HEALTH
& SAFETY

Protecting
People and Property

As buildings are becoming increasingly complicated, maintaining a safe and healthy living environment is becoming increasingly challenging. Chemicals from cleaning materials, atmospheric air pollutants, pesticides sprayed from a nearby garden, paint solvents, gas leaks, mould, allergens, an endless list of impossible to detect hazards without specialised sensors.

Affordable smart sensors which are now readily available for most of these hazards which can detect and at the very least, warn of their presence. For many of the more common issues such as dust, humidity, mould, smart appliances can be added to automatically deal with them as and when needed.

Imagine returning home after a long weekend to a dark, cold home, the food in the fridge destroyed, the security system off, all because of a fuse.

Water, electricity, communications, gas, heating fuels, drainage, waste management, have become essential utilities but do not receive any attention until something fails. Becoming aware when something is wrong and in some cases predicting a vital utility is about to fail, can speed up the recovery and minimise discomfort, damages and costs.

Additionally, having the ability to record relevant data over long periods can be an invaluable tool in diagnosing difficult problems, which would otherwise be impossible to identify. In particularly difficult cases an array of specialised sensors can be configured to monitor and record data in great detail to help identify the source of a problem.

Monitoring & Controlling Essential Utilities

Are without a doubt the two greatest threats to any property, both challenging to detect in advance and difficult to combat, so any technological help provides an advantage in prevention and dealing with a situation, but it should be made abundantly clear NO technology can offer 100% protection against any such dangers.

Smoke detectors certainly do work and are absolutely essential in any home, they may not be the best detectors of  fire, but smoke, even without fire, is a far greater threat to humans than fire is. But smoke detectors should be supplemented with Carbon Monoxide detectors, the odourless, silent killer impossible to detect without a special sensor. As for early fire detection, infrared cameras are the most effective warning devices of fires, before there is even any smoke are likely to start.

FIRE & FLOOD

Following a similar line of thought, flooding can also be detected early and in some cases automatically dealt with. Wireless water sensors can easily be placed where water leaks are likely to happen such as bathrooms, shower cabinets, kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, etc., with the ability to shut off the mains water supply automatically.

As for flooding due to extreme weather conditions, be it rain, waves, river overflows, weather forecasts are the only source of any early warning. Where intelligent automations can be of use is in the detection of water entering a property and turning of any pumps which may be of help.

For parts of a building which are particularly susceptible to flooding such as basements and underground garages, electrical pumps are the first to fail due to a power cut. However, since the server and essential components of iHAS are able to operate for hours on battery power, it can start petrol powered pumps (and generators) while constantly monitoring and reporting flood levels until help arrives.

The value of any Intelligent Home Automation Systems which goes beyond saving money by conserving energy, water and resources, into protecting and preserving life and property, is quite simply, priceless.