AU2020256378B2

AU2020256378B2 - Fire Protection Systems

Info

Publication number: AU2020256378B2
Application number: AU2020256378A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Tony Overstead
Original assignee: Flame Security International Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Flame Security International Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2019-10-14
Filing date: 2020-10-14
Publication date: 2023-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 2040-10-14
Also published as: AU2020256378A1

Abstract

A building fire detection system capable of monitoring the exterior of buildings comprises at least one detector that monitors at least part of the exterior surface of a building and is operative to generate detector data indicative of 5 the state of the at least part of the exterior surface of the building and operative to generate, transmit or cause to transmit report data comprising at least one of: at least one status signal; at least part of the detector data, and processed data based on at least part of the detector data, and a central processor adapted to receive report data from said at least one detector and 10 generate, transmit or cause to transmit a warning signal based at least partially on the received report data. ac ODD U) 0 0 Lnn 411 CC')

Description

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Fire Protection Systems

Field of Invention

This invention relates to detecting building fires and more

particularly detecting fires on or in the external cladding of buildings.

Background

Many buildings are clad with panels that provide decorative and/or weather

proofing functions. Many of these panels are sandwich panels comprising two sheets of metal, typically aluminium, sandwiching a spacer material, typically a plastics material such as polyethylene. Whilst these panels were believed to be fire resistant they have subsequently been found to be flammable. Whilst replacement with non-flammable cladding is the ideal solution this is not practicable in many situations, whether due to engineering or financial

reasons.

Present building fire detection systems are designed to monitor the interior of buildings and are not suitable for monitoring the exterior of buildings. The applicant is not aware of any fire detection systems able to monitor the

external surface of buildings for detection of fires. Accordingly, there is a need for building fire detection systems capable of monitoring the exterior of buildings.

Reference to any prior art in the specification is not an acknowledgement or suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in any jurisdiction or that this prior art could reasonably be expected to be combined with any other piece of prior art by a skilled person in the art.

Summary of the Invention

Disclosed herein is a building fire detection system capable of monitoring the exterior of buildings comprising: at least one sensor that monitors at least part of the exterior surface of a building and operative to transmit detector data indicative of the state of the at least part of the exterior surface of the building; a data receiver adapted to receive said detector data and operative to transmit or cause to transmit at least one warning signal in response to the detector data received.

In a broad form the invention also provides a building fire detection system for monitoring the exterior of one or more buildings comprising:

at least one detector that monitors at least part of the exterior surface of a building and operative to generate detector data

indicative of the state of the at least part of the exterior surface of the building, the at least one detector including at least one heat detector unit, said heat detector unit including at least one heat

sensor surface mounted to or on an exterior surface of cladding of the building, wherein said at least one heat sensor is configured to monitor or read temperature of the exterior surface of the cladding,

wherein said detector data includes temperature data including said temperature of the exterior surface of the cladding;

the at least one detector operative to generate, transmit or cause to transmit report data comprising at least one of:

a. at least one status signal;

b. at least part ofthe detector data,

c. processed data based on at least part of the detector data,

and

a central processor adapted to receive the report data from said at least one detector and generate, transmit or cause to transmit a warning signal based at least partially on the received report data.

The detector data may also include location data indicative of the location of the part of the surface being monitored.

The detector data from at least one of the at least one sensor may be transmitted using more than one transmitter.

The detector data may comprise at least one of: temperature data; image

(still and moving) data and alarm status data corresponding to the area being monitored. The temperature data may comprise average temperature of the area being monitored, the maximum temperature of any part of the area being monitored or both average temperature of the area being monitored and the maximum temperature of any part of the area being monitored.

The alarm status may be based on the average temperature of the area being monitored, the maximum temperature of any part of the area being monitored or both average temperature of the area being monitored and the maximum temperature of any part of the area being monitored.

The data receiver may include an evaluator, adapted to receive said detector data and evaluate whether to transmit or cause to transmit said at least one warning signal.

The at least one sensor may include at least one camera. The or each at least one

camera is preferably mounted on the building being monitored but at least one of the at least one camera may be mounted elsewhere, including another building.

At least one of the at least one camera preferably has a variable field of view. At least one of the at least one camera may have a static location or a

variable location.

Where the system includes at least one camera, the or each camera may be operative to selectively monitor different part(s) of the exterior surface.

The at least one sensor may include at least one heat (temperature) detector unit. The or each heat detector unit may include more than one heat sensor. The or each at least one heat detector unit is preferably surface mounted to the or an exterior surface being monitored. In preferred forms each heat detector unit includes three heat sensors but a heat monitoring unit may include only one heat sensor and may include any number of heat sensors.

Preferably the at least one sensor includes at least one camera and at least one heat detector unit.

The or each camera may be operative to selectively monitor different part(s) of the exterior surface.

Where the system includes multiple heat detector units, each of which monitors a respective part of the exterior surface, the respective parts may overlap.

Where the system includes multiple heat detector units and at least one camera, the or each camera may be operative to selectively monitor different

part(s) of the exterior surface, said different parts being monitored by at least one of the heat detector units or none of the heat detector units.

Where the system includes at least one heat detector unit and at least one camera, the data receiver may be adapted to cause at least one of the at least

one camera to monitor an area monitored by a first group of the at least one heat detector unit if the data receiver receives data from said first group indicative of an abnormal status of the external surface. The first group may comprise a single heat detector unit or more than one heat detector unit.

