Fire Hazard in School Facilities

Safety is a significant concern that requires careful attention in various settings, such as

homes, workplaces, and educational facilities. According to Jonsson et al. and Bhebhe

et al., fires present a significant danger in school buildings. Schools provide combustible

materials that can ignite, leading to the rapid spread of fire. One of the most fire-prone

areas in schools is the classroom, as it is the most frequently used space where

students spend the majority of their time studying (Moore and Lackney, 1993).

There are several causes of fire ignition in schools. These include electrical, heating,

smoking, and intentional causes. Electrical fires may occur due to the overloading of the

electrical plugs and connections. These conditions lead to the overheating of the

electrical wiring and consequently result in the occurrence of fire (Amuli, 2019).

It is important to address safety issues and implement systematic procedures to reduce

risks before unforeseen accidents occur. The main objective of this paper is to develop

and implement a comprehensive management system for monitoring safety. According

to the statistics, the most common cause of fires is thermal energy demand intensity,

accounting for 37.71% of fires, equivalent to 45 per day. The second most common

cause is tampering with electricity, accounting for 22.0% of fires, with an average of 27

per day. The third cause of the fire is from a flaming heat source. (Jamal et al. 2022)
A study about fire hazards in buildings and a review, assessment, and strategies for

improving fire study was conducted by Venkatesh Kodur, Puneet Kumar, and

Muhammad Masood Rafi. They found out that the current fire protection measures in

buildings lead to an unquantified level of fire safety and only provide minimal strategies

to mitigate fire hazards. To mitigate fire hazards in buildings and ensure safety,

implementing key measures such as reliable fire protection systems, proper regulation

and enforcement of building code provisions, enhancement of public awareness and

proper use of technology is essential. (Kodur et al., 2019).

Using Infrared Cameras for Fire Detection

A study by Kristoffer Burghardt and Martin Forslund states that fire safety hasn't kept up

with the digital age and still uses old ways to detect fires. These methods work well but

have problems, especially with spotting small fires and fires in places with good airflow.

Their project aims to make a system that can find fires in dangerous places like rooms

full of smoke. It should also be able to tell the difference between fires and objects with

high temperatures. The system works well, but a big problem is that the camera can't

see through thick smoke when it fills the room for a long time and drops low enough to

block the camera's view. The bottom line of their study proves that infrared sensors and

cameras can be used for fire detection. The system has a very small chance of making

mistakes in detecting fires, ensuring it accurately identifies real fires without mistakenly

reacting to things that aren't fires. (Burghardt & Forslund, 2022)

Detecting the early stage of a fire outbreak will help in mitigating fire risk. Current

technologies encounter challenges in detecting potential and early stages of fire

hazards. Almeida et al. explored using heat-sensing cameras to detect fires early. They

found that this technology could make fire detection systems more reliable and efficient.

They concluded that thermal cameras seem especially useful for spotting fires when

traditional methods might not work well. Using this technology in current fire safety

systems could help reduce fire risks and damage. The study also highlighted the

potential for thermal cameras to be integrated with existing fire detection and

suppression systems, which could lead to faster response times and better outcomes in

firefighting efforts. (Sousa et al., 2020).

Smoke Sensor

Smoke detectors have played crucial roles in fire detection for more than a century and

their accuracy assures the prevention of significant damage to lives, infrastructure, and

during fire incidents, also minimizing firefighting efforts. It is essential to incorporate a

gas sensor capable of detecting carbon monoxide, this necessity arises from the fact

that our subject prototype, a classroom at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasig, contains

materials such as paper, wood, chairs, and electrical wires. These materials, when

combusted, commonly emit both carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. Therefore,

monitoring carbon monoxide levels is crucial for ensuring the safety and well-being of

the classroom's occupants. A study by Wang et al, describes the development of a

capacitive particle analysis smoke detector that aims to improve upon the limitations of

conventional smoke detection technologies. Traditional point smoke detectors and

photoelectric smoke detectors face challenges in accurately detecting low

concentrations of smoke particles, especially in complex environments with interfering

particles such as oil gas and dust. To address these issues, the study proposes a

capacitive particle analysis structure that uses a flexible capacitive plate to detect

smoke particles. When smoke and interference particles collide with the flexible plate,

they generate signals with different amplitudes and frequencies. The detector then

applies a multiscale algorithm to analyze the mixed signals in the time-frequency

domain, extract the smoke particle signals, and calculate the smoke concentration. This

approach is designed to enhance the sensitivity, accuracy, and reliability of smoke

detection, even in the presence of other interfering particles. Through experiments, the

detector was shown to accurately measure smoke concentrations down to the

parts-per-million (PPM) level, outperforming conventional smoke detectors. This review

provides the key points that the researchers must consider regarding the specifications

and capabilities of smoke detectors that will be utilized in the study’s prototype.

IoT in Fire Detection and Fire Safety Management

The growing adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) has enabled new opportunities for

enhancing fire safety in industrial environments. Saeed et al. proposed an IoT-based

intelligent system for fire prevention and safety in home environments, utilizing a

combination of temperature, smoke, and gas sensors to detect potential fire hazards
with high accuracy and low false alarm rates. According to the study by Dr. Shubhangi

Gondane, Swapnil R. Mahurpaw, Tauqeer N. Pathan, Pratik N. Khudsange, Vaibhav T.

Puri, Umesh M. Ambule, and Shubham S. Patle, entitled “Design & Development of

Smart Fire Safety System for Vehicles Using IoT,” the integration of IoT (Internet of

Things) in fire safety systems enhances the efficiency and reliability of these systems.

They highlighted that IoT technology enables real-time monitoring and instant

responses to fire incidents, significantly reducing potential damage to property and harm

to people. Based on their research, IoT-based fire safety systems can detect fire

hazards early through interconnected sensors and automated alerts, ensuring an

efficient and coordinated response that traditional systems cannot match.

According to Ashraf, A., in 2023, mishaps caused by fire will be the most frequent type

in any industrial sector. As discussed, despite the global decrease in fire-related deaths,

if evacuation time exceeds 20 minutes, the risk of significant harm to individuals

increases considerably. A study by Machtar et al. Al showed that periodically monitoring

the Fire Safety Management (FSM) program can lead to reduced losses through fires. A

similar study to research the sociological factors of fire safety was done. Most of the

buildings will desegregate safety measures in case of fire and are likely to build fire

emergency exits in the event of a fire accident. The study demonstrated a methodology

for implementing an expert system using a Bayesian Belief Network (BBN), which

proved to be an excellent solution for fire analysis. Another noteworthy method was
suggested that employs IoT protocols to provide the safest and fastest evacuation path

in real-time. The study reviews most of the methods used for fire prevention and safety

in the industrial sector. It showcased a different methodology to detect and prevent fires

using AI and IoT. Conclude that integrating AI and IoT into fire safety systems in the

power industry can significantly reduce fire-related damage.