The document discusses an electronically monitored fire extinguisher system called en-Gauge. It provides real-time information about the status of fire extinguishers through wireless monitoring devices. This allows facilities to know immediately if an extinguisher is removed or becomes inoperable. The system can help reduce liability, business interruptions, safety risks and costs associated with manual inspections. It also addresses security issues by alerting authorities to any tampering with extinguishers.

1. Electronically Monitored
Fire Extinguishers
Technology Overview
Improving Fire & Life Safety Systems - Reduced
Costs & Liability

2. March 2, 2000
Hazards Are Cited at Seton Hall Dormitory
Where 3 Died
Six weeks after a dormitory fire at Seton Hall
University killed 3 students and injured 58 others,
state officials issued a report yesterday citing
hundreds of code violations at the university's
buildings, including 35 in Boland Hall, the site of the
Jan. 19 blaze.
The 828 violations, noted last month in a series
of inspections after the fire, ranged from
maintenance lapses, like overcrowded storage
closets, burned-out light bulbs and missing ceiling
tiles, to more serious problems like broken fire
exit signs, missing fire extinguishers and
emergency exits that opened inward.
… inspectors did find five serious violations at
Boland Hall, including the absence of self-
closing doors; missing fire extinguishers; and
illuminated fire-exit signs that were missing or
broken.
2
The Need
January 26, 2010
Family of students killed in Hoover motel fire
file wrongful death suit
The parents of two 18-year-old Cordova cousins killed
Jan. 16 in a motel fire in Hoover have sued the motel
owner and an employee who authorities believe
accidentally started the blaze… The suit names as
defendants Chris Parekh, one of the owners of the
Days Inn South …
Other defendants, whose identities were unknown to
the plaintiffs, include the motel's insurance
company, any entity that did maintenance or
repair work at the motel and the manufacturer
and/or distributor of a fire extinguisher that
authorities were told failed to work.
Allegations in the suit include that Bhagat and motel
management failed to properly respond to the
fire, failed to maintain fire extinguishers at the
motel, failed to notify authorities of the fire fast
enough, and failed to warn guests.

3. • In 2008
– Fire killed more Americans than all natural disasters combined.
– Property loss due to fires was estimated at $14.6 billion dollars.
– Over 90% of all fires are extinguished are never reported.
*(nfpa)
• 95% of all property loss and injuries occur once a fire has progressed
beyond the earliest stages (NFPA / NFIRS)
• Statistics from the Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office from 2008 to
present cite 47 fires within state agencies and state universities.
(http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/fire/fmfsi.html ) (as of 2/1/10)
– Of those fires, extinguishment of 14 can be attributed to the use of a
fire extinguisher.
– Close to 40% of reported fires within Texas never reached beyond the
earliest stage.
Overview…

4. Overview
• Multiple international studies complied in the 2008 report
“Assessment of the benefits of Fire Extinguishers as fire safety
precautions in New Zealand Buildings” show that fire extinguishers
effectively extinguish a fire 80% of the time they are used
• National, State and Local fire codes require fire extinguishers in
commercial structures because they are proven and effective
• Building owners are liable if the fire extinguishers have not been
inspected & documented
• Fire extinguishers are mandated by state and local fire codes
because they are proven & effective. However…
Fire extinguishers are only effective if they are accessible and working.

5. The Need
• Per code, every fire extinguisher must be inspected and documented on a
30 day basis. (code compliance issue)
• Business interruptions due to fires are costly and owners are liable if fire
extinguishers have not been inspected & documented. (Station Nightclub /
Seton Hall) (liability & code compliance issue)
• Real time data in facilities management is no longer a “nice to have”, but a
“must have”. (management issue)
• Tampering & vandalism is no longer just a costly nuisance it’s become a
Homeland Security concern. (security issue)
• Every aspect of a building’s fire & security program is electronically
monitored, except the only component that requires human interaction, the
fire extinguisher. (safety & management issue)

6. > Upgraded Pressure
Gauge
> Obstruction Sensor
> Data Comm. Unit
Data System Alarm System
• Signals the moment extinguisher
is removed
• Signals when an extinguisher falls
out of pressure range
• Signals when access is continually
blocked
• Will not allow an non-pressurized
extinguisher back into service
• Tie alarm system and fire
extinguishers together with
leading wireless sensor backbone.
• Track through building alarm
system, building management
system or software
The Technology

7. • Installed hard wired or wirelessly.
• Wireless install creates a ubiquitous & stable communications platform
The Technology

8. • Monitoring capabilities allows for graphic displays, information per
extinguisher, events log, multiple location monitoring & much more
Fire Extinguisher in
Alert Mode
Fire Extinguisher in
Service Mode
Complete System
Logfile
The Technology

9. Occupancies with large square footage
or security & liability concerns
• Government & Airports
• Multiple location facilities
• High Tech
• Utilities
• Corporate Offices
• Areas of Public Assembly
• Hospitals & Healthcare
• Hotels & Casinos
• Schools & Universities
• High Rises
• Commercial Centers
Who Should be considering en-Gauge?