Also disclosed herein is a method of protecting a building, comprising:

monitoring at least part of the exterior surface of a building with at least one sensor and transmitting detector data indicative of the state of the at least part of the exterior surface of the building from said at least one sensor; receiving, in a data receiver, said detector data and evaluating said detector data to determine whether said detector data is indicative of an abnormal state of the at least part of the exterior surface of the building, and, if so, transmitting or causing to transmit at least one warning signal in response to the detector data received.

In another broad form, the invention provides a method for monitoring the exterior of one or more buildings for fire, comprising:

monitoring at least part of the exterior surface of a building with at least one detector that is operative to generate or read detector data indicative of the state of the at least part of the exterior surface of the building, the at least one detector including at least one heat

detector unit, said heat detector unit including at least one heat sensor surface mounted to or on an exterior surface of cladding of the building, wherein said at least one heat sensor is configured to monitor or read temperature of the exterior surface of the cladding, wherein said detector data includes temperature data including said temperature of the exterior surface of the cladding; and

generating, transmitting or causing to transmit report data to a central processor adapted to receive the report data from said at least one detector and generate, transmit or cause to transmit a warning signal based at least partially on the received report data, the report data comprising

at least one of:

a. at least one status signal;

b. at least part ofthe detector data, c. processed data based on at least part of the detector data.

The at least one warning signal may be a request for further investigation.

The detector data may also include location data indicative of the location

of the part of the surface being monitored.

The detector data may comprise at least one of: temperature data; image (still and moving) data and alarm status data corresponding to the area being monitored. The temperature data may comprise average temperature of the area being monitored, the maximum temperature of any part of the area

being monitored or both average temperature of the area being monitored and the maximum temperature of any part of the area being monitored.

The alarm status may be based on the average temperature of the area being monitored, the maximum temperature of any part of the area being

monitored or both average temperature of the area being monitored and the maximum temperature of any part of the area being monitored.

The at least one sensor may include at least one camera.

At least one of the at least one camera preferably has a variable field of view. At least one of the at least one camera may have a static location or a variable location.

Where the at least one sensor includes at least one camera, the method may include selectively operating the or each camera to monitor different part(s) of the exterior surface.

The at least one sensor may include at least one heat detector unit, each detector unit including at least one heat sensor, with theheat detector unit preferably surface mounted to the or an exterior surface being monitored.

Where the at least one sensor includes multiple heat detector units and at least one camera, the method may include selectively operating the or each camera to monitor different part(s) of the exterior surface, said different parts being monitored by at least one of the heat sensors or none of the heat sensors.

Where the at least one sensor includes at least one heat sensor and at least one camera, the method may include selectively operating at least one camera to monitor an area monitored by a first group of the at least one heat

sensor if the data receiver receives data from said first group indicative of an abnormal status of the external surface. The first group may comprise a single heat sensor or more than one heat sensor.

The invention also provides a thermal detector unit for monitoring the exterior of one or more buildings,the thermal detector unit operative to generate

detector data indicative of the state of the exterior surface of the building, the thermal detector unit including:

at least one heat sensor, said at least one heat sensor including an infrared array sensor or an infrared camera, the at least one heat sensor being surface mounted to or on an exterior surface of

cladding of the building, wherein said at least one heat sensor is configured to monitor or read temperature of the exterior surface of the cladding, wherein said detector data includes temperature data including said temperature of the exterior surface of the cladding;

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a power source;

at least one processor, and

at least a transmitter,

the processor configured to perform a read step, comprising reading

and evaluating the output(s) of at least the at least one heat sensor, the processor adapted to transmit report data to a receiver with data indicative of at least one of: status data corresponding to a status of an

area being monitored; a state of the output(s) of the at least one heat sensor, including average temperature, maximum temperature detected, all temperatures detected, temperature of the processor, temperature of the at least one heat sensor, state of the power source and a unique identity within the system.

The processor may periodically perform a read step.

The processor mayperiodically perform a reportstep in which it causes report data to be transmitted.

When no alarm status has been evaluated after N read steps, with N being an integer greater than zero, the processor may perform a report step.

When a read step determines the status is abnormal the processor preferably performs a report step.

The period between read steps may be changed if the processor determines the status is abnormal and the change in period may depend on the abnormal

status detected.

The or each heat sensor has a field of view subtending a first angle in a first plane and a second angle in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane.

In a preferred embodiment at least one of the first and second angles is about 60 degrees.

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The detector unit may include multiple heat sensors, each with a field of view, the multiple fields of view extending in different directions.

The fields of view of at least two adjacent heat sensors overlap partially or fully.

In a preferred implementation of the invention a heat detector unit includes

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multiple heat sensors, each with a field of view, the multiple fields of view extending in different directions. The fields of view may overlap, and more preferably only partially, with the field or fields of view of any adjacent heat sensors.

In a preferred form each heat sensor has a field of view of about 60 degrees horizontally and vertically, relative to the plane of the sensor. Preferably the sensors are angled at about 30 degrees to each other so as to provide a combined field of view of about 120 degrees in a first plane and a field of view of about 60 degrees in second plane perpendicular to the first plane. The first plane may extend parallel to the surface upon which the detector unit is mounted but preferably is angled toward the surface and more preferably at about 10 degrees toward the surface.

A heat detector unit may include a power source, preferably a battery, a processor configured to read and evaluate the output(s) of at least one heat sensor and at least a transmitter, the processor adapted to transmit data to a receiver with data indicative at least one of: the state of the output(s) of at least one heat sensor, the temperature of the processor, the temperature of at least one heat sensor, the state of the power source and a unique identity within the system.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a monitoring system according to a first embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a monitoring system according to a variation of the invention.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a monitoring system according to a variation of the invention.

