GB2599142A

GB2599142A - Fire safety system and method

Info

Publication number: GB2599142A
Application number: GB2015243.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: D Parfitt Anthony
Original assignee: Connected Innovations Ltd
Current assignee: Connected Innovations Ltd
Priority date: 2020-09-25
Filing date: 2020-09-25
Publication date: 2022-03-30
Also published as: GB202015243D0

Abstract

A fire safety system 1000 comprises a plurality of thermal sensors arranged in fire safety devices 100,200,300,400 in a building. One or more of the thermal sensors are arranged to detect the presence of a fire. One or more of the thermal sensors are arranged to detect the presence of people. The location of both the fire and the persons is analysed and a safe egress route is determined based thereon. The location data may be used to actuate one or more optical or audible indicators within the building to indicate a safe evacuation path. The location data may be communicated to a remote device such as a mobile device wherein a real-time visualisation of the building may be provided. The safety devices may comprise mains socket faceplates 100, plug in adaptors 200, light switch faceplates 300, or wall / ceiling mounted units 400. The safety devices may wirelessly communicate with each other and may form a mesh network 502 with a hub 500. The system may further comprise a mains isolation unit 900 in connection with the safety devices. The data obtained by the thermal sensors may be processed by a remote processing unit 600.

Description

Intellectual Property Office Application No G132015243.5 RTM Date:3 March 2021 The following terms are registered trade marks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document: Wi-H Bluetooth Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.gov.uk/ipo

FIRE SAFETY SYSTEM AND METHOD

BACKGROUND

Fire risks due to faulty household appliances have become an increasing concern in recent years. It has been reported that 70% of accidental house fires in the UK involve an electrical appliance. Many of the fires are due to small electrical surges or changes in ambient conditions which, if detected and addressed at an earlier stage, could be mitigated. As such, in the modern age where an increasing proportion of household devices require constant electrical activity, measures must be taken to ensure the safety of users and residents of households utilising such appliances.

As a further consideration, as urban populations increase, an increasing number of people live in multiple occupancy buildings such as purpose-built blocks of flats Many of these buildings to not include communal fire alarms, which poses a challenge in ensuring the safety of the residents in the event of a fire breaking out. Some multiple occupancy buildings may choose to employ a "waking watch" service, where staff manually patrol the building in order to detect fires and raise the alarm, if necessary. However, such services are expensive and inefficient.

There is therefore the need for a system to improve the safety of building occupants in the event of a fire, particularly in multiple occupancy buildings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided a computer-implemented method for determining fire safety information, comprising: receiving data from a plurality of thermal sensors arranged within a building and configured to detect locations of elevated temperature within the building; wherein one or more of said thermal sensors are arranged to detect elevated temperatures indicative of the presence or risk of fire, and one or more said thermal sensors are arranged to detect elevated temperatures indicative of body heat and therefore the presence of one or more people; analysing the received data to determine a first location corresponding to the presence or risk of fire and a second location corresponding to the presence of one or more people; and communicating data corresponding to the first and second locations.

In this way, the present invention is able to map the distribution of a fire hazard within a building, together with the locations of the building occupants. The communication of these data, for example in the form or an alert or to provide critical location data for emergency services arriving at the building thereby increases the safety of occupants within a building in the event of a fire.

The method of the present invention has particular utility in buildings designed for multiple occupancy, such as high-rise accommodation and office buildings.

The method of the present invention comprises receiving data from the plurality of thermal sensors and analysing the received data to determine a first location corresponding to the presence or risk of fire and a second location corresponding to the presence of one or more people. Generally, if the elevated temperature detected at one or more of the thermal sensors is greater than a first predetermined threshold or is within a first predetermined range then this is indicative of the presence or risk of a fire at the location of that thermal sensor(s), e.g. caused by an electrical appliance. Similarly, if the elevated temperature at one or more of the thermal sensors is greater than a second predetermined threshold or is within a second predetermined range then this is indicative of the presence of one or more people at the location of the thermal sensor(s). In this way, in embodiments each thermal sensor may be able to detect the presence of fire and one or more people.

The data received from each of the thermal sensors may include a location of the respective sensor in order that the first and second locations may be determined. Alternatively, the method may comprise accessing a memory storing data of the locations of each of the thermal sensors arranged within the building, such that data received from each thermal sensor may be matched to its corresponding location.

In particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, the method further comprises determining a safe route through the building between the second location corresponding to the presence of one or more people and an exit of the building, avoiding the first location, and wherein the step of communicating data comprises communicating the determined safe route. Typically, the determining a safe route comprises accessing a memory storing data comprising the layout of the building. In this way, the method of the present invention advantageously utilises the data received from the thermal sensors in order to generate a safe evacuation route for occupants of the building, who typically will not know the location of the fire, and may be confused and alarmed. In particular, the method may comprise determining an evacuation sequence. The method may comprise analysing data received from the sensors to determine a plurality of locations, each corresponding to the location of one or more people, the method further comprising determining an evacuation sequence including a sequence in which the people at the respective locations should be evacuated.

The method may comprise determining an appropriate evacuation sequence and scope based on a predetermined policy agreed in advance with the responsible authorities. In particular a policy defining the scope of the resident alert and evacuation sequence may be predetermined in advance. The policy may define the details of the hazard necessary to trigger different evacuation events such that the system may automatically implement a series of actions, for example involving triggering of alerts and information to guide different groups out of the based on the policy. The policy is preferably predetermined in a local memory such that the system may implement a series of actions according to data received form the sensors according to the predetermined policy.

The communicating data may comprise actuating (e.g. by sending a signal to) one or more optical indicators arranged within the building to indicate the determined safe route. For example, communal areas and corridors of a multiple occupancy building may comprise a plurality of such optical indicators in the form of LEDs or illuminable signage. Once a safe route out of the building has been determined based on the received thermal sensor data and the resulting first and second locations, the corresponding one(s) of the optical indicators may be illuminated in order to guide occupants along the determined route.

Alternatively or in addition, the communicating data may comprise actuating (e.g. by sending a signal to) one or more audible indicators arranged within the building to indicate the determined safe route. Such audible indicators may be in the form of an alarm sounder, for example, or a speaker configured to play a pre-recorded announcement.

In embodiments, the communicating data may comprise communicating the first and second locations to one or more remote devices (e.g. via a communications device). The communication may be in the form of an alert transmitted to a remote device such as a smart phone or other smart user device to notify the user of the location of the fire hazard, and a safe route out of the building. The alert may be in the form of visual and/or audible guides for guiding the user out of the building. The alert is typically communicated over a wireless communications link such as the internet. Examples of such remote devices that may alert a user to take action may be, for example, a smart phone, smart television, voice assistant device or other smart user device.

The first and second locations may be communicated to the one or more remote devices in the form of a determined safe route through the building. Advantageously, in cases where the remote device is in the form of a smart device such as a smart phone, a navigation module of the smart device (comprising e.g. GNSS sensor(s) and inertial sensor(s)) may be utilised in combination with the communicated safe route out of the building in order to guide a user to the building exit.

The method may comprise displaying the determined first and second locations on one of the said one or more remote devices in the form of a visualisation of the building. This may be useful for members of the emergency services when planning the correct action to take to reduce the risk of the fire hazard and ensure the safety of the occupants of the building.

As discussed above, the method of the present invention may comprise communicating the first and second locations to one or more remote devices. In embodiments, the method may further comprise communicating with a remote device to cause the remote device to perform an action in response to the determined first and second locations. Such a remote device may be, for example, a remotely controlled valve, a router or hub, a docking station for a mobile phone, a fire alarm, a smoke alarm, a sprinkler system or a remotely controlled fire-door For example, the one or more remote devices may be configured to shut down an appliance or mains gas supply in response to the determined first and second locations, in order to minimise further hazard risks.

Such a shut down may be in respect of a particular location (e.g. residence (e.g. flat), floor or even a whole building), based on the determined first and second locations.

