A fire alarm system can pass its latest inspection and still develop a problem the next day. The question is, how quickly will anyone know?
A zone might be isolated for contractor works and never restored. A fault could develop overnight and unless someone is standing in front of the fire alarm panel, that information may not reach the people responsible for acting on it.
That’s the gap Drax Technology is tackling with its latest update to SafeVue, giving estate teams instant alerts and real-time visibility of fire alarm systems across their entire portfolio.
The problem with waiting for the next inspection
Fire safety inspections, testing and maintenance are essential. But what happens in between?
A fire alarm zone could be isolated for legitimate maintenance work, only to remain switched off long after the contractors have left. On paper, the building's inspection records and maintenance logs may be up to date. In reality, part of its fire detection system could be out of service.
It’s a significant blind spot for those responsible for building safety.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, responsible persons must ensure fire safety equipment is maintained in efficient working order. But that’s difficult to demonstrate when faults and isolations can go unnoticed.
Discover SafeVue and speak to the Drax Technology team
From the fire alarm panel to the people who need to know
SafeVue changes how estate teams receive and respond to fire alarm information.
Rather than relying on someone discovering a problem at the panel, the platform flags fire alarm activations, faults and isolations as they happen.
Teams can see what’s happening across their estate at a glance, then drill down into individual buildings, floors and devices to pinpoint an issue.
Alerts can be directed to the right people depending on the building, type of event and time of day. Every response is recorded, creating an audit trail from the moment an issue is identified.
And with a redesigned mobile app for iOS and Android, teams can receive, acknowledge and classify alerts wherever they're working.
David Simpson, Group Product Director at Drax Technology, explains: “We’ve updated SafeVue to close a gap that has existed in fire safety for years. The panel knows immediately when something changes, but traditionally that information has stayed at the panel. We're putting it directly in front of the people responsible for the building, wherever they are and in real-time.
“With SafeVue, no one is waiting for the next inspection to discover something isn't as it should be. The event can be seen as it happens, where it has happened and whether anyone has responded.”
A clearer picture of fire safety across the estate
Knowing there’s a fault is one thing. Understanding what needs to happen next is another.
The updated SafeVue brings live fire alarm information together with asset and compliance data, including outstanding repairs, replacement requirements and inspection schedules.
It also highlights missed or overdue testing and helps teams spot recurring faults and device activations.
For organisations managing large estates, that means less time piecing together information from different buildings and systems, and more time focusing on the issues that need attention.
Different buildings, different systems, one view.
Large estates rarely have identical fire alarm systems throughout. Buildings are added, equipment is upgraded and different manufacturers become part of the mix. Replacing everything to achieve a joined-up view isn’t always practical.
Drax Technology has spent more than 25 years developing technology that connects fire alarm systems from different manufacturers. SafeVue is compatible with more than 50 manufacturers, including major addressable fire panel brands and conventional systems.
At the University of Exeter, Drax Technology’s solutions are already used to monitor 216 buildings and 245 fire alarm panels from different manufacturers, without replacing the existing panels.
With Drax Technology systems installed at more than 4,000 locations worldwide, SafeVue gives organisations a way to bring fire alarm monitoring together, without starting again.
Fire safety cannot stand still
A fire alarm system’s condition can change at any moment, not just during a scheduled inspection.
For estate teams, the difference is knowing about those changes when they happen, rather than discovering them days or weeks later.
SafeVue puts that information where it belongs which is in the hands of the people responsible for keeping buildings safe.
Discover SafeVue and speak to the Drax Technology team
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