Figure 4 is a schematic cross sectional side view of a detector unit according to an embodiment of the invention;

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Figure 5 is a schematic end view of the detector unit of figure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of an IR sensor mount according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figures 7 to 10 are isometric views of the IR sensor mount of figure 6;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a cover plate for the IR sensor mount of figure 6, and

Figures 12 to 15 are isometric views of the cover plate of figure 11.

Detailed Description of Preferred and other Embodiments

Referring to figures 1 and 2 there is shown buildings 10 and 11 provided with external fire protection systems 12 according to an embodiment of the invention. Each building has a cladding 14 that needs to be monitored. The figure is schematic and the building 11 may be one of many buildings being monitored.

The invention will be described with reference to the system on building 10. The system for each building may comprises one or more infra-red cameras 16 located to be able to view a significant amount of the external surface of the cladding 14. The number and positions of any cameras will be determined by the shape of the building, such as the number of exposed sides, as well as its vertical profile.

Whilst the diagram shows a four sided building with four cameras mounted at its upper end, with one camera per side, looking downwards, it will be appreciated that there may be more than one camera per side at any one general vertical level and cameras may be mounted at different vertical levels to increase the amount of the cladding surface that may be viewed by the cameras. For example a series of cameras may be mounted nearer ground level looking upwards to view the underside of surfaces (such as balconies) that cannot be viewed from above. There may be one or more sets of cameras mounted at one or more intermediate levels between the upper and lower

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levels.

The cameras preferably have a variable field of view and are more preferably provided with at least motorised tilt and pan mountings to enable each camera to selectively view different parts of the cladding. However, it is within the scope of the invention to provide one or more fixed cameras that view a fixed part of the cladding, either alone or in combination with variable field of view cameras. The cameras may be mounted at fixed locations. However, at least one camera may be movable. For example, a camera may be mounted on a rail and movable transversely (partially or totally) across the side of a building. A camera may be mounted on a movable boom to selectively allow a greater angle of view to the surface being monitored.

The system includes a communications/power server 20 that provides power and commands to the cameras and receives the video fed from the cameras. The communications/power server 20 is preferably fault and power failure resistant. Accordingly, the server 20 may be provided with at least one an uninterruptible power supply that provides an appropriate back up power supply in the event of mains power failure. A back up time of about 4 hours is considered appropriate but the specific period is not critical. The subsystems may be duplicated for fault resistant.

As the system will most likely be provided as a retro fit to existing buildings the communications/power server 20 may be mounted externally on the building, such as the roof, but may be mounted elsewhere, such as internally. If mounted externally the communications/power server 20 is preferably located within an all-weather housing.

The cameras are preferably connected by wire to the communications/power server 20 and receive control signals and power from the communications/power server 20 so that they are independent of the mains power supply. If desired communication may be wireless with power supplied by the mains power supply.

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In normal use the cameras scan their designated area in a predetermined pattern and provide a video feed to the communications/power server 20.

Mounted on the external surface of the cladding are a number of all-weather external heat sensors 30. These are preferably self-contained with a long life battery (5 years or more is preferred) and a radio transmitter. The heat sensors communicate with the server 20 via radio signals indicated by 32 and have a unique identification, such as an IP address or MAC address. The radio transmitters preferably utilise long range radio communication with a radio range of about 11 km in ideal situations. Each heat sensor is able to monitor a certain area of the cladding. As an example, the heat sensors may be able to monitor 15 M 2 . The heat sensors 30 monitor or read the temperature of the surface of the cladding. The areas covered by the heat sensors preferably overlap.

The heat sensors 30 may be placed so as to monitor the entire surface of the cladding of the building or may be used only in locations that cannot be viewed by the cameras or cannot be adequately monitored by the cameras. For instance, in a building with balconies the balconies cannot be viewed by a camera mounted at the top of the building. Accordingly, a heat sensor 30 may be placed on the vertical face of a balcony to monitor the balcony below.

The heat sensors 30 may simply transmit the data indicative of the temperature of the area being monitored to the server 20, with the server 20 determining an alarm situation or the sensors 30 may include alarm circuitry that triggers if a pre-set temperature or temperature parameter is exceeded. Where the sensors include alarm circuitry the pre-set temperature or temperature parameter may be changeable, preferably remotely whilst in situ, such as from the server 20. Where data indicative of the temperature of the area being monitored is transmitted this may be the average temperature of the area being monitored, the maximum temperature of any part of the area being monitored or both. Similarly, the temperature parameter may be

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based on either or both of those values.

The system includes monitoring software. In most situations multiple buildings will be monitored and the server 20 of each building will communicate with a centralised server/dashboard/control room 40 with which all buildings communicate.

The server 20 communicates with a central control room 40 as needed or desired. Preferably this is via the mobile phone system, as indicated by 22, but land lines may be utilised. Preferably the communication is via VPN's established between each server 20 and the control room 40. Alternatively, or in addition, end to end encryption of the signals may be utilised.

Depending of bandwidth available and/or financial considerations video may be fed from one or more cameras from the building server 20 to the control room 40 continuously or only as needed.

Monitoring software may run on the server 20 of each building, run in the control room 40 or be split between the server 20 of each building and the control room 40.

