Real-life case of the IoT Fire Detection System; automatic notification six minutes faster than public emergency calls

A target building regulated by the Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance caught fire on 8 November. Equipped with an Internet of Things Fire Detection System (IoT FDS), the building benefited immediately in the early stages of the fire. The system rapidly detected the fire, sounded the building’s alarm to alert residents, and automatically notified the Fire Services Department (FSD).

Thanks to the system’s ability to achieve “early detection and early notification”, firefighters received the alert six minutes before members of the public called emergency services. As a result, they arrived at the scene and swiftly extinguished the fire before it could spread, leaving no one injured.

Key Timeline:

• 16:49 — A corridor fire detector is triggered, sounding the building alarm while the system automatically notifies the FSD. Adjacent fire detectors are subsequently triggered, alerting residents to the fire.
• 16:54 — Firefighters quickly arrive at the scene and initiate firefighting and rescue operations.
• 16:55 — Members of the public call emergency services to report the fire.
• 17:10 — Firefighters successfully extinguish the fire using fire extinguishers.

Following the incident, the service provider immediately arranged for a fire service installation contractor to inspect the site and ensure that the system remains in proper working order.

Three Core Advantages of IoT FDS

• Securing Golden Time: Notifies the FSD earlier than the public while issuing immediate fire warnings to alert residents.
• Efficient & Stable Transmission: Signals are transmitted directly to the Fire Services Communication Centre with zero delay, buying vital time for firefighters to arrive during the initial stage of a fire.
• Real-Time Fire Intelligence: Sequential triggering of fire detectors allows firefighters to pinpoint the precise location of the fire and trace smoke diffusion before arriving at the scene.

Since mid-October this year, all target buildings regulated by the Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance have had the option to install IoT FDS as an alternative solution to meet the requirements of a “Fire Safety Direction”.

To learn more, please contact the FSD Building Improvement Support Centre:

Telephone: 2272 9112

Website: https://www.hkfsd.gov.hk/eng/fire_protection/fs_bisc.html

#IoTFireDetectionSystem #FireSafety #BuildingImprovementSupportCentre #PreventionIsBetterThanCure #HongKongFireServicesDepartment #HKFSD

English translation of the text in the infographic:

Internet of Things (IoT) Fire Detection System

Real-Life Case | Early Detection • Automatic Notification 

Step-by-Step Breakdown

Panel 1 (16:49):Fire Detection • Alarm Sounds

Location labels: 4th Floor/5th Floor

Panel 2 (16:50 & 16:54):Automatic Notification • Fire Services Arrive

16:50: Automatic signal transmitted to the Fire Services Communication Centre 

16:54: Fire engines/firefighters quickly arrive at the scene

Panel 3 (16:55):Smoke Spreads, Triggering Detectors Sequentially

Detector Trigger Order: ①, ②, ③, ④, ⑤

16:55: Public Calls Emergency Services (999) 

Panel 4 (17:10):Firefighters Extinguish the Fire Using Extinguishers

Location labels: 4th Floor / 5th Floor

Firefighters successfully put out the fire by 17:10

Here is the English translation of the Chinese text printed on the smoke detector:

Button

• 自检/消音 — Self-test / Silence

Status Light & Indicator Labels (Centre Arc)

• 烟雾 — Smoke
• 高温 — High Temperature
• 温升 — Temperature Rise
• 一氧化碳 — Carbon Monoxide

Outer Rim Instructions & Indicator Light Guide

(Note: The text along the outer rim is upside down in the photo)

• 绿灯闪烁: 正常监视状态 — Flashing Green Light: Normal Monitoring Status
• 红灯闪亮: 报警 — Flashing Red Light: Alarm
• 黄灯双闪: 传感器故障 — Double Flashing Yellow Light: Sensor Fault
• 黄灯闪亮: 传感器寿命到期 — Flashing Yellow Light: Sensor End-of-Life (Replace Sensor)