The method may further comprise receiving supplementary data from one or more of: a smoke sensor; a gas sensor; a carbon monoxide sensor; a current sensor; a water sensor, arranged within the building and which may, in some embodiments, be embedded in the same housings as the thermal sensors, and wherein the determination of the first location is further based on an analysis of the supplementary data. The use of such supplementary data obtained from additional sensors in addition to the data received from the thermal sensors allows the method to determine the first location (i.e. the location(s) of the fire) more reliably. Furthermore, the extra data provided by the one or more additional sensors may be used by the emergency services to coordinate their efforts. For example, if the data from a smoke sensor indicates the presence of smoke in a location where people have been detected, the rescue operation may prioritise that location.

The computer-implemented method of the invention is typically performed in a fire 30 safety system.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided a computer readable medium comprising executable instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform the method of the first aspect of the invention discussed above.

In accordance with a third aspect of the invention there is provided a fire safety system comprising: a plurality of fire safety devices configured to be arranged within a building, each fire safety device comprising a thermal sensor configured to detect locations of elevated temperature within the building; wherein one or more of said thermal sensors are arranged to detect elevated temperatures indicative of the presence or risk of fire, and one or more of said thermal sensors are arranged to detect elevated temperatures indicative of body heat and therefore the presence of one or more people; wherein each fire safety device is configured to transmit data obtained from its respective thermal sensor to a processing unit for analysis to determine a first location corresponding to the presence or risk of fire and a second location corresponding to the presence of one or more people; the fire safety system further comprising a communications device configured to receive data from the processing unit and for communicating data corresponding to the first and second locations.

One or more of the thermal sensors are arranged to detect elevated temperatures indicative of the presence or risk of fire. Typically, such thermal sensors are configured to detect the surface temperature of an electrical appliance (e.g. an electrical plug housing and/or cable) and identify (or be in communication with a processor that identifies) when the surface temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold that is indicative of a fire hazard. The thermal sensors may equally be able to detect the presence of a flame or rise in ambient temperature that is indicative of the presence or risk of fire.

One or more of the thermal sensors are arranged to detect elevated temperatures indicative of body heat and therefore the presence of one or more people. The thermal sensors are configured to identify (or be in communication with a processor that identifies) the increased levels of infrared radiation emitted by human beings (i.e. a temperature of -37°C) in comparison with their surroundings. These detected levels of IR radiation may therefore be used to infer the presence of people within the building. Even if a fire has broken out, areas of the building where the fire has not yet spread will still be cool relative to body heat, thereby allowing the effective detection of people and their locations within the building.

The thermal sensors arranged to detect elevated temperatures indicative of the presence or risk of a fire may be arranged separately to the thermal sensors arranged to detect elevated temperatures indicative of the presence of one or more people. In this way, the fire safety system of the invention may comprise one or more first thermal sensors arranged to detect elevated temperatures indicative of the presence or risk or a fire, and one or more second thermal sensors arranged to detect elevated temperatures indicative of body heat and therefore the presence of one or more people. For example, the first thermal sensors may be positioned in locations where a fire may be likely to start, e.g. a mains plug socket, whereas, the second thermal sensors may be positioned in locations where a wide view of a room may be obtained in order to detect the presence of people (e.g. a ceiling mounted unit).

In some embodiments, one or more (preferably each) of the thermal sensors is arranged to detect the presence of elevated temperatures indicative of the presence or risk of fire, and also arranged to detect elevated temperatures indicative of the presence of one or more people. For example, data obtained from a thermal sensor mounted on a ceiling unit or light switch unit may be indicative of either a fire or a person dependent on the detected temperature. In particular the system preferably comprises one or more ceiling mounted sensor unit, each comprising a thermal sensor for detecting the presence of fire and the presence of people derived from a body heat signal. In particular the ceiling mounted sensor units are configured to detect the presence of a body heat signal when there is no fire present. The elevated position of the ceiling mounted sensor units and their wide field of view means that are particularly well suited to identifying the presence of fire of body heat within a room below. The ceiling mounted sensor units may additional comprise one or more sensors for example a smoke sensor The thermal sensors may each comprise an infrared camera. Preferably, each thermal sensor is an infrared camera comprising an array of thermopile detector pixels. In this way, a highly accurate reading of the temperature of the environment surrounding the sensor may be obtained in order that a fire hazard and/or the presence of a building occupant may be determined. The use of thermal imaging allows for the distribution and change in thermal temperature to be measured, allowing for more information to be gathered so as to provide a more reliable identification of a fire hazard at an earlier stage.

Typically, the thermal sensors comprise a lens providing a field of view of greater than 30 degrees. This advantageously provides a wide field of view, allowing for reliable detection of a fire hazard and of the presence of one or more people within the building. Such a wide field of view advantageously allows monitoring of large areas such as rooms, corridors and stairwells. Preferably, the thermal sensors comprise a lens providing a field of view of between 30 and 90 degrees, preferably around 60 degrees.

A preferred thermal sensor that may be used in the fire safety system of the present invention is a Panasonic grid-EYE sensor, generally used for movement detection, occupancy detection, people counting and lighting control.

Preferably, the communications device is configured to receive data from the processing unit that is indicative of a safe route through the building between the second location corresponding to the presence of one or more people and an exit of the building, avoiding the first location. In embodiments, the communications device may comprise one or more optical indicators arranged within the building and configured to indicate a direction through the building. Such a communications device is in control communication with the processing unit. Once a safe route out of the building has been determined by the processing unit based on the received thermal sensor data and the resulting first and second locations, the corresponding one(s) of the optical indicators may be illuminated in order to guide occupants along the determined route. Alternatively or in addition, the communications device may comprise one or more audible indicators arranged within the building, configured to audibly indicate a direction corresponding to the safe route through the building. Such audible indicators may be in the form of an alarm sounder, for example, or a speaker configured to play a pre-recorded announcement.

Alternatively or in addition to the optical indicators and audible indicators located within the building discussed above, the communications device may be configured to send a signal to one or more remote devices. A remote device is a device that is remote from (i.e. separate from), and typically may be any device that is not a fire safety device. A remote device may alert a user to take action.

Such remote device may be, for example, a smart phone, smart television, voice assistant device or other smart user device. A remote device may take action to address a potential hazard. Such a remote device may be, for example, a remotely controlled valve, a router or hub, a docking station for a mobile phone, a fire alarm, a smoke alarm, a sprinkler system.

Preferably, the fire safety system further comprises one or more remote devices, wherein the communications device is configured to communicate with the one or more remote devices.

In embodiments, the one or more remote devices may be configured to shut down an appliance in response to data received from the communications device, as described in relation to the first aspect of the invention.

In embodiments, the one or more remote devices may comprise a user device and the communications device is configured to send data corresponding to the first and second locations to be displayed on the user device. For example, a user device in the form of a smartphone may run software configured to operate with the fire safety system. The software may display alerts to a user, identify the location of the fire hazard, display a safe route to the exit of the building, provide instructions on what to do next, allow a user to choose an option to address the hazard such as shutting off a main or local supply or gas, water, electricity, activate a sprinkler system, call the emergency services or turn an appliance off. In preferred embodiments, the first and second locations are displayed on the user device in the form of a visualization of the building. This is particularly useful for members of the emergency services when planning the correct action to take to reduce the risk of the fire hazard and ensure the safety of the occupants of the building. The software may cooperate with an internal navigation module of the user device in order to direct evacuees out of the building, as described with reference to the first aspect of the invention.

Preferably, each of the thermal sensors is connected to a battery power source.

Such a battery power back-up ensures that if the mains electricity fails, or is switched off in response to the detected fire, the thermal sensors continue to operate for a certain amount of time. This allows the first and second locations to be continuously updated in response to the spread of the fire, and movement (e.g. evacuation) of people through the building.

The plurality of fire safety devices may be arranged within the building in an exposed manner In other words, the fire safety devices may be mounted on a wall or ceiling (for example) with no or minimal housing or integration into existing devices or appliances. However, typically, the plurality of fire safety devices comprises one or more of: a mains socket faceplate; a plug-in adapter unit; a light switch faceplate; a wall-mounted unit; a ceiling-mounted unit.

In the case where the fire safety device is a mains socket faceplate, the respective thermal sensor is preferably arranged to detect the temperature of a plug housing (i.e. rather than the plug prongs) when it is inserted into a socket of the faceplate.