Video signals are fed from the cameras to the monitoring software. The monitoring software may analyse the video and determine the temperature of one or more areas of the image supplied. Alternatively, the cameras may determine the temperature of one or more areas of the image and the monitoring software may receive the video with a signal indicative of one or more of the maximum temperature detected, the average temperature detected and an alarm condition, such as if the maximum or average temperature detected has exceeded a pre-set value. As noted the cameras may scan an area larger than their field of view and the area covered by each frame of the video is either passed by the video camera to the monitoring software or determined by software in either of the camera and the monitoring software.

The location of each heat sensor 30 is mapped to the building surface.

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The temperature(s) at which an alarm is triggered are preferably well above those temperatures generated by full sunlight on a hot day and preferably are below the ignition temperature of the material being monitored.

When an alarm is generated or an abnormal temperature parameter is detected by one or more of the cameras, the control room dashboard alerts the operator. The operator may be presented with the view or data from the camera causing the alarm. The operator may view the video feed, manually control the camera and determine an appropriate response.

Where an alarm is generated or abnormal temperature is detected by one or more of the heat sensors 30, preferably camera(s) that can view the relevant area(s) are controlled by the software to view the relevant area(s) using the mapping of the heat sensors and present the view(s) to the operator(s).

The operator(s) in the control room may be provided with data from both the heat sensor(s) and the camera(s) to determine whether the alarm is justified and to take appropriate action.

The system may be configured to take appropriate action independent of the operator(s).

Appropriate actions include, but are not limited to, sending or initiating notifications 42 to relevant stakeholders, such as initiating a request for assistance from the fire brigade 44, informing one or more of other government authorities 46, the building owner(s) 48 and building residents 50.

The system may push notifications to one or more stakeholders, particularly building owners 48 and residents 50, via SMS 60, normal telephone messaging such as via computerised calling (robo-calls) 62 or mobile applications 64. In countries or regions where Government or Emergency Alerts may be transmitted to mobile phones, these may be used to provide both text and audible alerts to recipients, if allowed. Such emergency alerts can cause the phone to provide an alarm sound followed by a spoken message even if the phone is silent, locked or in a passive state. If connected to the building's

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internal fire alarm system, suitable visual or audible signals or messages may be provided to building owners and residents.

The location of heat sensors of the system is mapped, and control of the camera(s) when a heat sensor triggers and alarm is based on the mapped location of the relevant heat sensors. If the mapping is incorrect, when a heat sensor triggers relevant camera(s) may view an incorrect location, leading to the system or operator to conclude the alarm was a false alarm.

The heat sensors may be provided with additional means to indicate or confirm their location, either at the installation phase or when an alarm is triggered by the relevant heat sensor. The heat sensors may be provided with a visual and/or infra-red transmitter that may be selectively operated. Using visual and/or infra-red cameras and other detectors, the location of the heat sensor on the building can be confirmed. Thus after installation, for example, the heat sensors may be commanded to transmit their visual and/or infra-red signal whilst a suitable camera views the relevant area. By commanding transmission of such a signal one heat sensor at a time the location of the sensor as determined by the camera and software may be mapped to the MAC address of the sensor. Where the sensors are capable of transmitting a coded visual/infra-red signal that provides a unique code (such as the MAC address) that can be detected, multiple heat sensors may be mapped simultaneously. Such 'visual' mapping may utilise the cameras mounted on the building itself, cameras of other systems of the invention mounted on other buildings or a temporary 'mobile' camera that is used at the installation phase, such as from the ground, that is used to view the sensors.

Whilst automatic mapping is desired, an operator may use a cameras and manual initiation of the visual/infra-red signal(s) to manually tag or map the sensors.

During an alarm condition the heat sensors may transmit a visual/infra-red signal to enable the location of the alarm to be checked, either using the

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monitoring software or manually by an operator.

Although the system is designed primarily designed to have all monitoring equipment located on or in the building being monitored there are situations where the system of the invention on one or more second buildings may be used to provide video feed of a first building.

Figure 2 schematically shows two buildings 100, 200 with monitoring systems 102 and 202 respectively, comprising cameras 106, 206 respectively and heat sensors 130 and 230 respectively. The first building's monitoring system 102 has detected an alarm signal from area 104. Camera 206 on building 200 is able to view area 104. Accordingly, a signal or command may be sent to server 208 to direct camera 206 to view area 104 and to provide a visual feed to the control room 300. The signal or command may be initiated by the server 108 of the first building or the control room software in the control room 300. If initiated by the server 108 the signal or command may be sent directly from server 108 to server 208 (together with an appropriate messaging to the control room) or may be passed to the control room 300 for issue of appropriate command(s) to the server 208. This can be advantageous where the view from the on-site cameras of the first building may not provide a very clear image, due to the low angle of view of the building mounted cameras.

In a similar manner, the cameras on one building may be operated, as part of routine scanning, to scan areas of other buildings with the monitoring system installed.

Figure 3 shows a schematic of another building system 400 according to the invention. For clarity the remote host sub system is not shown and only the components installed on a building are shown. Not all components are essential and some may be omitted. The system 400 has a transceiver 402 that communicates with the remote host. The transceiver 402 may utilise the mobile phone system for communication, preferably via a VPN, with the host and preferably includes dual sims for redundancy. Data is supplied to the

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transceiver 402 by one or more switches or routers 404, which in turn are supplied with data by one or more of the following: FLIR IT cameras 406, detector units 500 mounted on the external surfaces of the building being monitored, for monitoring the external surfaces, and long range IR detectors 408.

