Keeping a digital eye on fire with Peerless FireConnect
- December 5, 2023
- 9:37 am
Iain Hoey
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Delving into Peerless FireConnect, the advanced fire safety technology reshaping monitoring and response practices in the industry
Peerless FireConnect represents a significant stride forward in the way fire pump systems are monitored and managed.
As Travis Montembeault, Director of FireConnect Digital Innovation Business at Peerless Pump Company, articulates, this venture is more than just a product—it’s a paradigm shift in fire safety management.
A subsidiary of Grundfos Pumps in Denmark, Peerless has been a pivotal player in the fire safety landscape.
The evolution of Peerless FireConnect is a tale of innovation and re-invention.
Initially a side project, it transformed into a standalone business unit around 2021.
As Montembeault notes, this journey involved redeveloping, updating, and upgrading the technology and app to what is now known as version two, launched in 2019.
Peerless FireConnect stands out in the fire safety industry for its distinctive approach to monitoring fire pump systems.
The core functionality of FireConnect as, says Montembeault, akin to being physically present in the fire pump room.
It allows users to have a comprehensive overview of their specific fire pump system at any time, anywhere in the world.
This level of accessibility and detail is tailored to meet the needs of various users, from corporate-level customers responsible for life and safety across a broad portfolio to individual facility managers or engineers focused on specific sites.
Identifying the problem
Historically, Montembeault points out, fire protection systems were interconnected with various alarms, but this integration stopped at the fire pump room, offering only basic alarm data.
FireConnect aims to enrich this data, providing detailed insights into the system’s status—whether it’s active, ready to go, and the underlying causes of any alarms.
The idea for Peerless FireConnect emerged from a need identified by the NFPA Research Foundation in 2012.
They underscored the importance of gathering more data from fire pump rooms to facilitate informed decision-making.
This coincided with Grundfos’s (the parent company of Peerless) focus on connected systems and pumps.
The first version of what would become FireConnect was launched around 2013, initially based on a groundwater monitoring system that extended to gather extra data from fire pump rooms.
Montembeault highlights the gradual evolution of FireConnect: “We had a couple of pilot customers that had some incidents and they said ‘Hey we want a better picture of our fire and life safety across our broad portfolio at any given time’.” This customer feedback was pivotal in catapulting the commercial side of FireConnect.
The primary motivation behind Peerless FireConnect was to bridge a significant data gap in fire safety systems.
Montembeault points out the limitations within traditional systems: “For whatever reason for the longest time everything kind of stopped at the four walls of a fire pump room.” FireConnect was envisioned to extend the data reach beyond these walls, enriching the information available from fire pump rooms and providing a comprehensive status of the fire protection system.
Montembeault draws a parallel between FireConnect and the broader trend towards connectivity in various industries.
“Every other pump and water moving industry is connecting,” he states, underscoring the importance and value of being informed about one’s equipment at all times.
He likens FireConnect to a smart home system, where connectivity and real-time alerts provide significant benefits.
This analogy reflects the underlying philosophy of Peerless FireConnect: proactive, data-driven, and user-focused fire safety management.
Features and functionality
Peerless FireConnect is a robust and innovative system designed to revolutionise fire safety management.
Its array of features and functionalities is tailored to meet the needs of a diverse clientele, ranging from corporate customers to individual facilities managers.
A core feature of FireConnect is its ability to provide a real-time view of fire pump systems.
“It’s really to give you a picture as if you were in that pump room itself,” Montembeault explains.
This feature allows users to know what’s happening with their fire pump system at any time, from any location in, offering an unprecedented level of monitoring and control.
FireConnect’s alert system is customisable and user-oriented.
Users can configure alerts to suit their specific needs, such as being notified when the fire pump turns on, fuel levels are low, or room temperature drops below a certain threshold.
This feature ensures that facility engineers and corporate safety managers are immediately alerted to critical changes in their fire pump systems.
The proactive monitoring capability of FireConnect is a key aspect of its functionality.
The system continuously logs and sends data to the cloud, making it accessible and usable.
This constant monitoring helps identify issues before they escalate, providing crucial information between scheduled testing and inspections.
Montembeault emphasises: “The system is always on, always watching”.
FireConnect also plays a vital role in ensuring code compliance and satisfying insurance requirements.
It automatically logs data relevant to fire pump operation, such as running times for diesel and electric fire pumps.
This automated logging simplifies compliance and can be a significant asset for insurance purposes.
Another unique feature is its incident command functionality, which was developed based on specific customer requests.
This feature enables users to remotely understand and manage fire pump systems during an event, like a fire, without having to physically enter a potentially hazardous pump room.