This is because the measurement of the housing temperature is not affected by the heat of the electrical components of the fire safety device itself, and the plug housing is where a fire is often likely to start/spread. The thermal sensor may be located within the faceplate housing and directed out of the housing so as to detect the temperature of the underside of a mains plug when received in the socket. Alternatively, the thermal sensor may be provided on a surface of the faceplate housing adjacent to the socket and directed along the outer surface of the housing so as to detect the temperature of a side surface of a mains plug and the connected cable when received in the socket.

Preferably the mains socket faceplate is configured to be mounted on a surface such as a wall to interface with the mains electrical wiring. In particular the fire safety device is a mains socket fascia unit which may be installed in a building in the place of conventional mains socket units for example by screwing the device to the wall at the electrical access points. This allows for thermal sensors of the fire safety system to be installed throughout a building to monitor all electrical appliances The fire safety device may be a plugin adapter unit. Such an adapter unit may further comprise a plug part arranged to be received in a mains electrical socket, the plug part positioned relative to the socket such that an electrical mains plug of an electrical appliance can be received in the socket of the electrical safety device when the plug part is received in a mains socket. This allows for the electrical safety device to be used with existing mains sockets in a building by simply plugging the plug part of the adaptor unit into the mains socket and plugging an appliance to be monitored into the socket of the adaptor unit. A plurality of such plugin adapter units may be arranged throughout a building in order to allow detection of elevated temperatures indicative of the presence or risk of fire, and the presence of one or more people.

The use of thermal sensors integrated within fire safety devices that are a mains socket faceplate or a plug-in adapter unit advantageously allow the detection of elevated temperature of an appliance plug, and thus the detection of an electrical appliance fire hazard.

The fire safety device may be a light switch faceplate or a wall-or ceiling-mounted unit. The positioning of one or more thermal sensors within or on such fire safety devices advantageously allows a wider view of a room or corridor to be achieved, in comparison with a mains socket for example, which is typically located near the floor of a room. Thus, thermal sensors located within a light switch faceplate or wall-or ceiling-mounted units are particularly advantageous for the detection of one or more people within the building. Ceiling units are especially advantageous in communal areas of a building.

In embodiments, at least one of the fire safety devices of the system may be located within or on an electrical appliance itself The temperature of a building fire can reach 1,000°C, and flashover (the simultaneous ignition of all contents within a room or enclosed space) can happen at 500 -600°C, posing a particular threat to life for firefighters who attend the scene. Accordingly, at least some of the thermal sensors are coated in, or situated in housing coated in, heat resistant or heat insulating substances (such as ceramics, for example Zircotece performance thermal barrier plasma applied ceramic coatings or ZircoFle)a foil insulation) which can allow the sensors to continue to operate up to approximately 500-600°C. This allows the particularly dangerous flashover risk to be monitored.

Each fire safety device is configured to transmit data obtained from its respective thermal sensor to a processing unit for analysis to determine a first location and a second location. The processor may be located locally within the building, or within the fire safety device itself, or may be provided as a distributed system (e.g. "Cloud" system). In some examples, the fire safety system may comprise a local processing unit for processing the data received from the sensors and the system may further be configured to send data to a remote processing unit in the cloud, whereby the location in which processing takes place may be selected based on the particular task, the processing requirements or the current network status. In other examples, each fire safety device comprises an internal processing unit configured to process data collected by a sensor of the fire safety device to determine hazard information. The system may further comprising one or more devices, preferably a ceiling mountable device, comprising an internet connection for sending hazard information from each fire safety device to a remote processing unit for further processing.

The data may be transmitted from each fire safety device either directly; for example each fire safety device may comprise a SIM card for direct communication with the processing unit over the internet. More typically, each fire safety device may transmit its respective data to the processing unit indirectly. For example, a safety device may be in communication with a node ("hub") within a local network, where the hub may communicate the data to the processing unit over an external network such as the internet.

Preferably, each of the fire safety devices comprises a communications link such that each fire safety device is in communication with each other and, in some examples, forms a full mesh (peer-to-peer) network throughout the building. In this way, coordinated alerts and actions may be provided. For example, if one thermal sensor detects the presence of a fire hazard, this may be communicated to other fire safety devices within the communication network, whereby alarm sounders located on the other fire safety devices may sound, quickly alerting occupants to the danger Preferably, the fire safety devices are in communication with each other via one or more of a wireless communication link such as Bluetooth or narrow band radio frequency. Preferably, the fire safety devices are in communication with each other via two communications networks such that if one fails, data obtained from the thermal sensors may still be communicated between the devices. Typically, the fire safety devices form a meshed network. One or more of the nodes within the meshed network (e.g. a "hub") may be configured to send the data obtained from the thermal sensors to the processor for analysis and determination of the first and second locations.

The data that is transmitted from each of the fire safety devices to the processing may be in the form of "raw" temperature data, and the processing unit may analyse said data by comparing it to predetermined thresholds in order to identify the presence of a fire and/or building occupants and their locations. More typically, each fire safety device may comprise a local processor for identifying the presence or risk of a fire and/or person based on the data from its respective sensor, and the data transmitted to the (central) processing unit is in the form of the identified presence of a fire and/or person. From these data, the central processing unit may determine the first and second locations. A local processor within each fire safety device may determine the presence or risk or fire and the presence of one or more people by comparing the temperature data obtained by the respective thermal sensor to a predetermined threshold. In embodiments, if a fire has been detected, each fire safety device may operate solely in "person" mode where the local processor only compares the received temperature data to a predetermined threshold indicative of the presence of one or more people. Alternatively such analysis may be performed by the central processor Preferably, the fire safety system is configured such that the processor receives data from the thermal sensors in real time. In this way, the determined first and second locations, and a safe route out of the building, may be updated in real time or near real time (e.g. within 1 second of the event).

The fire safety system may be additionally configured to automatically contact the emergency services upon determining the presence of a fire. The system may also send an alert to a user device to confirm that the emergency services have been contacted.

The fire safety system may further comprise one or more of: a smoke sensor; a gas sensor; a carbon monoxide sensor; a current sensor; a water (moisture sensor). The use of such additional sensors in addition to the thermal sensor allows the fire safety system to sense the presence of a greater range of hazards and identify hazards more reliably. Using a combination of sensors allows for a wide variety of household hazards relating to electrical equipment to be identified reliably. Furthermore, the extra data provided by the one or more additional sensors may be used by the emergency services to coordinate their efforts. For example, if the data from a smoke sensor indicates the presence of smoke in a location where people have been detected, the rescue operation may prioritise that location. Such further sensors are typically located on or integrated within the plurality of fire safety devices.

The fire safety system may further comprise a processing unit configured to: receive the data from the thermal sensors of the respective fire safety devices; analyse said data to determine a first location corresponding to the presence or risk of fire and a second location corresponding to the presence of one or more people; and communicate said data corresponding to the first and second locations to the communications device. Preferably, the processing unit is configured to determine a safe route through the building between the second location corresponding to the presence of one or more people and an exit of the building, avoiding the first location. Typically, the processing unit is adapted to perform any of the features of the method of the first aspect of the invention.

Each fire safety device may comprise an illumination device, for example a high power LED light, configured to illuminate in the case of loss of power. In particular, if a hazard is detected in a dark room, the safety devices may be instructed to illuminate their respective illumination devices.

Further disclosed herein is a fire safety system comprising: a plurality of thermal sensors configured to be arranged within a building and configured to detect locations of elevated temperature within the building; wherein one or more of said thermal sensors are arranged to detect elevated temperatures indicative of the presence or risk of fire, and one or more of said thermal sensors are arranged to detect elevated temperatures indicative of body heat and therefore the presence of one or more people; a processing unit configured to receive data from the thermal sensors and determine a first location corresponding to the presence or risk of fire and a second location corresponding to the presence of one or more people; and a communications device for communicating data corresponding to the first and second locations. Such a fire safety system may include any of the preferred features discussed above in relation to the first, second and third aspects of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary fire safety system according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 schematically illustrates an alert that has been received on a remote user device; Figure 3 illustrates a visual depiction of the location of a fire and the location of occupants of the building that have been determined based on data received by the thermal sensors; Figure 4 illustrates a fire safety device in the form of a mains socket faceplate; Figures 5A and 5B further illustrate a fire safety device in the form of a mains socket faceplate; Figures 6A and 6B illustrate a fire safety device in the form of a plug-in adapter unit; Figure 7 illustrates a fire safety device in the form of a light switch faceplate; Figures 8A and 8B illustrate a mains isolation unit that may be used in a fire safety system according to the present invention; Figure 9 illustrates a further example of a mains isolation unit that may be used in a fire safety system according to the present invention; and Figure 10 is a flow diagram setting out the main steps of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary fire safety system 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The fire safety system includes a plurality of thermal sensors arranged throughout a building. In the present embodiment, the thermal sensors are integrated within a plurality of corresponding fire safety devices 100, 200, 300, 400. The fire safety devices may take the form of one or more mains socket faceplates 100 arranged within the building; one or more plug-in adapters 200; one or more light switch faceplates 300 and one or more wall-or ceiling-mounted units 400. A fire safety system according to the invention may comprise one or more types of fire safety devices.