10. 24/7 surveillance – Immediate notification
• Fire extinguishers are the only part of a
building’s fire / security system that is not
currently electronically monitored.
• Know the moment that there’s an issue.
• Simply put – 24/7 is exponentially safer
than once every 30 days
Improved inventory control
• Physical 30-day inspections can be time
consuming, costly and laborious. Eliminate
the process of going from extinguisher to
extinguisher, picking them up, inspecting
them and keeping a written log of each
extinguisher. Process becomes automated.
en-Gauge Value Points

11. Business interruption
• The reality of business interruption caused by fire costs businesses and organizations billions
of dollars each year
• 95% of all property loss occurred once the fire progressed beyond the earliest stages. (nfpa /
nfirs) , a working, accessible fire extinguisher can stop a fire at its incipient stage.
Continual Code Compliance
• The technology is fully recognized by the 2006 IFC, the 2007 editions of NFPA-10 & NFPA-72,
as an alternative to the requirement for monthly physical inspections of fire extinguishers
• Satisfies the policing of state & local code enforcement of the 30-day inspection requirement
en-Gauge Value Points

12. Reduces the threat of tampering & vandalism
• Facilities are liable in cases of malicious use of
extinguishers even if monthly inspections are
documented
• Clean up costs associated with extinguisher vandalism is
skyrocketing due to the increased dependency on critical
electrical components.
• Vandalism rate involving fire extinguishers at University
of Utah has dropped 98% since incorporating the
technology.
Streamline Costs
• During the life span of a fire extinguisher (12 years) it
must be inspected 144 times. Reduce inspections by
90% . An en-Gauge enabled facility can save 45 – 65%
on labor costs associated with the inspection process.
• Factor in costs associated with clean up, extinguisher
replacement, business interruption and liability; the
potential savings associated with en-Gauge is
enormous.
en-Gauge Value Points

13. 13
en-Gauge Success
AUSTIN, Texas May 2007 It was a
fire extinguisher that alerted
Austin-Bergstrom airport
authorities to a car fire in a remote
airport parking garage and enabled
authorities to respond quickly to the
emergency.
…. When the car owner removed
the extinguisher and the
extinguisher removal alarm
sounded,
"our dispatcher was able to spin the
camera over, see the fire and notify
the fire department immediately,"
Slack explained.

14. Wireless Growth Beyond Extinguishers
• Ability to monitor a multitude of safety, security and
operational functions wirelessly include:
₋ AEDs
₋ Fire doors
₋ Emergency first aid and hazmat kits
₋ Manual pull stations
₋ Radiation & gas detection
₋ Panic Buttons
₋ Temperature sensing
₋ Movement
₋ Many others…
• Able to connect to multiple panels or monitoring
locations
Real time data
• The technology automates the extinguisher inventory
process – information at the click of a button.
• Know the moment a facility is out of compliance, not
allowing crucial issues to go unchecked.
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en-Gauge Value Points

15. en-Gauge Value Points
Green Impact
•Reduces use of water supply
(sprinklers / municipalities
•Reduces impact on landfills –
burnt materials / non-recyclable
equipment
•Reduces CO2 impact – Fire
truck emissions / service vehicles
•Reduces release of toxins –
water runoff / sulfur dioxide,
arsenic, others from diesel fuel
consumption
•Supports energy conservation

16. Post 9/11 World
• Terrorists are stealing ,converting and using fire
extinguishers as IED’s (Improvised Explosive Devices).
• 100+ incidents in the past 5 years resulting in 30 killed 160
injured. (40 US related incidents)
• Technology listed with the US Department of Homeland
Security and allows facilities to “manage by exception”
• Technology addresses a clear loop hole in the
Transportation Security Administration’s airport security
program.
“There are several fire extinguishers somewhere in
this courtyard. If one of those fire extinguishers was
filled with sarin gas, …… discharged in the New
York City subway, the death toll would exceed the
death toll of 9/11 in a matter of 30 to 60 seconds.”
Congressman Rob Andrews (D-NJ)

17. • Monitor’s a facility’s fire extinguisher inventory 24/7 improving
inventory control, saving operational costs
• Cutting edge technology is easy to install & retrofit / provides a
stable wireless platform
• Reduces the threat of tampering and vandalism
• Immediate notification increases occupancy safety while reducing
the threat of liability & business interruption
• Streamlines costs by electronically meeting NFPA & ICC code
compliance obligations.
Summary
When installing a new fire protection program, you wouldn’t install
conventional smoke detectors – why install stand alone fire
extinguishers?

18. Save lives, operational costs and reduce exposure
through the implementation of technology.
An en-Gauged Facility
Is a Safer, Smarter Facility