Preferably the FLIR IT cameras 406 connect via wired Ethernet, the long range IR detectors 408 via wired RS485 and RS485 to Ethernet module and on building controller 409 and the surface detectors 500 wirelessly using the LoRa protocol with gateway 410, which in turn is connected to the switch 404. Wired components are preferably power over Ethernet (PoE) devices. Surge arrestors 416 are preferably included to protect components against voltage spikes.

Power is supplied to the relevant components by a suitable power supply 412, capable of being powered via mains electricity 414 or suitable back up batteries 416. For redundancy there may be two or more power supplies 412. Other arrangements for power supply may be utilised. For example, the power supply may be powered via or incorporate a conventional uninterruptible power supply which includes back up batteries. Components such as the switch 404 may include their own PoE power supplies, preferably redundant power supplies.

Figures 4 and 5 schematically show a detector unit 500 according to an embodiment of the invention.

The unit 500 comprises a base 502 and cover 504 that engage together to provide a weatherproof interior space in which there is a circuit board 506, a number of infra-red (IR) sensors 508 and a power source 510.

The detector unit 500 is intended to be mounted on a surface 512 with the base 502 parallel to the surface 512. The base may be secured to the surface 512 using double sided tape 514 or via one or more screws 516. Other forms of attachment may be used.

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In the preferred embodiment the sensor unit 500 includes three IR sensors 508 and accordingly the cover 504 has three openings 518, one for each sensor.

In the preferred embodiment the sensors 508 are mounted on a sensor mount 522 which in turn is mounted on the base 502. If desired the sensors may be mounted directly on the base 502. The exact mounting configuration is not critical.

In the preferred embodiment the IR sensors are Panasonic Grid-Eye brand IR sensors (AMG88). These IR sensors are available in versions that require an operating voltage of 3.3 V or 5.0 V and so are suitable for battery operation.

These IR sensors have a grid array of 8 * 8 pixels and are available in high and low gain versions. The sensors as a whole have viewing filed angle of about 60 degrees both horizontally and vertically to the plane of the pixels, i.e. a cone with an included angle of about 60 degrees extending perpendicular to the plane of the pixels. The temperature range of the measured object is from about 0 °C to about 80 °C. It will be appreciated that other IR sensors may be used, particularly if surfaces being monitored regularly reach temperatures near or in excess of 80 °C.

In the preferred embodiment there are three 3.3 V IR sensors and the power source 510 is preferably a non-rechargeable 'D' sized ER3415 lithium thionyl battery that supplies 3.6 V and typically has a capacity of about 19000 mAh. Other power sources may be used.

The three IR sensors 508 are mounted relative to the base 502 with a forward tilt of about 10 degrees toward the base. This is to minimise false detection. The IR sensors are arranged with a central sensor 508a and a side sensors 508b either side of the central sensor. When viewed perpendicular to the base 502 the side sensors 508b are angled at about 30 degrees to the central sensor 508a. Thus the three sensors provide an 8 by 192 pixel array that provides a detecting range of about 120 degrees about a line perpendicular to the base and extending toward the base at about 10 degrees and away from the base at

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about 50 degrees.

It will be appreciated that the quantity of individual IR sensors and the angles they are mounted relative to the base and to each other may be varied, whether according to the individual IR sensors packages selected and/or desired outcomes. Further, the invention is not limited to a 120 degree range. If desired there may be as many sensors as desired and the detection angle about a line perpendicular to the base may be any angle desired, from less than 120 degrees up to and including 360 degrees. The detection angles relative to the plane of the base may also be varied, wither by utilising different sensors or by utilising covers that limit the viewing angle of the respective sensor.

Figures 6 to 10 show the IR sensor array mount 522 suitable for mounting up to three of the Panasonic Grid-Eye IR sensors. The mounting 522 has a central aperture 524 and two side apertures 526. The apertures are each provided with an IR sensor mount/cover 528, also shown in figures 11 to 15. For clarity only one sensor mount/cover 528 is shown. The sensor mount/covers 528 attach to the areas 530, 532 of the mount 522 surrounding each aperture 524, 526. The sensor mount/covers 528 are generally planar, as are the mounting areas 530, 532. The mounting areas 530, 532 are angled at angle a to the rear surface 536 which, when installed, is perpendicular to the base 502, thus angling the sensors toward the base 502. In the preferred embodiment the angle a is about 10 degrees. The mounting areas 532 are angled at angle B to central mounting area 530. In the preferred embodiment B is about 30 degrees. Other mounting arrangements may be utilised. For example, IR sensor mountings may be provided within the apertures 524, 526 or at inner ends of the apertures 524, 526.

In the preferred embodiments the sensor mount/covers 528 have an aperture 538 into which at least the pixel array of the IR sensor extends, so that the viewing angle of the pixel array is not impeded or is only impeded

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insignificantly. If desired a sensor mount/cover 528 or other arrangement may be configured to block part of an IR sensor's field of view, if desired. For example, an auxiliary cover may be provided for attachment to the outside of the sensor mount/cover 528 to block some of the pixels.

In laboratory conditions a detector unit 500 with the three Panasonic Grid-Eye IR sensors arranged as described above has been found to be effective in detecting an abnormal heat source out to about 4 metres and real flame detection out to about 5 to 6 meters. Ranges in real word situations may be different.