The fire safety devices 100, 200, 300, 400 may each comprise a communications link so as to be able to communicate with each other via wireless connectivity, for example radio narrow band frequency, VVi-Fi and Bluetooth. Preferably the safety devices are each configured to communicate over two communication channels such that all of the safety devices can operate on two different types of network as a failsafe. In this example, the safety devices can communicate via Wi-Fi 501 and a radio mesh network 502, for example 868MHz. By providing two communications networks, if one network goes down, data obtained from the thermal sensors arranged throughout the building may still be communicated in order that the location of a fire hazard and the locations of the occupants of the building may be determined. In Figure 1, lines connecting safety devices 100, 200, 300, 400 and a smart hub 500 represent a mesh network 502. The mesh network also comprises an isolation unit 900 (described below).

The connectivity of each of the safety devices in the local network may be managed by a smart hub 500 which is connected to a central router (not shown) within the building. The smart hub 500 itself may comprise one or more thermal sensors. In preferred embodiments, the smart hub is integrated within one of the fire safety devices 100, 200, 300, 400. Typically, the smart hub 500 is integrated within a ceiling-mounted unit 400.

As the network of safety devices are in local communication with each other, alarms or other safety notifications may be initiated quickly in response to a detected hazard. For example, if a thermal sensor located within a mains socket faceplate 100 detects a local increase in temperature that is indicative of the presence of a fire, this information may be communicated to the other safety devices within the building over the local VViFi and radio mesh networks 501, 502.

In response, the safety devices 200, 300, 400 may initiate an integrated alarm sounder to warn occupants of the fire hazard and/or switch off the power locally at the location of the safety device (e.g. at a mains socket outlet, at a plug-in adapter unit).

The fire safety system may also comprise an isolation unit 900 in data connection with the fire safety devices 100, 200, 300, 400 within the local VVi-Fi/mesh network. Such an isolation unit may be arranged for installation in a mains supply -for example a main water feed, a mains electricity circuit unit, a header water tank or mains gas supply. The location of an isolation unit is typically pre-configured within a building. In response to identification of a fire hazard by one or more thermal sensors of the system, a signal may be transmitted to the isolation unit over the Wi-Fi/mesh network in order to shut off a gas, electrical or water supply to the building, significantly minimising the risk of secondary fire, explosion or electrical hazard (for example, if a major water leak impinges upon live electrical apparatus or circuitry).

The data obtained by the thermal sensors arranged throughout the building is processed by a system processing unit 600, which in this example is hosted remotely in a Cloud system. However, in other embodiments the processing unit 600 may be located locally within the building. The data from the thermal sensors may be sent to the processing unit 600 from the smart hub 500 over the internet via the router. In other words, the data from each thermal sensor within the local network is transmitted to the smart hub which then communicates with the processing unit. The system processor 600 is configured to analyse the data obtained from the thermal sensors of the fire safety system and determine a location of a fire or potential fire hazard, as well as the location of one or more people within the building. For example, if the data from a thermal sensor in a plug-in adapter 200 located within a living room of a flat on the first floor of a building shows a local increase in temperature indicative of the presence or risk of a fire, it can be inferred that the location of the fire is within the living room of that flat. Data from other thermal sensors located within the flat may also be analysed in order to confirm such a conclusion.

Data from the plurality of thermal sensors may also be analysed by the system processor 600 in order to infer the location of one or more occupants of the building. For example, data from a thermal sensor located within a light switch faceplate 300 may indicate the presence of a crowd of people in a second floor flat. Similarly, data from a thermal sensor integrated within a ceiling unit 400 in a corridor of the building may indicate that a number of occupants are evacuating the building in response to the alarms sounded by the safety devices following communication of the fire risk from the safety device 100.

The present invention may allow the location of a fire and occupants to be detected with "room level" resolution.

The data processed by central processor 600 may be communicated to one or more remote devices 800 via a communications link such as the internet. A particular remote device may be a smartphone 800. The smartphone (or other smart user device) may run an app with which the user can receive alerts and notifications from the central processor (e.g. via a Cloud server over a communications link 810 such as the internet) that are indicative of the location of the fire hazard, a safe route out of the building, and instructions regarding what to do next. This information may be displayed on the remote device, for example as schematically illustrated in Figure 2 in which a smartphone 800 has received an alert over communications link 810 which is displayed to the user on the smartphone screen.

The central processor may receive location information from a smartphone 800, for example in order to guide a user out of the building. In some examples the central processor may also control aspects of the smartphone for example to switch on the "torch" function of the smartphone if it is detected that the mains power in the building is out.

In the event of a loss of connectivity between the communications hub and the cloud (600), the fire safety devices can (through VViFi or Bluetooth or other "localised" communication means, link to any smart device on which the "app" is installed, in order to provide the same functions as if the loss of connectivity to the cloud had not occurred. In this scenario, the smart device would (temporarily at least) form part of the mesh network.

As has been described, the fire safety system of the present invention uses a plurality of thermal sensors in order to determine the location(s) of a fire hazard and the location(s) of one or more people within a building. Particularly advantageously, authorised users such as building managers, fire and emergency services may be able to access this information, for example by secure access to the Cloud servers so that they can see the status of the fire and the distribution of the occupants in real time or near-real time from their own devices. By using this information, the emergency services may focus their efforts to the particular locations of need, ensuring both the increased safety of the occupants of the building as well as the increased safety of the emergency service personnel themselves. Preferably, the locations of the fire hazard and occupants of the building may be displayed in the form of a three-dimensional visualisation 850 of the building (e.g. using data comprising a layout of the building stored in memory), as schematically shown in Figure 3. As shown in Figure 3, the location of the fire hazard (10), as well as the locations of a plurality of occupants (20) are clearly visualised throughout the building.

The building layout data can be accessed for purposes of evacuation by the evacuees and for purposes of emergency response can be accessed by the emergency services. This data is typically stored in the cloud and accessed using appropriate user authority and identity management. This data can also be provided to, for example, local hospitals in order to notify and prepare them for an influx of possible emergency hospital admissions.

The fire and occupant location information may be accessed by active firefighters inside the building, during the fire. In this scenario, the system acts as an enhanced "spotter" to give the fire incident command, and the firefighters on the scene, the best possible picture of events with the lowest risk to themselves.

Typically, a remote device such as a smart phone or other smart device may run one or two forms of software, or "app": (1) a user app (intended for residents), showing messages and evacuation routes and (2) a responders app, (intended for emergency services and building authorities) showing the status of the fire as a whole and the evacuees throughout the building.

The software may also utilise a smart device's inbuilt navigation/tracking system (e.g. integrated GNSS and inertial sensors) to determine metrics of a building occupant's motion (e.g. position/direction of motion) in relation to the determined safe route out of the building in order to assist the user in a safe evacuation.

The fire safety system comprises a communications device for communicating data corresponding to the first and second locations. This may be in form of one or more optical indicators 700 located throughout the building. Once the data from the thermal sensors has been processed by central processor 600 in order to determine the locations of the fire hazard and of the occupants of the building, the optical indictors may be actuated in order to indicate a safe route out of the building, avoiding the determined location of the fire. The optical indicators may be in the form of "smart signage" located on walls throughout the communal areas of a multiple occupancy building. When there is no fire risk, these signs may appear blank. However, in response to a fire hazard being detected by the fire safety system, and a safe route out of the building being determined by the central processor 600, the signs may be illuminated (e.g. by integrated LEDs) in order to exhibit directional instructions (e.g. in the form or arrows or text) so as to safely guide occupants out of the building.

