Safety of life and property is the main purpose for want of a shelter. No matter the luxury, the sophisticated design or how appealing the architecture of a shelter may be, it gets so little public interest or attention as to be acquired or inhabited, if by the slimmest of chances, it puts lives and properties at risk.
Domestic disasters are unforeseen occurrences in domestic abodes, that put lives and properties in danger. They could cause death, serious injuries, and or damage/loss of property.
These include domestic fire disasters, domestic gas leakages and explosions, building collapse, electrocution etc like other accidents, they are not intended. They could occur as a result of unconscious human errors, system failures, natural disasters, homicide etc
However, planning and preparing for the unforeseen is key in tackling domestic disasters, for prevention they say is better than cure.
Since these occurrences, unplanned and unforeseen, could happen in a jiffy, managing such requires a system that gives Quick, On-Time response.
For instance, deploying fire services to combat domestic fire, though with much success over the years, has by no means brought the losses of fire incidences to the minimal, for in a lot of cases, some damages have been done before the fireman arrives. Thus, there is a need for such a technology that can prevent the fire in the first place, or put it out immediately, without the slightest waste of time.
Technology and domestic disaster Management
If there is one change that the world can’t deny, it is that which technology has brought upon it. There is global advancement in the daily development of needed technology, to handle human activities and needs, both industrial and domestic.
Developers in real estate are turning to new technologies to help prevent and manage domestic disasters.
Employing the use of technology goes a long way to aid the prevention of domestic disasters for the following reasons:
Speed
The quick, on-time response needed to prevent or manage domestic disasters can be provided by machines, computers or systems.
These could be in terms of detection of faults and imminent danger, or a consequent real-time response to an alarm in that regard.
Effectiveness and efficiency
With proper programming, the chances of error in the prevention or management of domestic disasters are minimal with the use of technology, unlike in humans, who under the pressure of such disaster, due to shock or panic, are prone to errors.
Limited casualties and liabilities
There have been instances when firefighters themselves become a causality of fire incidences, or persons attempting to rescue victims of collapsed buildings become trapped themselves.
Adopting the use of technology in the prevention and management of domestic disasters helps to prevent such ugly scenarios.
How to use technology to prevent domestic disaster
The incidents of domestic disasters can be narrowed down into three Phases. A technology that prevents domestic disaster is a system designed to manage any or all of these phases of the incident. The phases are:
A Cause (a fault)
Every disaster is preceded by a cause, and that is chiefly a fault. A broken or leaking gas pipe, an exposed current-carrying conductor, an earthquake etc are all causes of disasters and can as well induce faults in their respective domestic systems.
An effect
As a result of the fault, the system fails and there is an effect. Gas leakage, Electrocution, building collapse are effects of the faults listed above.
An aftereffect
The effect is followed by an aftereffect, the disaster itself. Suffocation, fire or gas explosion, unconsciousness as a result of electrocution, trapping of residents and properties, are aftereffects from the effects listed above.
Preventional measures are relevant for the first two phases, so we shall discuss various technologies appropriate for these phases, for if they can be managed and prevented, then the last phase of the disaster can be altogether avoided.
Using Technology to Prevent domestic disaster: Fault Detection
Domestic disasters, especially fire incidences, can be prevented, through the use of technology that can detect faults.
These are known as sensors. They are devices that get real-time data of a system, compare it with ideal state data, and give feedback on any discrepancies.
Such feedback can be used to trigger an alarm to warn of a fault and an imminent danger, or a response that either correct the anomaly or shuts the system down to prevent a disaster. Examples are
Gas sensors
They can help detect domestic gas leakages or domestic gas pollution as the case might be. They then trigger an alarm that alerts residents to either turn off the gas supply, avoid flames or sparks, evacuate such environment or use oxygen masks. This, when in place can prevent gas explosions, fire outbreaks and gas suffocation.
Smoke sensors
They are capable of detecting smokes. They then trigger an alarm to warn of a possible fire incidence or trigger fire extinguishing mechanisms in areas where smoke is detected.
Thermal sensors
These detect an increase in Temperature. Bizarre temperature rise can be a result of the fire.
Motion sensors
They detect the relative motion of objects. Though they come in handy in the detection of intrusion, they go beyond that. They can be used to detect structural motion, to warn about quakes or building collapse.
Using Technology to prevent domestic disaster: correction of fault effects
Once there is a fault in a system, prior to rectification, there is likely going to be an effect. A damaged gas pipe, for instance, results in gas leakages.
These leakages, when not well managed can result in an explosion, or fire. To prevent domestic disasters, there are technologies available to correct and manage the effects of domestic faults. Examples are
Fire Suppression systems/sprinklers
This is a technology that helps prevent or manage fire outbreaks. Upon detection of smokes or heat by sensors, the fire sprinkler or fire suppression system is triggered automatically, to release fluids to extinguish the flames.
Sprinklers use water while suppression systems use gases since the water might be ineffective in some cases of fire outbreaks.
Gas control systems: recent research is bringing to the forefront technologies for controlling domestic LPG. When sensors detect a leak, a fan is triggered, to evacuate the leaked gas from the building.
Automated electrical systems
This is a technology with automated control over electrical wiring. It is incorporated with safety devices like fuses, Ground-fault Circuit Interrupters (GCFI), Arc Fault Circuit Breakers (AFCB) etc that interrupt power supply to prevent hazards upon detection of faults.
In a world advancing in technology, the future of domestic disaster prevention and management can only get better.
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