The detector unit 500 described has three identical IR sensors arranged a common distance from the base. The sensors may be mounted at different distances from the base or there may be two or more rows of sensors, with each row a different distance from the base. A row may have a single sensor. Further, sensors with different detection characteristics (frequency, range, angle, etc.) may be used, whether within a row or between different rows. Thus, for example, a first row may have first sensor(s) and another row may have a different sensor(s).

The circuit board 506 communicates, preferably by radio, with a receiver, such as receiver 410. The system is preferably capable of transmitting radio signals using the LoRa protocol, as this uses less energy as conventional Wi-Fi or low energy Bluetooth. Communication may be by other means, including but not limited to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, Cat M1, 4G, 5G and LP WAN Cellular technologies, for example. Wired communication, such as using RS-485, may be used. A suitable LoRa circuit board is available from Heltec Automation (https://heltec.org/), as is a suitable LoRa gateway, A suitable such LoRa circuit board is the Heltec CubeCell Dev-board. A suitable gateway is the Heltec HT-M02 gateway.

Each detector unit 500 has a unique id that is transmitted to the gateway. When using the LoRa protocol the system may be set to be private (non -

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collaborating), as allowed by the protocol, or a collaborating. Use of a non collaborating network prevents other LoRa devices utilising the system gateway(s) to communicate with public LoRa network servers and is preferred and the ID's are set within the private range reserved by the standard. Use of public ID's and use of a NetD would enable collaboration and use of any LoRa gateway back to the system host.

The detector unit 500 is programmed to wake up at predetermined intervals and read the IR sensor array, described later. This read interval R seconds is typically between 10 and 60 seconds. If no abnormal state is detected the system sleeps for the predetermined interval and the system reports to the gateway every Nth read cycles without an abnormal state being detected. If a read cycle detects an abnormal state the device immediately reports to the gateway.

The values of R and N may be changed over the air.

With R set at 60 seconds and N set at 10 the ideal battery life has been calculated at greater than 9 years, so the use of a non-rechargeable battery is feasible. By reporting the battery state the user is provided with ample notice to enable replacement of the battery or the detector unit 500 as a whole well before the battery level becomes too low.

The detectors report their Device ID, Battery state, and, if an abnormal state is detected, the relevant state and preferably which sensor or sensors has generated the abnormal state to the Gateway using the MQTT messaging specification. Other messaging specifications may be used.

That information is passed from the gateway to the remote host.

Where the monitored areas of different detector units overlap, the other detectors may be checked to determine if they are detecting the same anomaly before the central processor initiates an alarm status.

When the detector wakes and reads the array, in the preferred embodiment it

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has three different thresholds, being Alarm1 (the lowest), Alarm 2 and Alarm3 (the highest). The thresholds may be set individually for each detector 500. Thus the thresholds for a detector that monitors a portion of the building that never receives sunlight may be lower than for a detector that monitors a portion of the building that receives much sunlight. These thresholds may be adjusted after installation and having determined the 'normal' temperature ranges of the areas being monitored.

In the present preferred embodiment the system obtains the average temperature detected by the 64 pixels of each sensor and utilises this and the internal CPU temperature to determine an abnormal state.

The sensors also provide the ability to read the internal temperature of the sensor and the maximum temperature detected by any of the pixels and these values may be utilised in determining alarm levels.

Where an IR sensor allows the temperature values of individual pixels to be read data relating to pixels causing the relevant threshold to be met may be passed to the gateway. Where an IR sensor allows the temperature values of individual pixels to be read the thresholds may be based on other than the average temperature value of all pixels.

The system may be configured so that when a detector generates an alarm signal the detector can transmit the temperature values of all or some pixels in the array, so as to provide a picture of the monitored area. This may occur automatically (i.e. the on-board processor initiates such transmission) or may be initiated by the central processor, either automatically or in response to a user command.

Where the monitored areas of different detector units overlap, the other detectors units may be caused to transmit the temperature values of all or some of the pixels in their respective array.

The detector's on board system only reads the sensors periodically and so only provides a reading at a particular instance in time. The on-board system may

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be programmed to vary the read interval if an alarm condition is detected. Alternatively the on-board system may be instructed to change the read interval when an alarm state is transmitted, either by the remote host or by on building systems. Thus, for example, the normal read interval may be 60 seconds. The read interval may be changed to 30 seconds for an Alarm1 alert, 20 seconds for an Alarm2 alert and 10 seconds for an Alarm3 alert. By changing the read interval to shorter periods a more accurate evaluation as to the rate of change in temperature detected may be obtained.

Wireless detector devices may include devices with one or more video inputs (preferably with resolutions of 2MP or more) with on-board artificial intelligence for detecting flame or people movements. At this stage detection events but not the video may be passed over LoRaWAN to the LoRa gateway.

The thermal cameras and Triple IR detection units also have integral processors that report alarms to the FSI controller via copper cable connections.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to use of both video detectors and 'simple' IR sensors, it will be appreciated that the invention may be implemented utilising 'simple' IR sensors alone or video detectors alone.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to monitoring of buildings with flammable metal sandwich cladding it will be appreciated the invention is not limited to that use. Similarly, whilst described with reference to use on high rise buildings it is not limited to that use.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and any claims the words "comprise", "comprising", and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not limited to".