Alternatively or in addition to the optical indicators, the fire safety system may 20 comprise a communications device in the form of one or more speakers 750. The speakers may be configured to sound an announcement explaining a safe route out of the building, avoiding the detected location of the first hazard.

The optical indicators 700 and speakers 750 each comprise a wireless communications link for receiving a signal transmitted from the central processor 600, whereby the optical indicators 700 and/or speakers 750 may be actuated.

In order to determine a safe route out to the exit of the building avoiding the location of the fire hazard, the central processor 600 may have access to a memory storing data comprising the layout of the building. In response to receiving data from the thermal sensors and determining a location of the fire hazard, and the locations of the occupants of the building, the system processor may access the building layout data and combine the determined locations with the building layout data. A safe path through the building avoiding the location of the fire may then be determined. This evacuation route is subsequently communicated to the optical and/or audible indicators over a communications link such as the intemet 810 in order to communicate the evacuation route to the building occupants.

In other embodiments, a local processor, typically located on the smart hub 500, may communicate with the optical indicators 700 and/or speakers 750 (e.g. over a local network).

The fire safety devices 100, 200, 300, 400 are connected to the hub 500 via a local WiFi or radio mesh network using frequencies as approved by BS5839, EN54 and or their derivatives. Data obtained from the thermal sensors located within or on the fire safety devices are transmitted via the local network to the hub 500, from where they are transmitted to the processing unit 600 for analysis.

Typically, the local network may comprise two or more hubs (or fire safety devices comprising a hub) that are capable of communicating with the processing unit 600. In the event that any hub 500 loses connectivity to the processing unit 600 (e.g. because a fire in the locality of the hub exceeds its operating temperature), the data from the thermal sensors will be transmitted to the processing unit via a second hub that is still operational.

In some embodiments, each fire safety device 100, 200, 300, 400 may comprise communication means configured to communicate directly with the processing unit 600. For example, each fire safety device may comprise a SIM card allowing it to connect to the internet.

Thermal sensors As has been explained above, the thermal sensors of the fire safety system according to the invention are arranged to detect elevated temperatures that are indicative of the presence or risk of fire, or indicative of body heat and therefore the presence of one or more people. Each thermal sensor is provided by an infrared sensor, in particular an infrared camera comprising an array of infrared detector pixels. The infrared array sensor may comprise an 8x8 grid array of thermopile elements that detect absolute temperature by measuring the emitted infrared radiation. This infrared array sensor is able to provide thermal images by measuring actual temperature and temperature gradients, allowing highly precise measurements of surface temperature and identification of changes in temperature. The infrared array sensor preferably also includes a lens to provide an increased viewing angle such that a large area (e.g. of an electrical plug) can be imaged even when the thermal sensor is positioned a short distance away. Such a large viewing angle is also useful for monitoring large spaces such as rooms, corridors and stairwells within a building. The lens may comprise an integral silicon lens which provides a viewing angle of around 60 degrees. The thermal sensor is preferably configured to detect temperature changes over a range of -20°C to 100°C. This allows for tracking of the surface temperature of an electrical plug as it begins to heat up in the case of an electrical fault, for example.

The thermal sensor 110 may be for example a Panasonic grid-EYE 0 sensor, generally used for movement detection, occupancy detection, people counting and lighting control.

An infrared array sensor also provides for the possibility of more complex processing carried out on the thermal image received by the sensor. For example, more advanced machine learning based algorithms can be used to detect temperature change patterns which are indicative of a high risk fault in the appliance.

The thermal sensors are arranged throughout the building with each thermal sensor being integrated within, or mounted on, a fire safety device 100, 200, 300, 400. (It is however envisaged that the thermal sensors may be mounted directly to a surface, for example a wall or ceiling). These example fire safety devices will now be described in further detail. Further detail on the first safety devices of the fire safety system may also be found in publication W02020/016570.

Mains socket faceplate Thermal sensors integrated with a mains socket faceplate may be used to detect the presence or threat of an electrical fire through monitoring the temperature of an appliance plug that is inserted into the socket of the faceplate. A thermal sensor may be positioned in a number of different ways within or on a mains socket faceplate 100 in order to achieve the reading of surface temperature of an electrical plug. In this way, elevated temperatures that are indicative of the presence or risk of a fire may be detected. In the example of Figure 4, the thermal sensor 110 is positioned within a housing 130 of the device 100 between the recesses 121 forming the socket 120. In particular, there is an opening 111 in the surface of the housing 130 in a central position of the socket 120, between the recesses in which the pins of an electrical plug are received. The thermal sensor 110 is positioned within the housing facing out of the housing 130 of the device 100. In this way, the thermal sensor 110 images the base surface of the plug when received in the socket 120. The opening 111 may be larger than the IR sensitive array of the thermal sensor 110 and the thermal sensor may be recessed within the housing facing through the opening so as to provide a wider field of view of the underside surface of a plug received in the socket portion 120. In this way, the thermal sensor can provide a contactless measurement of the surface temperature of a region of the underside surface of a plug received in the device 100. The thermal sensor 110 may equally be placed in a number of alternative locations so as to provide a contactless surface temperature measurement of the electrical plug received in the electrical safety device 100.

Figures 5A and 5B illustrate an alternative possibility in which the thermal sensor is positioned on the surface of the housing 130 directed along the surface 131 of the housing 130 so as to measure the surface temperature of the electrical plug. In particular, the thermal sensor 110 may be moulded within the housing 130 of the fire safety device 100. In this example the housing 130 comprises an integral protruding portion 112 in the surface 131 which houses the infrared sensor so as to direct it along the face of the housing 130 towards the socket portion 120. Figure 5B shows a side profile view of the device 100 of Figure 5A. The protruding housing portion 112 is visible in the surface 131 of the housing 130. The thermal sensor 110 is held within this protruding housing portion 112 so as to be aligned approximately parallel with the surface of the housing 130. The sensor 110 may be positioned at any point around the socket portion 120, for example directed at the socket 120 from the side as shown in Figure 5A, from below or from above.

Positioning the sensor in this way so as to be directed along the surface of the housing allows the sensor to be distanced from the plug so as to image a wider field of view around the plug when received in the socket. Given the lens of the thermal sensor 110 provides a field of view of around 60°, a substantial portion of the electrical plug can be imaged to detect rising temperature gradients as they arise, allowing more accurate detection of temperature rises associated with electrical faults.

Although the thermal sensor 110 is primarily configured for detection of surface temperature, which allows an early detection of possible faults, before they result in significant temperature rises leading to sparks or flames, the thermal sensor can clearly equally detect the presence of such sparks or flames as they arise in the plug due to significant emission of IR radiation. The thermal sensor 110 therefore allows for the early detection of temperature increases associated with possible hazardous faults within the device and the device can provide various alerts and actions to minimise the risk of such faults. Thermal sensors arranged within a mains socket faceplate may also detect the increased IR radiation emitted by a person, and thereby the location of occupants within the building may be inferred.

Figure 5A illustrates various further functionality of a fire safety device in a fire safety system according to the present invention. The fire safety device 100 shown in Figures 4 and 5A is a mains socket faceplate 100, which is configured to be mounted at an electrical connection point on a wall or other surface, for example using screws 101. The main socket face plate safety device 100 of Figures 4 and 5A comprises a substantially flat body defined by a housing 130, as in a conventional main socket face plate or fascia. The fire safety main socket face plate 100 is configured to be positioned in place of a conventional main socket face plate at the electrical access points in a building to provide enhanced safety against the risk of fires and electrical faults. In the example of Figure 4 and Figure 5A the main socket face plate 100 comprises two sockets 120 but such fire safety devices could equally have a single socket 120 or a greater number of sockets 120. Similarly, although the device 100 of Figures 4 and 5A is in the form of a face plate configured to be attached to a wall or other surface, it might equally be provided as a moveable extension socket configured to be attached via a cable to a mains socket.

