Fire alarm system that notifies Civil Defense

The problem

In a fire, every minute of delay multiplies the damage. The problem is that traditional alarm systems just sound an alarm on site, assuming someone is there to hear it and call for help. In an empty warehouse or a factory at night, the alarm can ring for hours with nobody hearing it. The difference isn't detection, but the report reaching the fire service without waiting for a person.

How it works

1. DetectionThe flame sensor picks up the fire's radiation, and the smoke sensor reads suspended particles.
2. ConfirmationThe heat sensor checks for a sudden rise, as a third layer of protection against false alarms.
3. DecisionAgreement of at least two layers indicates a real fire, not interference.
4. Local alarmA siren and warning lights start immediately to evacuate the place.
5. ReportA message with the building's location is sent to Civil Defense and to the person in charge.
6. DocumentationThe detection time and each sensor's readings are saved for later investigation.

Project features

• Three detection layers reduce false alarms, the biggest weakness of fire systems.
• The automatic report is the key difference from traditional alarm systems.
• It tackles a safety topic with ethical weight in front of the committee.
• It can be demonstrated live safely and easily with a lighter at a safe distance from the sensor.
• It can expand to several rooms or floors with multiple nodes.

Expected challenges

These are the main obstacles to expect during the build, laid out clearly so you know them before you start.

• False alarms can come from cooking smoke or cigarettes, which is why the three layers were adopted.
• Sending a false report to a real emergency service has legal consequences.
• The flame sensor's range is limited and needs a direct line of sight.
• The system must work during a power cut, which often happens during a fire.
• Protecting the unit itself from the fire so it keeps transmitting as long as possible.

The consultation gives you a solution for each one.

Expected committee questions

Prepare your answers in advance: these questions come up often in defenses of similar projects.

1. Why does the alarm require two layers to agree instead of one?
2. How is fire smoke told apart from cooking or cigarette smoke?
3. How does the report reach Civil Defense, and what information does it include?
4. What happens if the system's own wires burn during the fire?

Practice the defense, question by question