Additionally, FireConnect aids in preventive maintenance, alerting users to potential equipment failures and suggesting timely replacements.
“That data can send a notification and say ‘it’s time to consider buying this jockey pump,’” Montembeault illustrates, showcasing the system’s proactive approach to maintenance.
FireConnect’s proactive system monitoring is always active, logging data constantly and sending it to the cloud.
This ensures that issues are identified before they escalate.
Montembeault points out, “The first thing is proactive system monitoring; the system is always on, always watching.” Additionally, all data logged by FireConnect aids in ensuring code compliance and is beneficial for insurance purposes.
Montembeault notes: “The goal of Fire Connect is to enrich the data that’s coming from the alarms to the building.” This enriched data facilitates smarter decision-making during events.
For instance, visual data graphs can inform incident commanders and fire departments about the fire pump’s performance, aiding in crucial decision-making during emergencies.
Future enhancements
Looking ahead, Montembeault has ambitious plans for future enhancements that promise to make a significant impact on the industry.
The fire safety industry is increasingly recognising the value of remote monitoring.
Key industry standards, such as those set by FM and NFPA (NFPA 915), are evolving to incorporate remote inspections and testing.
Montembeault believes that the actual impact of these changes will be moderate at first, as the industry cautiously embraces new methods like remote testing of fire pumps: “Don’t expect the industry to immediately switch to testing fire pumps without anyone in the room.
Instead, they’ll leverage the benefits of the technology while still remaining close to the equipment.
Eventually we will see tests start and stop remotely, with no in-person presence, but it’s going to take some time for people to get comfortable with that idea.”
The COVID-19 pandemic and challenges in getting personnel on site have also accelerated the adoption of remote monitoring.
Montembeault points out that “The one constant with remote monitoring is that data is always logged, you’re not losing anything with the transition or the lack of personnel.” This approach doesn’t aim to replace jobs but to enrich the data and make existing jobs more effective.
“From a technological perspective, we have the capability to continuously expand our system by adding sensors and hardware,” says Montembeault.
“For instance, integrating gate valves and other devices within the pump room is entirely feasible.
However, the real value lies in how we utilise the data these devices provide.”
While AI is often touted as a buzzword, its practical application in processing the vast amounts of data from our systems can lead to significant and impactful decisions.
“For example, if a jockey pump runs 200,000 times, it’s a clear indicator that it might need to be replaced soon,” he explains.
“We can use this data to proactively notify users, suggesting, “It’s time to consider buying this jockey pump; here’s a link to buy.”
The future of fire protection systems, like Fire Connect, involves not just monitoring but also a comprehensive approach to data integration and connectivity.
This, says Montembeault, is akin to the evolution of smart homes, which didn’t truly advance until a few major platforms emerged, allowing various devices to communicate seamlessly.
In the fire protection industry, a similar consolidation and platforming will be necessary, though challenging, due to the presence of established players with competing interests.
“Collaboration is key in this industry,” he says.
“We’ve already begun this process with FireConnect by partnering with companies specialising in connected hydrant and riser monitoring, integrating their data into our platform.
This provides a unified experience for our customers, consolidating various activities and data streams into a single, easily accessible platform.”
As everything becomes more connected, the flexibility to transmit data via an API to other platforms becomes increasingly important, as Montembeault notes: “If the market demands, we can share FireConnect data with common fire protection platforms and vice versa.
This approach of creating a comprehensive, integrated system is what I see as the future of fire safety technology.”
Actionable intelligence
“At the core, the purpose of this data is to make it actionable,” says Montembeault.
To illustrate, he gives a scenario: “Typically, issues in a pump room trigger a common trouble alarm on the fire alarm control panel.
What does this mean in practical terms? Imagine a facility manager getting a call at two in the morning with an alarm going off.
They’re left wondering: ‘Do I need to rush over there?’
“However, with FireConnect, they can simply check the app and diagnose the exact issue, as FireConnect provides comprehensive data, including the nature of the common trouble alarm.
For instance, this alarm could be triggered by a low fuel level – not an immediate emergency but something that requires attention, or it might indicate another issue with the controller.”
Another real-life example saw one of Peerless’s customers experience a charger malfunction in their controller, resulting in an alarm.
This common trouble alarm signifies a need for a service technician to diagnose the problem, order the necessary part, and then return to install it.
But if the system informs you upfront that it’s a charger issue, you can order the part before dispatching a technician.
“This approach enhances efficiency and sustainability, shifting the response from reactive to proactive, enabling quicker resolution,” adds Montembeault.
“Ultimately, the goal is to enhance the data we’re already collecting to make better, more informed decisions.”
