Fire Protection, Planet Connection: How life safety devices and fire detection systems can help reduce environmental impact

There is no escaping the fact that fires have a significant environmental impact. The burning of materials, especially those found in industrial premises, can release harmful pollutants into the air, water, and soil, damaging nearby ecosystems and impacting the health of nearby communities.  Thankfully, efforts to prevent fires through proper safety measures, innovative technology and emergency response is helping to minimise the environmental impact of fires.

But did you know that the systems and devices put in place to minimise fire risks could also be contributing to the overall environmental impact your business has?

When choosing a life safety system, or devices, the efficiency must be considered, not only can it save lives, but it could also improve your green credentials and the bottom line.

Making life safety greener

Life safety devices that reduce a building’s energy consumption are becoming increasingly important for environmentally conscious companies. Compared to traditional devices, choosing products which are designed using advanced technologies and innovative materials can use less power without sacrificing effectiveness, helping to minimise the carbon footprint of the building.

In addition to minimising the carbon footprint, energy-efficient fire detection devices also offer several other benefits for environmentally conscious buildings:

Cost savings

By consuming less energy, these devices can lead to lower utility bills, which can help building owners and managers save money in the long run.

Longer Lifespan

Energy-efficient fire detection devices or evacuation systems are often designed to last longer than traditional systems, which means they may need to be replaced less frequently. This can reduce waste and lower the environmental impact of the building over time.

Improved Performance

Some energy-efficient fire detection devices are equipped with advanced features, such as automatic calibration, which can help ensure that they are always working at peak performance. This can be especially important in large buildings or facilities where there are many occupants and a high risk of fire.

Cloud Reporting

Traditionally reporting, updates and maintenance of life safety devices all had to be done on-site. System integrators frequently travelled as part of their regular workdays thus adding to the CO2 levels each year. Thanks to the Internet of Things (IoT), secure cloud-based monitoring can now take place, with notifications reporting faults and system alerts sent directly to the people that need it. This could save countless hours of resource, energy and emissions.

Greener emergency systems

As businesses strive to reduce their carbon footprint, they turn to industry bodies and manufactures to create highly effective, but also use more sustainable materials and processes. High on the list of priorities is to minimise waste and pollution, implementing energy-efficient practices throughout production which can all be backed up by evidence to avoid ‘green washing’. This is a crucial step towards a more sustainable future.

One example of where a manufacturer is considering the entire process is Hochiki Europe. The global leader in fire detection manufacturing, earlier this year released the latest edition to its emergency lighting range, challenging the way these vital evacuation systems are designed for ever.

The FIREscape Nepto solution considers the entire life, from manufacturing and installation, right through to recycling. It is produced from fully recyclable materials, and incorporates energy-saving LED technology, where each luminaire has an expected life span of 10 years, due to the change from the replaceable Li-ion batteries to built-in NiMH batteries. This has helps to reduce CO2e emissions and has improved the lighting output of the luminaires for the system. FIREscape Nepto’s impact on the environment remains at an absolute minimum.

The system is also backwards compatible with its predecessor, meaning that it’s possible to mix luminaires and panels between the new and previous range. This ensures a seamless system life is maintained for existing FIREscape customers helping to reduce waste.

FIREscape Nepto has been designed to reduce total cost of ownership. The extra low voltage cabling, central monitoring, simple installation and hassle-free maintenance, reduces labour costs. Over the total life of the system, a building owner can expect to save tens of thousands of pounds compared to traditional systems.

With an additional gateway card, a FIREscape Nepto system will be able to be monitored and interrogated live and remotely through a simple web browser interface. Email notifications will then be sent to report faults and alerts and system reports can be accessed/downloaded. 

When used in conjunction with third party software, FIREscape Nepto can be connected to a Building Management System or a graphics package. Having remote central control helps building management teams to increase staff productivity, manage maintenance more efficiently, and effectively monitor energy consumption. Central control is particularly beneficial when working on a large or complex site.

Overall, the use of energy-efficient life safety devices is a smart choice for any building owner that wants to prioritise sustainability and environmental responsibility as part of their fire safety strategy. By reducing energy consumption, these devices can help building owners and managers save money, reduce waste, and ensure the safety of occupants at the same time.