The features of the invention described or mentioned in this document may be combined in any combination of features where features are not mutually

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exclusive.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many obvious modifications and variations may be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A building fire detection system for monitoring the exterior of one or more buildings comprising: at least one detector that monitors at least part of the exterior surface of a

building and operative to generate detector data indicative of the state of the at least part of the exterior surface of the building, the at least one detector including at least one heat detector unit, said heat detector unit including at least one heat sensor

surface mounted to or on an exterior surface of cladding of the building, wherein said at least one heat sensor is configured to monitor or read temperature of the exterior surface of the cladding, wherein said detector data includes temperature data including said temperature of the exterior surface of the cladding; the at least one detector operative to generate, transmit or cause to transmit

report data comprising at least one of: a. at least one status signal;

b.at least part ofthe detector data, c. processed data based on at least part of the detector data, and a central processor adapted to receive the report data from said at least one detector

and generate, transmit or cause to transmit a warning signal based at least partially on the received report data.

2. The system of any one of the previous claims, wherein the detector data

further comprises at least one of: still image data, video image data and location data indicative of the location of the part of the surface being monitored.

3. The system of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the temperature data further comprises at least one of: average temperature of an area being monitored, maximum temperature of any part of the area being monitored, or both average temperature of the area being monitored and maximum temperature of any part of the area being monitored.

4. The system of any one of the previous claims, wherein the warning signal is based on at least one of: average temperature of at least one area being monitored, maximum temperature of any part of at least one area being monitored, rate of change of the average temperature of at least one area being monitored, and rate of change of the maximum temperature of any part of at least one area being monitored.

5. The system of any one of the previous claims, wherein said at least one heat sensor includes an infrared array sensor or an infrared camera; and/or

wherein the or each heat sensor has a field of view subtending a first angle in a first plane and a second angle in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane, preferably at least one of the first and second angles is about 60 degrees; and/or wherein at least one of the at least one heat detector units includes multiple heat sensors, each with a field of view, the multiple fields of view extending in

different directions, preferably the fields of view of at least two adjacent heat sensors overlap partially or fully, preferably the heat sensors provide a combined field of view of about 120 degrees in the first plane and a field of view of about 60 degrees in the second plane, preferably at least one heat detector unit includes at least three heat sensors angled at about 30 degrees to each other; and/or wherein at least one first plane extends relative to the surface upon which the

at least one heat detector unit is mounted between being parallel and being angled toward the surface, preferably at least one first plane extends at about 10 degrees toward the surface.

6. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one heat detector unit includes a power source, at least one processor and at least a

transmitter, the processor configured to perform a read step, comprising reading and evaluating the output(s) of at least the at least one heat sensor, the processor adapted to transmit report data to a receiver with data indicative of at least one of: status data corresponding to the status of the area being monitored; the state of the output(s) of the at least one heat sensor, including average temperature, maximum temperature detected, all temperatures detected, the temperature of the processor, the temperature of the at least one heat sensor, the state of the power source and a unique identity within the system. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor periodically performs the read step; or wherein the processor periodically performs a report step in which it causes report data to be transmitted; or wherein when no alarm status has been evaluated after N read steps, with N being an integer greater than zero, the processor performs a report step; or wherein when the read step determines the status is abnormal the processor performs a report step; or wherein the period between read steps is changed if the processor determines the status is abnormal, preferably the change in period depends on the abnormal status detected; or wherein the read step includes evaluating the data from at least one camera or the at least one camera input.

8. The system of any one of the previous claims, wherein at least one of the at least one heat detector units comprises at least one camera or at least one input for receiving a feed from a camera, wherein preferably:

at least one of the at least one camera is mounted on the building being monitored; or at least one of the at least one camera is not mounted on the building being monitored but is mounted on another building; or at least one camera is operative to selectively monitor different part(s) of the

exterior surface or surface of the building being monitored; or at least one of the at least one camera has a variable field of view; or at least one of the at least one camera has a static location or a variable location.

9. The system of any one of the previous claims including: at least one camera and at least one heat sensor; or at least two heat detector units that monitor overlapping areas; or multiple heat sensors and at least one camera, the or each camera operative to selectively monitor different part(s) of the exterior surface, said different parts being monitored by at least one of the heat sensors or none of the heat sensors; or at least one heat sensor and at least one camera, the system adapted to cause at least one of the at least one camera to monitor an area monitored by a first group of the at least one heat sensor if the data received from said first group is indicative of an abnormal status of the external surface, preferably the first group comprises more than one heat sensor or heat detector units.

10. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the central processor is adapted to receive the report data from said at least one detector over LoRaWAN.

11. A method for monitoring the exterior of one or more buildings for fire, comprising: monitoring at least part of the exterior surface of a building with at least one detector that is operative to generate or read detector data indicative of the state of the at least part of the exterior surface of the building, the at least one detector including at least one heat detector unit, said heat detector unit including at least one heat sensor surface mounted to or on an exterior surface of cladding of the building, wherein said at least one heat sensor is configured to monitor or read temperature of the exterior surface of the cladding, wherein said detector data includes temperature data including said temperature of the exterior surface of the cladding; and generating, transmitting or causing to transmit report data to a central processor adapted to receive the report data from said at least one detector and generate, transmit or cause to transmit a warning signal based at least partially on the received report data, the report data comprising at least one of: a. at least one status signal; b.at least part ofthe detector data, c. processed data based on at least part of the detector data.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the detector data further comprises at least one of: still image data, video image data and location data indicative of the location of the part of the surface being monitored.

13. The method of claims 11 or claim 12, wherein the temperature data further comprises at least one of: average temperature of an area being monitored, maximum temperature of any part of the area being monitored, or both average temperature of the area being monitored and maximum temperature of any part of the area being monitored.

