Blog Demo

Fire Safety In Homes — **Mitigate Electrical Fires-IoT Approach**

PMD Boon & Bane

In the recent months Personal Mobility Devices( PMD E-Scooters & Bikes) have featured regularly in the news in Singapore, be it the concerns of pedestrians sharing the pavement or souped up speedsters racing on our highways. Even when stationary and being recharged they attract news worthy action. The reality is, we have to co-exist with these devices as they offer easy, reliable, cost effective transportation ,a means of income to many and are integral for assisting the elderly & disabled. The use of E-scooters & Bikes are increasing and will continue to rise in the future. The authorities are doing their best regulate the usage of these PMDs’; regulations do have their limits.

PMD Fires In Apartments

To make the best case would be the recent spate of fires involving PMDs’. It’s been reported that there were 74 cases with 1 fatality and several injuries. The fires damage more than just the devices, it results in personal injury , apartment units destroyed , families & neighbors are put at risk, requires civil resources(Police & SCDF) to be deployed .

PMD Owners & Responsibility
The Owners usually get the blame,In some cases it could be justified, but mostly they too are victims,who suffer the most. They charged their devices from electrical outlet not expecting a electrical fire to break out.

PMD Aftermath Of Fire & Cost
The repair , rehabilitation cost, insurance claims, have been estimated to be around S$50000- S$100000 per apartment not including the human cost and tragic outcomes.Hence the failure of the E -scooter or Bike to charge properly is staggering.

PMD Regulations
LTA issued rulings on using UL2272 certified e-scooters & bikes .This should help reduce the recurrence of fires, this requires continuous monitoring & enforcement, otherwise things can & will go wrong.The question to ask, besides regulation & certification, so how can owners be made aware of the risk of fires.

IoT Boffins & Coffee
In a recent meeting in Singapore our IoT Boffins from Holland were impressed with the numerous E-scooters on the road. The Dutch are a nation of cyclist although (1000 or more bicycles might end up in the canals of Amsterdam yearly), so we to compared the e-scooter vs pedal power benefits . We gathered around the coffee machine to discuss the prevalence of electric fires& how it could be mitigated. After several cups comes inspiration! It was agreed that solutions should meet the following requirements;

Improve On Existing Solution
Simple Enough to Adopt into existing framework
Stakeholders must see immediate benefit
Can be quantified & measured for evaluation
Affordable enough for most people to buy

Dutch Housing -Energy Neutral Homes
Interestingly a solution does exist . The background being most houses in the Netherlands are energy neutral or energy +. They store excess power in Powerwall/Powerpacks in their case think the size of electric cars packs from Tesla or Nissan. These battery packs are subjected to similar charging & discharging cycles . The batteries & chargers are of course designed with better safety features, as added safety requirements the houses too have a automatic power cut off & alarm in case there is potential risk of fires from battery storage.

IoT Boffins – A Fire Plan
Now our Boffins excel with these challenges and developed a plug & play solution that can installed into standard wall plug outlet that will monitor the power & heat which are good indicators to know if devices are malfunctioning. The information is send to a dedicated gateway which is on continuous monitoring mode. The gateway in the event of detecting a problem will automatically

Shut the power to the wall socket
Sound the alarm
Send notification.

To they best of their knowledge there have been no reports of fires breaking out in projects where these systems have been deployed.

IoT – Continue the conversation
The blog here is meant to be starting point for discussion on how new technology can be readily applied to solve critical problems like electrical fires from E-scooter which did not exist just a few short years ago. The solutions offered are based on our knowledge & experience and without doubt there must be other means to deal with other critical & dangerous issues and we welcome the sharing of information (https://www.iotsolaris.com/iot-community/).

Getting In Touch
We welcome stakeholders to share their views. Contact us to better understand & evaluate pros & cons of deploying the fire prevention solutions that IoT technology is now able to offer.
Contributed by Arthur
https://www.iotsolaris.com/contact-us/

IoTSolaris -Introduction IoT for Construction

What is IoT?

The internet of things(I.o.T) is the connection of devices through the internet, a giant network of connected things. Even people can connect to the IoT through wearables and smartphones. If IoT is the connection of devices (including people), then this is already happening in construction. Many construction sites have internet connectivity to enable a connected job site. Connected devices on job sites provide number benefits to the project, the companies, and most of all the employees.

