Abstract

This project analysis report is about designing a smart fire detection system that helps the Civil Defence be notified faster which will help them respond faster. In this project, BACnet is being implemented as a communication protocol which allows the smoke detector to communicate with the Civil Defence. This analysis report is the continuation of the previous project plan and is intended to analyse the approach required to integrate the fire alarm system in the already existing building automation systems. This analysis report will also discuss the possible risk faced by the team members and how to mitigate them.

Introduction

The increasing number of populations at one hand brought the people nearer to each other, while at the same time caused multiple issues. One of the major issues raised by the increasing number of human populations is the lack of living spaces. Similarly, technological advancement has increased the lifestyle of humanity but increased the risks associated with it. Compact homes with electric and electronic gadgets are the result of these two advancements. In order to minimize the chances of the fire, that can easily be broken out due to the current infrastructures of our buildings, the need for fire alarm is a must have. Fire alarms minimize the after-effects of the fire at a greater extent. Building automation systems are widely used network infrastructures that are used in modern day home to make them smart. In order to get more out of this automation system, it is the best option to integrate a fire alarm system alongside another system. In general, BACnet is a set of standards that provide an approach to trade data. BACnet was structured and refined explicitly to solve the problems of building management applications (Ray, 2018). As well as, to transmit the information required by these applications, including, among other things, information about dual equipment and performance evaluation; equipping with simple information; programming; planning data; information about events and warnings; documents; and the foundation of control (Finschi, and Troesch, 2019).

BACnet does not characterize the internal layout and information structures. Fire protection system integrated with BACnet is designed with flexibility in mind. It includes small, simple gadgets to complex environments that can include a huge number of gadgets and various structures (Boisclair, 2017). Adaptable solutions are organized for innovation in the field (LAN), area connectivity and the ability to use Internet symbols (IP) to interact with structures in a wide area, BACnet Agreement structure and its relationship with open systems (OSI) (Dayalan, and Martin, 2018).

Client Requirements and Constraints

We gathered requirements by interviewing, observing and researching online. At first, we interviewed Lieutenant Juma Al Mansoori from Dubai Civil Defense and he gave us a description of the requirements. We asked him open-ended questions like: “How do you know if the fire detection system is working?” and “At what point does the alarm close?”. 

After interviewing the Lieutenant, he agreed to show us how they deal with their clients. We were taken to few warehouses to check their fire detection system. During observation, we also asked the client how they would like to ensure the safety of the connection between the router and the sensor for precautions. We suggested the idea of implementing the fireproof box to the router, which satisfied his needs. Also, clients are required to renew and check their alarm systems every year. If their systems were not working, the civil defense has the right to find them. This way, we observed how civil defense takes actions with clients.

Client Constraints

• Technical constraints: We have to ensure that the fireproof box is fixed correctly. Sensors must be installed properly and in a correct spot.
• Time constraints: We have to finish our project in the given duration, which is 2 months and a half.
• Technologies constraint: We have to ensure that good quality fire detection sensors are installed.

Stakeholder Perspectives.

In consideration of the BACnet project, the benefits of implementing a fire alarm system are different. Fire alarm systems, regularly inconsistent to BACnet, it allows businesses to get devices that recognize the proximity of smoke and heat in the environment, allowing clients to gain well-being (Anwar, 2017). To make the successful integration, stakeholder perspective aims to take precautions. Basically, fire warnings are one of greatest concern. This is an important element, to consider by BACnet technologies (Fernandes, and Siemens Schweiz, 2017). 

Additionally, stakeholder perspectives aim to acquire placement of BACnet fire alarm system. Therefore, it aims to acquire fire alerts that can be monitored with adaptable machines and can be entered in a specific area of the solution. Regardless of integration, remote surveillance will alert the businesses to maintain the security and confidentiality of all the documentation in case of fire incident (Anwar, 2017). This linked structure to BACnet and will send centralized alerts to homeowners and the Civil Defense who will respond to the alert. In addition, stakeholder perspective also aims to define the situation that will also help in bad situations on a lot of issues such as cost-effective, time management, centralized networking, and local network connection alerts (Fernandes, and Siemens Schweiz, 2017).

Project Analysis

In order to carry out a project, the most important phase is the analysis phase. The analysis phase gives a detailed insight into how to manage the whole project, what are the best solutions for the project problems and how can they be managed with regard to time and money.

Methodology

While conducting a process or setting up a product there are different methods and approaches that are applicable to that process. In the case of building automation, there is not a single standard framework that is required to be followed. Instead, there are multiple network systems that are developed by different companies. These network protocols that are widely used throughout the world, actually act as a private standard. The three majors of them are LonWorks, Modbus, and BACnet (Phongchit, 2016).