The main socket face plate device 100 includes switches 102 to switch on the current supply to the corresponding socket 120, as in a conventional mains socket face plate. In use, the main socket face plate device 100 is attached to a wall by screwing it into place using screws 101, in place of a conventional main socket face plate. An electrical appliance is plugged into a socket 120 of the device 100 and current supplied by switching switch 102 to the on position. The surface temperature of an appliance plug plugged into the socket 120 is monitored by the thermal infrared sensor 110 facing along the surface of the housing 130 directed at the socket 120. When a specific temperature or change in temperature is identified by a local processor located within the faceplate device (not shown) the device 100 determines the presence of a possible fire risk and can take a number of actions. The electrical safety device 100 firstly comprises an internal alarm sounder 140 which is configured to sound when a hazard is detected in order to alert the occupants in the surrounding area. Furthermore, the electrical safety device comprises a device wireless communications link (not shown) configured to communicate with one or more other fire safety devices and the hub within the local W-Fi/mesh network. As well as sending data to the central processor 600 via the hub 500, the device may communicate with other fire safety devices within the local network to initiate further actions such as alarms or switching off a current supply. The local processor is also configured to determine the presence of one or more people, by comparing the temperature from the thermal sensor with a predetermined temperature range or threshold indicative of body heat and therefore the presence of one or more people.

The device 100 contains a reset switch 141 for resetting the device 100 or silencing the alarm 140 when it is sounding. The electrical safety device 100 further comprises a series of status LEDs to indicate to a user that the device 100 is functioning correctly. In particular the device of Figure 5A includes a corresponding LED to indicate the status for the network connectivity, the power to the device and the sounding of the alarm. The series of LEDs 142 are provided on the surface of the housing 130 to provide visual alert to the user The fire safety device may equally be configured to communicate via the wireless communications link with other user devices such as a smart TV, smart watch or other devices to indicate the presence of a potential hazard and provide details on the hazard detected.

In addition to the thermal sensor 110 the electrical safety device 100 comprises a number of additional sensors to detect the presence of a hazard. In particular, the electrical safety device comprises a smoke and gas sensor 113 configured to detect smoke from any electrical device connected to the electrical safety device 100 or smoke and gas in the vicinity of the device 100. The electrical safety device 100 also includes a carbon monoxide sensor 114 configured to detect carbon monoxide in the vicinity of the electrical safety device 100, for example from gas fires or boilers. The device 100 further includes a current sensor 115 for monitoring the current supplied to an electrical appliance plugged into the electrical safety device 100. The current sensor is positioned within the device to measure current between the pins of a plug and the corresponding contact within the body of the device 100.

The electrical safety device 100 can also include a water sensor 116 arranged to detect the presence of water in the vicinity of the device 100, as shown in Figure 5A. In particular the water sensor 116 may comprise a water sensor body 117 arranged to lie on the ground below the electrical safety device 100 so as to detect collecting water on a surface below the device 100. The water sensor body 117 is connected to the device by a water sensor connection 118 as shown in Figure 5A. The connection 118 may comprise a plug which plugs into a corresponding socket on the side of the device to connect the water sensor to the internal processor such that the processor can receive signals from the water sensor to identify the presence of water and alert a user using the alarm or wireless communications link to a user device. The presence of water may be particularly hazardous when there is an electrical fault with the appliance and the additional water sensor 116 can detect the presence of a leak from a household appliance or mains water in order to identify such a hazard.

The local processor of the device 100 is configured to determine the presence of a potential hazard by identifying when the value of a sensed parameter (e.g. temperature from the thermal sensor) exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Processing can happen both locally, within the local processor, and remotely within the cloud. However more complex processing may be used to identify the presence of a hazard, for example by identifying a rate of change of a sensed parameter or where a sensed parameter change displays a particular behaviour or pattern associated with an increased risk of a hazard. The local processor can also be configured to determine the presence of a hazard based on a combination of sensor outputs in order to identify a risk more reliably. For example the processor can use more complex algorithms, such as machine learning based algorithms which take the output from multiple sensors in order to determine an elevate risk. For example in a situation where the current sensor and thermal sensor readings are lower than their corresponding individual thresholds, the behaviour of the sensor readings in combination may signify a developing hazard and therefore this can be detected at an earlier stage than with a single sensor. Similarly an unusual rate of chance of one or more parameters may indicate the presence of a hazard. Data from the plurality of further sensors may be communicated to the central processor 600 via the device communications link and the smart hub 500 for further analysis and in particular identification of the hazard location Plug-in adaptor Figures 6A and 6B show an alternative fire safety device 200 that may be used in a fire safety system of the present invention. The fire safety device 200 shown in Figures 6A and 6B is a plug in adaptor unit 200 which is configured to plug into a mains socket and receive the plug of an electrical appliance such that the current supply from the main socket is transmitted through the adaptor unit 200 to the appliance. In this way, rather than installing mains face plates 100 as shown in Figures 4 and 5A, the plug in adaptor safety unit 200 may simply be plugged into existing mains terminals and electrical appliances plugged directly into the adaptor unit 200 to obtain the increased safety functionality explained above.

The device 200 shown in Figures 6A and 68 includes all of the functionality described above with respect to the face plate safety device 100 shown in Figures 4 and 5. In particular, it includes an infrared array sensor 210 moulded into the housing 230 of the device 200 so as to be directed across the outer surface of the housing 230 at a region on the outer surface corresponding to the socket 220 and therefore detect a surface temperature of the plug of an electrical appliance plugged into the adaptor unit 200. The electrical safety adaptor unit 200 also includes a built in current sensor 215 within the recesses corresponding to the socket 220; a smoke and gas sensor 213; a carbon monoxide sensor 214; a separate water sensor 116 which may be plugged in to the device 200 in order to detect the presence of water on the ground beneath the adaptor 200; an internal alarm sounder 240; status LEDs 242; an on/reset/silence switch 241; and an internal processor configured to receive signals from each of the sensors, analyse these signals to determine whether they are indicative of the presence of a potential hazard or the presence of one or more people and alert the user via the internal alarm sounder 240. The device also comprises a communication link configured to send the data obtained by the thermal sensor 210 to the hub 500 via the local W-Fi/mesh network. These data are then transmitted by the ceiling unit/hub to the central processor 600.

A further functionality which may be present in each of the fire safety devices 100, 200, 300, 400 according to the present invention is an internal battery backup, such that if the mains electricity fails or is switched off by the security system, the electrical safety devices 100, 200, 300, 400 continue to operate for a certain amount of time.

Light Switch Faceplate Figure 7 illustrates an alternative fire safety device 300 that may be used in a fire safety system according to the present invention. The fire safety device 300 is in the form of a light switch faceplate which is configured to be mounted to a wall within a building (e.g. by screws 301) so as to replace the original light switch faceplate.

The device 300 shown in Figure 7 includes an infrared array sensor 310 moulded into the housing 330 of the device 300 so as to be directed outwards from the outer surface of the housing 230. Therefore, the thermal sensor 310 has a wide field of view of the area (e.g. room or corridor) within which the light switch faceplate is located, and is particularly useful for detecting elevated temperatures that are indicative of the presence of one or more people. The thermal sensor 310 may also detect high levels of IR radiation that may be indicative of a flame or spark. The unit 300 preferably also includes one or more of: a built in current sensor 315; a smoke and gas sensor 313; a carbon monoxide sensor 314. The incorporation of a smoke sensor within the light switch device 300 ensures the smoke sensor is placed at an optimal position (around the standard height of a light switch of around 1.5m from floor level) to detect smoke. The light switch device preferably also includes an internal alarm sounder 340; an on/reset/silence switch/status LEDs 342; internal battery 360 and an internal processor configured to receive signals from each of the sensors, analyse these signals to determine whether they are indicative of the presence of a potential hazard or the presence of one or more people and alert the user via the internal alarm sounder 340.

The device also comprises a communication link configured to send the data obtained by the thermal sensor and other sensors to the smart hub 500 which then communicates with the system processor 600.

Wall/ceiling unit A further fire safety device that may be used within the fire safety system of the present invention is a wall-or ceiling-mounted unit 400 (shown in Figure 1). The unit 400 comprises an infrared array sensor moulded into the housing of the device so as to face outwards form the device housing. In this way, the thermal sensor provides a large field of view that is particularly advantageous for monitoring large areas such as rooms or corridors. Consequently, one or more fire safety devices in the form of a wall/ceiling unit 400 may be arranged within a building primarily in order to detect thermal radiation that is indicative of the presence of one or more people. Such devices may be located in communal areas of a multiple-occupancy building, such as corridors and stairwells.