Improved worker safety

Many site workers have smartphones. Frequently many job sites enforce strict rules on phone usage to maintain worker safety. However, many employees have downloaded safety apps, like a fall detector, that work in the background even when the phone is in use. There are several different wearables to can improve safety. Some are separate devices that a worker wears. While some are embedded in personal protective equipment such as vests, helmets, and boots. They all function in the same way to monitor a worker’s vitals to prevent accidents before they happen.

Real-time reporting

With the data captured on the job site, will allow real-time progress reporting. Some of the ways that stakeholders receive progress reports include electronic daily reports, data reported directly to the BIM, drone footage, or internet connected video cameras. The real-time reporting allows stakeholders to gauge where the project is at and make any adjustments to keep the project on track.

Automated Workflows

Sensors and RFID tags on materials and equipment can help in proactive ordering materials and servicing equipment. When an employee checks out or ships material to a job site, he scans the item. The system detects low inventory and notifies an employee to place an order for more material. Previously running out of materials or equipment maintenance would cause delays. However, IoT in construction delivers automated workflows to minimize delays and keep projects moving forward.

Improved Building Lifespan

Smart thermostats, circuit breakers, and digital power meters are some of the ways building operators can monitor energy usage. If any abnormalities are seen, notifications are delivered to address quickly. With the proactive monitoring of building facilities, IoT increases the entire lifespan of the building. Now facility managers can address any issues promptly before they become more devastating and more expensive issues.

Reduce Cost & Increase Profits

I.o.T is making significant advancements for contractors looking to improve processes, reducing waste, and make more money. With new IoT technology coming, available in the construction industry, there is even more room for improvement. Combining IoT with artificial intelligence and machine learning would capture the data, analyze, and process it automatically. For example, if an HVAC system is needing maintenance, the system will proactively schedule a maintenance technician. The technology is working together seamlessly without human intervention only human notification.

IoT Solaris Goes Live !

We are excited to announce the launch of Solaris C.E.S Pte Ltd newly designed website www.iotsolaris.com. It is significant to us, to have this project completed in June 2019 which marks 15 years in business for Solaris C.E.S. Pte Ltd a Singapore based I.o.T, Construction Technology firm.

We being, pioneer innovators & adopters of I.o.T solutions for building applications, want to share our experience and showcase the benefits that can be derived by adopting our plug & play smart solutions. Our aim is to provide a single contact point for information, on the latest Construction Technology, IoT products & solutions, Data management solutions, that can be adopted into the Building & Construction industry.

Our website offers user-friendly browsing experience for our trusted and valued customers and business partners, Our website is designed for both and desktop and mobile version, URL is www.iotsolaris.com.

The new design also allows for streamlined menus, clear navigation, and a responsive layout for all platforms. Explore the site to learn more about our full spectrum of I.o.T solutions & products available for immediate application in the building & construction industry.

Social Media

We have placed special emphasis on the aspect of our website to foster improved communication with our clients & technology partners. We will costantly updating our content with helpful information , articles, blogs,company announcements & new technology developments . We welcome you to follow us on our social media & join us on I.o.T Solaris community site.

Design Team

A special thanks to Subraa and the EsourceIt Technologies web design team for making the redesign process a pleasure. They were exceptionally easy to work with and delivered creative and quality work within our time schedule. They also made themselves available for changes requested during the process and transferred our old site to the new design without any headaches.

The took our design idea of using interactive cubes & made it a key feature of our home page coupled with our quick communication links we are now easily contacted on WhatsApp & WeChat.

IoTSolaris -Exclusive Community for Construction Workers

A Digital Community Exclusively for Trades Workers in the United States

Trade Hound is an app that connects construction trade workers across the United States. The social networking app built specifically for construction workers offers an online forum to share work and life experiences. Over 22,500 construction workers across all 50 U.S. states are already using the Trade Hound mobile app.

Trade Hounds describes the app as a “Town Hall and social network” where construction and trade workers can connect with each other. This feed lets workers share stories, ask questions, seek advice and observe what’s happening across the U.S. construction industry.

“The Trade Hounds mission is to improve the lives of the workers who are building the world around,” says Peter Maglathlin, co-founder and CFO at Trade Hounds. “Our mobile application empowers construction workers across the skilled trades by connecting them with each other to discuss their unique construction experiences. Members can weigh in on projects, share stories,get advice and proudly showcase work photos, no matter their location.”

“We builtTrade Hounds for individual workers to access of one their most valuable resources: each other. Users can learn from each other, discuss best practices, grow their network and develop a digital identity to be used when seeking their next job. The construction community is a proud and active one. It’s about time they had a digital home to call their own,” Maglathlin says.

The App is available free on Apple & Android devices https://www.tradehounds.com/

Author: Admin