en-Gauge, Inc., (engaugeinc.net) maker of en-Gauge monitoring systems for fire extinguishers, medical oxygen and safety equipment, has added their facility’s fire extinguishers to the list of people they follow on Twitter (@engauge_demo). With updates such as, “Demo Area Extinguisher fully pressurized and ready to fight fires” and “Demo Area Extinguisher charged and ready for use,” en-Gauge knows their life safety equipment is available and in working order should an emergency arise.
The monitored extinguisher’s Tweets aren’t always so mundane though. The instant the extinguisher becomes blocked, loses pressure or the en-Gauge unit has a low battery it alerts, “Demo Area Extinguisher may have low pressure, low battery, or be obstructed.” More importantly, when the extinguisher is removed from its cradle, likely the result of a fire emergency, it announces, “Demo Area Extinguisher is in trouble.”
en-Gauge enabled equipment can send its alerts to whatever Wi-Fi or cell-phone based technology a facility uses to monitor its equipment including fire panels, online dashboards, cell phones, pagers or in the case of en-Gauge’s demo-units — Tweet-deck.
According to en-Gauge, knowing the status of your life safety equipment in real time; all the time is important for a variety of reasons. “Fire extinguishers stop fires more than five hundred times every day in commercial buildings the U.S. ” said Brendan McSheffrey, CEO of en-Gauge, Inc. “Statistics show that required 30-day inspections of extinguishers don’t happen like they should, which can compromise your equipment and increase risk.” He continued, “With en-Gauge you are notified immediately when one of your life safety devices is accessed or not ready for action. The en-Gauge technology eliminates substantial liability as well as the need to perform manual 30-day inspections.”
en-Gauge’s electronically monitored fire extinguisher technology is fully recognized by the 2007 editions of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes NFPA-10 and NFPA-72, and the 2006 International Fire Code as an alternative to the requirement for monthly physical inspections of fire extinguishers. En-Gauge is also listed with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The en-Gauge System is a wireless sensor monitoring platform enabling building owners with early warning of emergency equipment use while delivering 24/7 equipment supervision. Built around en-Gauge’s patented fire extinguisher monitoring technology, the system includes sensors, wireless sensor backbone components, supervisory software and can be integrated with real-time-location technology as well as integrated into all major security and building monitoring systems. en-Gauge works with all extinguisher types and can be applied to other safety devices such as AEDs (automated external defibrillator), medical oxygen, and first aid and Haz-Mat kits. en-Gauge has deployed its patented monitoring system in airports, college campuses, hotels and businesses throughout the United States.
“Pulling a fire extinguisher, AED or first aid kit means there is an emergency. Facility operators, security officers, and building managers should be alerted immediately when a life safety device is in use so they can respond quickly and appropriately. en-Gauge enabled devices provide instant alerts.”
In the end, McSheffrey says en-Gauge’s aim is to enable the earliest warning possible for a variety of safety situations while eliminating expensive and laborious 30-day inspections. He said, “Bottom line: en-Gauge makes the places people go safer.”