As well as an infrared array sensor, the wall/ceiling unit 400 also comprises a smoke/gas sensor; an internal alarm sounder, an internal battery and a processor configured to receive signals from the thermal sensor, analyse these signals to determine whether they are indicative of the presence of a potential hazard or presence of one or more people, and alert the user via the internal alarm sounder. The device 400 also comprises a communication link configured to send the data obtained by the thermal sensor to the system processor 600.

Although the hub 500 may be separate to each of the fire safety device described above, in preferred embodiments, the hub 500 is integrated within one of the fire safety devices. Typically, the hub may be integrated within a ceiling unit 400.

Isolation Unit A further device that may form part of the fire safety system of the present invention is a mains supply isolation unit 900 shown in Figure 8A. Such an isolation unit is typically provided within the mesh network. The mains supply isolation unit 900 comprises at least one motorised valve 951 arranged for installation in a mains supply -for example a main water feed, a header water tank or mains gas supply. In the event of a fire, it is most preferable to shut off a mains gas supply in order to reduce the chances of a secondary explosion. The mains supply isolation unit 950 additionally includes a control unit 960 arranged for installation near the main supply. The mains supply isolation control unit 960 comprising a communications link 952 to send signals to the motorised valve 951 in order to shut off the mains supply. In the example of Figure 8A, the motorised valve 951 is provided within the gas water supply line 162 so as to shut off the mains water supply to the premises, or to shut off the supply to a particular part of the premises. The mains supply isolation control unit 960 comprises a communications link configured to receive signals from one or more of the fire safety devices over the local WiFi/mesh network and control the motorised mains shut off valve 951 accordingly. Thereby, the main supply may be shut off in the case that a hazard is detected by one of the fire safety devices in the fire safety device network. The communications link of the main supply isolation control unit may also be configured to receive signals from a remote device 800 such as a smart phone in order that the mains supply may be shut off.

The main supply isolation control unit 960 may also include a number of local sensors with similar functionality to the fire safety devices described above in order to detect the presence of a local hazard and shut off the main supply accordingly. In particular the main supply control unit 960 may include a thermal sensor 961, for example as explained above, configured to detect the presence of a spark, flame or person within the vicinity; a smoke and gas sensor 963; a carbon monoxide sensor 964; and an optional water sensor 926 to detect the presence of water collecting on the ground below the control unit 960. The mains supply isolation unit 900 therefore has the required functionality to detect the presence of local hazards and shut off the mains supply accordingly, as well as alert other devices in the local VVi-Fi/mesh network. The mains supply control unit 960 also comprises an internal alarm sounder 965 to alert a user of the presence of the hazard and it can also transmit signals to a user device such as a smart phone or smart TV to alert the user with the location description of the detected hazard.

The device may also have an internal battery back-up 968 as with the devices described above. The device may be connected directly to the mains power supply via connection 969.

The main supply isolation unit 900 described above therefore provides additional functionality in terms of the control unit 960 with various sensors to detect local hazards. However a less complex main supply isolation unit may be provided more simply in the form of a motorised valve 951 and a wireless receiver 952 configured to receive a signal, as shown in Figure 83. In this case the motorised valve 951 lies in the main supply line, for example the mains water feed, header water tank or mains gas supply and includes a wireless receiver component 952 which simply comprises means to receive a signal sent by a fire safety device or remote smart device 800 and actuate the valve to shut off the main supply.

The electrical safety system of the present invention may also include a mains electrical isolation unit 900a, as shown in Figure 9. The mains electrical isolation unit 900a comprises a mains electrical isolation control unit 960a which has exactly the same functionality as the control unit 960 described above with respect to Figure 8A. In particular, it can receive signals sent from fire safety devices within the local VVi-Fi/mesh network and remote devices 800 and can detect a number of local hazards using one or more local sensors. The electrical isolation unit 900a differs from the main supply isolation unit 900 in that it comprises a cabled or wireless communications link 952a to the main switch 951a within a consumer electrical unit (or a fuse box). In this way, when the main supply isolation control unit 960 either receives a signal or it detects a local hazard with one or more of the local sensors within the control unit 960, the internal processor sends a signal via the communications link 952 to the main switch 951a of the consumer unit 953 which shuts off the mains electrical supply. In this way a potential hazard can be prevented from spreading further by cutting the electrical supply to the building. In an alternative example all of the functionality of the control unit 900a may be directly integrated into a consumer unit/fuse box. Furthermore, as with the isolation units described above, a simpler version may be provided which simply includes a wireless receiver built into the consumer unit 953 and an actuator which switches the main switch 951a in the consumer unit 953 when the wireless receiver receives the signal.

As discussed above, in the event of a fire it is most preferable to shut off the supply of mains gas. Typically, it is preferable to shut off the gas to the building as a whole in the event of a fire which has broken out of a flat and into the wider building, to avoid secondary explosions. The system and method of the present invention is capable of determining the location of the fire, and therefore whether the fire is limited to a room, a residence (comprising several rooms) or has spread into other residences and communal areas. In the case of the former (room or single residence) the system would typically not set off global (whole building) alarms nor shut off the gas to the whole building. However, if the fire were to be detected to have spread out of the residence in which it was first detected, alarms and isolation units located throughout the building as a whole may be actuated via the local W-Fi/mesh network.

Generally, the system is configured according to a predetermined policy which defines for example the criteria for different evacuation strategies to be implemented. Therefore the system may implement an evacuation strategy, for example by activating selected alarms in sequence, according to the predetermined policy and the hazard status, as determined by the processing of data from the sensors. Data defining the predetermined policy may be stored in a local memory in one or more devices within the system or may be stored remotely for example, accessible via the internet.

A policy defining the criteria for notification and evacuation of the building will be agreed with the Building Responsible Authority. This will determine which specific actions are instructed to the remote devices and in which situations the occupants are notified and evacuated from the building by communicating the safe route out of the building. This will establish whether, for example, all alarms go off in a building on the detection of one fire in one residence, or whether there is an "escalating threat chain" which can be monitored and responded to, in line with safe evacuation policies.

One such policy might be (1) in the event of a fire in a residence, verify the fire through multiple sensors, automatically alert (a) emergency services, (b) residence occupants (c) occupants of adjoining residences (d) Building Owner / Responsible Authorities, (2) in the event that the fire spreads to another residence (a) alert all residents on that floor or (b) alert residents on a floor-by-floor basis or even (c) alert the whole building simultaneously. There may be different policies and the response might be different for a fire which starts in a communal area (which may escalate quicker). It may also be different for different times of day (for example, a residential fire between 11pm and 7am has a fatality rate 3.5 times higher than a fire at any other time).

In prior art fire safety systems, it is deemed unsuitable to fit communal alarms in purpose-built blocks of flats; this is because it is accepted, generally, that the dangers to the occupants of a potential mass panic and evacuation in a medium or high-rise fire outweigh the dangers of staying put. The present invention in which a particular policy may be pre-programmed into the system ensures that alarms can be configured to alert in a phased, escalated chain depending on the parameters of the fire (for example, a catastrophic event might go straight to mass alerts, but these are rare). In general, the policy is set such that alarms cannot be activated automatically across a building just because of one fire in one residence.

Figure 10 is a flow chart setting out the main steps of a method performed in a fire safety system 1000 of the present invention.

At step S101, thermal data is obtained at a plurality of thermal sensors 110 arranged within a plurality of fire safety devices 100, 200, 300, 400 throughout a building. The plurality of fire safety devices are arranged in a meshed network.

These data may be used to detect the presence or risk of a fire and the presence of one or more people, dependent on the sensed temperature. Additional data may be obtained from one or more additional sensors, for example sensors configured to detect the presence of smoke, CO, or gas or a water leak.