LonWork

The very first of them is LonWork. It is a simple communication protocol, that is used in building automation systems. This network protocol was developed by the contribution of Echelon Corporation and Motorola. It uses low bandwidth powerlines, fiberoptic, and other media to connect the devices on the network. It is widely used in home automation, control networks, industrial transportation, and public utility. The transmission mode for LonWork is SNVT and MS/TP. Because of being a propriety protocol there are limited users. Although this communication network protocol is a web-based tool that saves both cost and time for its developer and user, it is hardware specific and outdated network protocol for the building automation.

Modbus

The second most common building automation network protocol is Modbus. It is the best-suited network protocol used for industrial automation. This network protocol was developed by Modicon Inc. and used to simply connect two devices in a network. The simplicity of this network protocols allows it to be used in simple tasks such as temperature control, alarm-raising, accessing or regulating fans, etc. the low-cost network protocol uses TCP/IP ASCII and RTU transmission modes to communicate in between the devices. The advantages of Modbus are its simplicity, smaller size, freeware and easy to deploy while the disadvantages are the limited and small number of data transferability, no security against unauthorized access and the need of intense programming.

BACnet

The third network protocol that is also the most important and widely used is the BACnet. This network protocol was developed by ASHRAE in 1996 (“BACnet Tutorial from Control Solutions”, 2011). This network is widely used in almost every industry as the main building automation network, because of the better ability to communicate across all the devices. Just like the Modbus this building automation system is also free of cost and can be established using the minimum amount. Unlike the other two, it can use the existing LAN network. The transmission mode of this network protocol is MS/TP and IP. The main advantage of BACnet over the other two is that it can operate with both digital and analogue objects.

The advantages of BACnet that recommend it to be used in this project are a large number of available devices to work with and the ability of the network to be grown enormously in the future. Other advantages of the BACnet are the scalability of the system size, performance, and the cost. This building automation network protocol is also endorsed and recommended worldwide and accounts for a large share in the market (Phongchit, 2016). 

Although, there are multiple transmission modes for BACnet that are used the two most important are BACnet IP and BACnet MS/TP.

BACnet MS/TP

MS/TP or the Master-Slave / Token-Passing is a transmission technique in which the device having the token is said to be master, while the others are known as a slave. The slaves are required to read the master for the current token (message). This transmission mode allows multiple devices to connect easily with each other and to develop a network that can be a peer to peer network (“BACnet Tutorial from Control Solutions”, 2011).

BACnet IP

The other transmission approach that can be used is the BACnet IP. This transmission mode is used in an ethernet based network where all devices are interconnected and sends encapsulated data over UDP/IP.

Proposed Solution

In order to set up a fire alarm system the use of the BACnet network protocol is the best suited, as it can provide easy integration of the fire alarm system in the existing smart home network. The BACnet will also provide the ability of the future extension.

To keep the project low cost the best-suited option for the proposed solution is the adaption of the MS/TP protocol of the BACnet. Since this protocol model is based on the basic local network such as LAN. Another reason for the selection of MS/TP is that since the MS/TP protocol work in master-slave approach and the slave in the network never holds the message, therefore, MS/TP protocol is best for sending quick message hence a better option for a fire alarm system (Song & Hong, 2007).

The proposed fire alarm system will have fire detectors, fire alarm controller, actuators and central operating system. The fire alarm will be either a smoke detector or a thermal detector. The actuators, on the other hand, will be made up of a water sprinkler, speakers and alarms. Actuator and detector will be connected directly to the network while the controller will be first connected to an interface device than to the network.

The detector when detecting a signal will send a message to the controller. The controller then will send a message to the actuator. The fire controller will also monitor the actuators and detectors inside its topology and will periodically inform the central operating systems about them. The central controlling system can be used for both auto monitoring and manual monitoring of the whole fire alarm system.

Cost-Benefit Analysis

The estimated amount of the different devices used in the fire alarm system and their respective costs are as follows.

Total Cost	Cost per unit (Including VAT)	Quantity	Product
1844.35AED	368.87 AED	5	TER-BAC BACnet Room Temperature Sensor
4 668.45AED	933.69 AED	5	CDR-BAC BACnet Room CO2 Sensor
922.1AED	461.05 AED	2	BAC-IO9 BACnet I/O Module, 2DI, 2RI, 3AO, 2DO
1832.7AED	610.90 AED	3	SRI-70-BAC-24 Touchscreen LCD Room BACnet Room Interface
5732.4AED	–	–	Other Miscellaneous Charges
15000AED	–	–	Total Cost

Resource Name	Type	Initials	Max. Units	Std. Rate	Ovt. Rate	Cost/Use	Accrue At	Base Calendar
Project Manager	Work	P	100%	AED 105/hr	AED 210/hr	AED0.00	Prorated	Standard
Technical Team Lead	Work	T	100%	AED 117/hr	AED 214/hr	AED0.00	Prorated	Standard
Functional Team Lead	Work	F	100%	AED 75/hr	AED 150/hr	AED0.00	Prorated	Standard
Finance Team	Work	F	100%	AED 75/hr	AED 150/hr	AED0.00	Prorated	Standard
Logistics Team	Work	L	100%	AED 75/hr	AED 150/hr	AED0.00	Prorated	Standard
HR Team	Work	H	100%	AED 75/hr	AED 150/hr	AED0.00	Prorated	Standard
Fire Items Cost	Cost	FA	AED 15,000	Prorated

The required cost to carry out the whole project is based on the different factors and work processes. The minimum cost will be occurred by the services and the teams. That is why the major reason for the high cost of this project is the fire alarm system. In comparison with other network protocol models, the adoption of BACnet model is the most cost-efficient for both workings and for future expenses. Another big advantage is the cost required for this project is a one-time cost and provide the client with long term benefits.

