now been completed. The server 100 then updates the database on the data store 105 such that the list of fire event response actions reflects the fact that the first fire event response action has now been completed. The server 100 then sends out the updated list of fire event response actions to the plurality of user systems 125i, 125ii, 125iii.
This process of updating the statuses on the data store 105 and sending out the updated statuses continues until all the fire event response actions have been completed at step 225. Once this has happened, the status of all of the fire event response action have been updated on the server 100. The fire event has now been handled and the fire event is over at Step 230.
Turning now to Figure 3, there is shown an example method for responding to a fire event occurring at a premises. The method of Figure 3 comprises additional steps to those shown in Figure 2. The method shown in Figure 3 can be put into effect using the system 10 of Figure 1.
As explained above, at step 210, the plurality of fire event response actions and their associated statuses are sent to the user systems 125i, 125ii, 125iii. Then, at step 215, a first user system 125i opts in to one or more of the fire event response actions. The first user system 125i may then be sent instructions on how to complete the one or more fire event response actions.
Next, at step 310, the statuses of the one or more fire event response actions opted into are updated on the data store 105 to reflect their status as being opted into. This allows the fire event response actions to be tracked by a central system to ensure that they are being opted into and that the fire event is being handled correctly. Furthermore, updating the status of the fire event response actions on the server 100 allows for a more concise list of 'not opted into' fire event response actions to be forwarded onto the user computer devices 115i, 115ii, 115iii.
Next, at step 315, the updated plurality of fire event response actions are sent to at least some of the user computer devices 115i, 115ii, 115iii. At this step, the updated list of fire event response actions may be sent to all of the user computer devices 115i, 115ii, 115iii, or may be sent to a selection of the user computer devices 115i, 115ii, 115iii, depending on how the method is set up. Once a user system 12 Si, 125ii, 12 Siii has opted in to one or more of the fire event response actions, the method may stop any more fire event response actions being sent to that particular user system 125i, 125ii, 125iii. This can ensure that a user system 125i, 125ii, 125iii can only handle one fire event response action at a time.
Turning now to Figure 4, there is shown an example method for responding to a fire event occurring at a premises. The method shown in Figure 4 comprises additional steps to those shown in Figures 2 and 3. The method shown in Figure 4 can be put into effect using the system 10 of Figure 1.
As detailed above, at step 315, the updated plurality of fire event response actions are sent to at least some of the user computer devices 115i, 11Sii, 115iii. At this step, the updated list of fire event response actions may be sent to all of the user computer devices 115i, 11Sii, 115iii, or may be sent to a selection of the user computer devices 115i, 115ii, 115iii, depending on how the method is setup.
The method then moves on to step 220 wherein one of the user systems 125i, 125ii, 125iii sends a confirmation to the server 100 that one or more of the fire event response actions has been completed. Depending on how the method is set up, one user system 125i, 125ii, 125iii may complete any number of the fire event response actions at a time.
Once confirmation has been received by the server that one or more of the fire event response actions have been completed, the method moves onto step 235. At step 235, the data store 105 on the server 100 updates the list of fire event response actions to reflect the fact that the one or more of the fire event response actions have now been completed.
Next, at step 210, the server 100 will then send out the updated list of fire event response actions to the plurality of user systems 125i, 125ii, 125iii such that only non-completed fire event response actions are received by the user systems 12 Si, 12 Sii, 125iii.
Turning now to Figure 5, there is shown an example method for responding to a fire event occurring at a premises. The method shown in Figure 5 comprises additional steps to those shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4. The method shown in Figure 5 can be put into effect using the system 10 of Figure 1.
Firstly, at step 205, a fire event is detected at the premises. The fire event may be detected by a sensor (for example, a smoke alarm or a heat sensor), or could be detected by a human at the premises. The sensor or human at the premises then alerts a central system that the fire event is occurring.
After the fire event has been detected, at step 500, the server 100 sends out, to the plurality of user systems 125i, 125ii, 125iii, a request to confirm whether they are located at the premises. This may be done by using push notifications sent to the user computer devices 115i, 115ii, 115iii. Alternatively, this can be achieved by using a different type of notification, for example, a time-bound notification or a geo-location notification.
Next, at step 505, the server 100 receives, from one or more of the user systems 125i, 125ii, 125iii, a confirmation that they are located at the premises. Additionally, the method may also allow for the user systems 125i, 125ii, 125iii to confirm that they are not at the premises. The data store 105 then records which of the user systems 125i, 125ii, 125iii are located at the premises.
Next, at step 210, the server 100 sends the plurality of fire event response actions to at least some of the user systems 125i, 125ii, 125iii that have confirmed that they are located at the premises.
Turning now to Figure 6, there is shown an example method for responding to a fire event occurring at a premises. The method shown in Figure 6 comprises additional steps to those shown in Figures 2, 3, 4 and S. The method shown in Figure 6 can be put into effect using the system 10 of Figure 1.
Firstly, at step 205, a fire event is detected at the premises. The fire event may be detected by a sensor (for example, a smoke alarm or a heat sensor), or could be detected by a human at the premises. The sensor or human will then alert the central system that a fire event is occurring.
Next, at step 600, the server 100 determines the location of one or more of the user computer devices 1151, 115ii, 115iii. At step 605, the server 100 then determines which of the one or more of the user computer devices 115i, 115ii, 115iii are located at the premises.
This may be done through tracking the location of the user computer devices 115i, 115ii, 115iii through a network connection (e.g. Wi-Fi, 3g, 4g, or 5g) or through a global positioning system (GPS).
Next, at step 610, the data base 105 is updated to reflect which of the user computer devices 115i, 115ii, 115iii is located at the premises. Finally, at step 210, the server 100 sends the plurality of fire event response actions to at least some of the user systems 125i, 125ii, 125iii that have had their location confirmed at the premises.
During the ongoing fire event, the server 100 may provide a user of the system 10 with an ongoing update of how each of the plurality of fire event response actions is being handled by the users 120i, 120ii, 120iii. The system 10 may then create a report on how the fire event was responded to by the members at the premises. This may allow for improvements to be made to how the fire event response was handled. For example, if it is noted that one of the floors was incorrectly swept during the accounting of the people on that floor, the fire event response action associated with that task may be improved to ensure that a future response to this fire event response action is correctly handled. Furthermore, new fire event response actions may be added or removed depending on how the fire event was responded to.
Although particular embodiments of the disclosure have been disclosed herein in detail, this has been done by way of example and for the purposes of illustration only. The aforementioned embodiments are not intended to be limiting with respect to the scope of
the summary / appended claims.
It is contemplated by the inventors that various substitutions, alterations, and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the
invention as defined by the summary / claims.