At step S102, if a fire hazard is detected at a particular fire safety device (e.g. by a local processor that detects that the temperature is above a predetermined threshold), this hazard may be communicated to other fire safety devices in the meshed network to notify them of the hazard. On receipt of the notification, the fire safety devices within the meshed network may each actuate a local alarm sounder or perform a mitigating action (e.g. shutting down a mains supply or current supply). The selected actions will be determined based on the data received from the sensors, the details of the hazard determined based on the sensor data and the predetermined policy defining the agreed protocols for different hazard scenarios. For examples, if the thermal sensors identify the presence of a small local fire in a particular residence, then local alarms may be activated by the system. If the hazard has not yet escalated to the point of fire, for example an electrical fault has been identified in a particular electrical appliance, an alert may be sent to a user device and power to the appliance shut off. In the rare case of a multi-location fire throughout a building signal may be sent to alarms throughput the building and occupants evacuated as described below. The actions taken will be selected based on the sensed data on the hazard and the predetermined policy.

At step S103, the data obtained by the thermal sensors is communicated to central processor 600, typically hosted in a distributed system, e.g. the Cloud. A policy-based response is initiated. Typically, the data are communicated via a hub within the meshed network that is in communication with the central processor. The hub may be a dedicated unit, but typically is integrated within a fire safety device.

However, in other embodiments, each fire safety device may communicate directly with the central processor. For example, each fire safety device may comprise a SIM card and would most likely only communicate directly with the Cloud in the event of both (a) an incident and (b) a loss of connectivity to the cloud.

The central processor receives the thermal data and at step S104 analyses the thermal data to obtain the first and second locations, i.e. the location of the fire and the location of one or more people within the building. The thermal data are typically communicated to the central processor in real time so that an accurate and up to date analysis of the locations may be performed.

At step 5105, the central processor determines a safe route through the building based on the first and second locations The central processor may access a stored layout of the building in order to map the determined first and second locations onto the building layout and determine the route.

At step S106, the central processor actuates optical and audible indicators, arranged within the building and in data communication with the central processor, so as to communicate the determined safe route to the occupants of the building. The central processor sends a signal to the optical and audible indicators to control their activation in accordance with the determined safe route. As described above, the evacuation and alerting of the occupants may be based on a predetermined policy, with not all occupants notified and evacuated simultaneously.

At step S107, a communications device sends a notification from the central processor to a remote device (e.g. over a mobile internet communication link).

Typically the remote device is a remote user device such as a smart phone, tablet or other smart device running software (e.g. an "app") configured to operate with the fire safety system. The software may display the notification in the form of an alert of the hazard and may indicate the determined safe route, which may be particularly useful for evacuees. The software may display the first and second locations in the form of a visualisation of the building, the status and distribution of the fire and evacuees on a "whole-building" basis, which may be particularly advantageous for fire/emergency services, fire incident command and other authorised users.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A computer-implemented method for determining fire safety information, corn prisi ng: receiving data from a plurality of thermal sensors arranged within a building and configured to detect locations of elevated temperature within the building; wherein one or more of said thermal sensors are arranged to detect elevated temperatures indicative of the presence or risk of fire, and one or more said thermal sensors are arranged to detect elevated temperatures indicative of body heat and therefore the presence of one or more people; analysing the received data to determine a first location corresponding to the presence or risk of fire and a second location corresponding to the presence of one or more people; and communicating data corresponding to the first and second locations.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a safe route through the building between the second location corresponding to the presence of one or more people and an exit of the building, avoiding the first location, and wherein the step of communicating data comprises communicating the determined safe route.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining a safe route comprises accessing a memory storing data comprising the layout of the building.
4. The method of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the communicating data comprises actuating one or more optical indicators arranged within the building to indicate the determined safe route.
5. The method of any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the communicating data comprises actuating one or more audible indicators arranged within the building to indicate the determined safe route.
6. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the communicating data comprises communicating the first and second locations to one or more remote devices.
7. The method of claim 6, further comprising displaying the determined first and second locations on one of the said one or more remote devices in the form of a real-time visualisation of the building.
8. The method of any of the preceding claims, further comprising 10 communicating with a remote device to cause the remote device to perform an action in response to the determined first and second locations.
9. The method of claim 8 comprising communicating with a remote device to instruct the remote device to perform one or more actions, where the instructed actions are selected based on: the determined first and second locations; and a predetermined policy defining actions to be taken in different hazard scenarios.
10. The method of any of the preceding claims, further comprising receiving supplementary data from one or more of: a smoke sensor; a gas sensor; a carbon monoxide sensor; a current sensor; a water sensor; arranged within the building, and wherein the determination of the first location is further based on an analysis of the supplementary data.
11. A computer readable medium comprising executable instructions that 30 when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform the method of any of the preceding claims
12. A fire safety system comprising: a plurality of fire safety devices configured to be arranged within a building, each fire safety device comprising a thermal sensor configured to detect locations of elevated temperature within the building; wherein one or more of said thermal sensors are arranged to detect elevated temperatures indicative of the presence or risk of fire, and one or more of said thermal sensors are arranged to detect elevated temperatures indicative of body heat and therefore the presence of one or more people; wherein each fire safety device is configured to transmit data obtained from its respective thermal sensor to a processing unit for analysis to determine a first location corresponding to the presence or risk of fire and a second location corresponding to the presence of one or more people; the fire safety system further comprising a communications device configured to receive data from the processing unit and for communicating data corresponding to the first and second locations.
13. The fire safety system according to claim 12, wherein the thermal sensors each comprise an infrared camera
14. The fire safety system of claim 12 or claim 13, wherein each thermal sensor is an infrared camera comprising an array of thermopile detector pixels.
15. The fire safety system of any of the preceding claims wherein the thermal sensors comprise a lens providing a field of view of greater than 30 degrees.
16. The fire safety system of any of claims 12 to 15, wherein the communications device is configured to receive data from the processing unit that is indicative of a safe route through the building between the second location corresponding to the presence of one or more people and an exit of the building, avoiding the first location.
17. The fire safety system of claim 16, wherein the communications device comprises one or more optical indicators arranged within the building and configured to indicate a direction through the building corresponding to the safe route through the building.
18. The fire safety system of any claim 16 or claim 17, wherein the communications device comprises one or more audible indicators arranged within the building, configured to audibly indicate a direction corresponding to the safe route through the building.
19. The fire safety system of any of claims 12 to 18, wherein the communications device is configured to send a signal to one or more remote devices.
20. The fire safety system of claim 19 wherein the communications device is configured to instruct one or more remote devices to perform an action according to: data received from the thermal sensors; and a predetermined policy defining actions to be taken in different hazard scenarios.
21. The fire safety system of claim 19 or 20, further comprising one or more remote devices wherein the communications device is configured to communicate with the one or more remote devices.
22. The fire safety system of any of claims 19 to 21, wherein the one or more remote devices are configured to shut down an appliance in response to data received from the communications device.
23. The fire safety system of any of claims 19 to 22, wherein the one or more remote devices comprise a user device and the communications device is configured to send data corresponding to the first and second locations to be displayed on the user device.
24. The fire safety system of any of claims 12 to 23, wherein each of the thermal sensors is connected to a battery power source.
25. The fire safety system of any of claims 12 to 24, wherein the plurality of fire safety devices comprises one or more of: a mains socket faceplate; a plug-in adapter unit; a light switch faceplate; a wall-mounted unit; a ceiling-mounted unit.
26. The fire safety system of any of the claims 12 to 25, wherein at least one fire safety device is located within or on an electrical appliance.
27. The fire safety system of any claims 12 to 26, wherein each fire safety device comprises a communications link such that each fire safety device is in communication with each other, each fire safety device also preferably configured to communicate directly with the processing unit in the event that connectivity with other remote devices is lost.
28. The fire safety system of any of the preceding claims, further comprising one or more of: a smoke sensor; a gas sensor; a carbon monoxide sensor; a current sensor; a water sensor.
29. The fire safety system of any of claims 12 to 28, further comprising a processing unit configured to: receive the data from the thermal sensors of the respective fire safety devices analyse said data to determine a first location corresponding to the presence or risk of fire and a second location corresponding to the presence of one or more people; and communicate said data corresponding to the first and second locations to the communications device.
30. The fire safety system of claim 29, wherein the processing unit is configured to determine a safe route through the building between the second location corresponding to the presence of one or more people and an exit of the building, avoiding the first location.
31. The fire safety system of claim 29 or claim 30, wherein the processing unit is adapted to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 10.