14. The method of any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the at least one warning signal includes a request for further investigation; and/or wherein the warning signal is based on at least one of: average temperature of at least one area being monitored, maximum temperature of any part of at least one area being monitored, rate of change of the average temperature of at least one area

being monitored, and rate of change of the maximum temperature of any part of at least one area being monitored.

15. The method of any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein said at least one heat sensor includes an infrared array sensor or an infrared camera; and/or wherein the or each heat sensor has a field of view subtending a first angle in a first plane and a second angle in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane,

preferably at least one of the first and second angles is about 60 degrees; and/or wherein at least one of the at least one heat detector unit includes multiple heat sensors, each with a field of view, the multiple fields of view extending in different directions, preferably the fields of view of at least two adjacent heat sensors overlap partially or fully, preferably the heat sensors provide a combined field of view

of about 120 degrees in the first plane and a field of view of about 60 degrees in the second plane, preferably at least one heat detector unit includes at least three heat sensors angled at about 30 degrees to each other; and/or wherein at least one first plane extends relative to the surface upon which the at least one heat detector unit is mounted between being parallel and being angled toward the surface, preferably at least one first plane extends at about 10 degrees toward the surface.

16. The method of any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein at least one heat detector unit includes a power source, at least one processor and at least a transmitter, the processor configured to perform a read step, comprising reading and evaluating the

output(s) of at least the at least one heat sensor, the processor adapted to transmit report data to a receiver with data indicative of at least one of: status data corresponding to the status of the area being monitored; the state of the output(s) of

the at least one heat sensor, including average temperature, maximum temperature detected, all temperatures detected, the temperature of the processor, the temperature of the at least one heat sensor, the state of the power source and a unique identity within the method.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the processor periodically performs the read

step; or wherein the processor periodically performs a report step in which it causes report data to be transmitted; or wherein when no alarm status has been evaluated after N read steps, with N being an integer greater than zero, the processor performs a report step; or wherein when the read step determines the status is abnormal the processor

performs a report step; or wherein the period between read steps is changed if the processor determines the status is abnormal, preferably the change in period depends on the abnormal status detected; or wherein the read step includes evaluating the data from at least one camera or the at

least one camera input.

18. The method of any one of claims 11 to 17 wherein at least one of the at least one heat detector unit comprises at least one camera or at least one input for receiving a feed from a camera, wherein preferably: at least one of the at least one camera is mounted on the building being monitored; or wherein at least one of the at least one camera is not mounted on the building being monitored but is mounted on another building; or wherein at least one camera is operative to selectively monitor different part(s) of the exterior surface or surface of the building being monitored; or wherein at least one of the at least one camera has a variable field of view; or wherein at least one of the at least one camera has a static location or a variable location.

19. The method of any one of claims 11 to 18 including: at least one camera and at least one heat sensor; or at least two heat detector units that monitor overlapping areas; or multiple heat sensors and at least one camera, the or each camera operative to selectively monitor different part(s) of the exterior surface, said different parts being

monitored by at least one of the heat sensors or none of the heat sensors; or at least one heat sensor and at least one camera, the method adapted to cause at least one of the at least one camera to monitor an area monitored by a first group of the at least one heat sensor if the data received from said first group is indicative of an abnormal status of the external surface, preferably the first group comprises more than one heat sensor or heat detector units.

20. A thermal detector unit for monitoring the exterior of one or more buildings, the thermal detector unit operative to generate detector data indicative of the state of the exterior surface of the building, the thermal detector unit including: at least one heat sensor, said at least one heat sensor including an infrared array sensor or an infrared camera, the at least one heat sensor being surface

mounted to or on an exterior surface of cladding of the building, wherein said at least one heat sensor is configured to monitor or read temperature of the exterior surface of the cladding, wherein said detector data includes temperature data including said temperature of the exterior surface of the cladding; a power source; at least one processor, and at least a transmitter, the processor configured to perform a read step, comprising reading and evaluating the output(s) of at least the at least one heat sensor, the processor adapted to transmit report data to a receiver with data indicative of at least one of: status data corresponding to a status of an area being monitored; a state of the output(s) of the at least one heat sensor, including average temperature, maximum temperature detected, all temperatures detected, temperature of the processor, temperature of the at least one heat sensor, state of the power source and a unique identity within the system.

21. The detector unit of claim 20, wherein the processor periodically performs the read step; and/or wherein the processor periodically performs a report step in which it causes report data to be transmitted; and/or wherein when no alarm status has been evaluated after N read steps, with N being an integer greater than zero, the processor performs a report step; or wherein when the read step determines the status is abnormal the processor performs a report step; or wherein the period between read steps is changed if the processor determines the status is abnormal, preferably the change in period depends on the abnormal status detected; and/or wherein the or each heat sensor has a field of view subtending a first angle in a first plane and a second angle in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane, preferably at least one of the first and second angles is about 60 degrees; or wherein at least one of the at least one detector unit includes multiple heat sensors, each with a field of view, the multiple fields of view extending in different directions, preferably the fields of view of at least two adjacent heat sensors overlap partially or fully, wherein the heat sensors provide a combined field of view of about 120 degrees in the first plane and a field of view of about 60 degrees in the second plane or wherein at least one detector unit includes at least three heat sensors angled at about 30 degrees to each other; and/or wherein at least one first plane extends relative to the surface upon which the detector unit is mounted between being parallel and being angled toward the surface; or wherein at least one first plane extends at about 10 degrees toward the surface.