Discussion

The increasing number of populations at one hand brought the people nearer to each other, while at the same time caused multiple issues. One of the major issues raised by the increasing number of human populations is the lack of living spaces. Similarly, technological advancement has increased the lifestyle of humanity but increased the risks associated with it. Compact homes with electric and electronic gadgets are the result of these two advancements. In order to minimize the chances of the fire, that can easily be broken out due to the current infrastructures of our buildings, the need for fire alarm is a must have. Fire alarms minimize the after-effects of the fire at a greater extent. Building automation systems are widely used network infrastructures that are used in modern day home to make them smart. In order to get more out of this automation system, it is the best option to integrate a fire alarm system alongside another system (Bushby, 2001). The key aim of this project is, therefore, to integrate the fire alarm system in an existing building automation system using BACnet network protocol. The project will use the BACnet IP approach to utilize the numerous advantages of the BACnet networking protocol. These advantages will provide the client with easy and cheap integration of the fire alarm system in their existing Ethernet or LAN network, saving them both time and cost.

Risk management system allows monitoring and tracking any crisis response system when the main goal is to preserve property and the lives of people in danger (Norton, Piccolo, and Trivelpiece, 2018). Mitigating those identified risks is the key challenge any project team may face. As discussed earlier there are multiple risks that may range from economical as well as technical that the current team can face during the project completion phase. The very first and the most important challenge that the team can face is the following of the standards. Since the BACnet network protocol is not an international standardised network infrastructure, therefore there are not well-defined standard and principle available for this network protocol. In order to resolve this issue complete guideline issued by ASHRAE will be followed. Besides following the guidelines, other implementation of the BACnet will also be observed carefully to cross-examine the possible flaws in the network. Another major issue that the team can face is the quality and standard of the fire alarm equipment used. Since the key purpose of the fire alarm is to save lives, therefore, a detailed concentration will be given to the selection of the right equipment. The third issue that the team can face is associated with the network configuration. A slight misconfiguration in the network will not properly connect the fire alarms to the network but may also break the existing devices form the network. Therefore, special considerations will also be required for the network configuration.

Another important thing in order to make a project successful is the knowledge and skill of the team members. In order to make this project a success, team members are required to have proper knowledge of their assigned work and must possess good qualifications about the project and team management.

References

Anwar, F., Boby, R.I., Rashid, M.M., Alam, M.M. and Shaikh, Z. (2017). November. Network-Based Real-time Integrated Fire Detection and Alarm (FDA) System with Building Automation. In IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering 260(1). IOP Publishing.

BACnet Tutorial from Control Solutions. (2011). Retrieved from https://www.csimn.com/CSI_pages/BACnet101.html

Boisclair, J.M., Piccolo III, J., McEvoy, D.A., Fox, M.W. and Alexandrov, K., Tyco Fire, and Security GmbH. (2017). User interface configuration for alarm systems. U.S. Patent 9,842,486.

Bushby, S. (2001). Integrating Fire Alarm Systems with Building Automation and Control Systems. Fire Protection Engineering, 11.

Dayalan, U.K. and Martin, M., Trane International Inc, (2018). System and method to assist building automation system end user based on alarm parameters. U.S. Patent Application 15/685,856.

Fernandes, E., Siemens Schweiz AG. (2017). Configurable macro button for voice system activation by alarm system operator. U.S. Patent Application 15/303,716.

Finschi, L. and Troesch, F., Inventio AG. (2019). Evacuation of buildings with elevator systems. U.S. Patent Application 15/748,985.

Norton, A., Piccolo III, J. and Trivelpiece, C., Tyco Fire and Security GmbH, 2018. Method and system for monitoring fire alarm systems. U.S. Patent 9,978,256.

Phongchit, N. (2016). What is the difference between BACnet, Modbus, and LonWorks?. Retrieved from https://www.setra.com/blog/what-is-the-difference-between-bacnet-modbus-and-lonworks

Ray, B.A., Meyer, S.L., Dorneanu, R.M., Cebasek, G.B. and Gottschalk, D.A., Johnson Controls Technology Co. (2018). Building management system with space profiles. U.S. Patent Application 15/952,173.

Song, W., & Hong, S. (2007). A reference model of fire detection and monitoring system using BACnet. Building And Environment, 42(2), 1000-1010. doi: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2005.10.028