Fire panels are renowned for their ability to safeguard people and buildings by providing early fire notifications. To ensure the system functions reliably and as intended, considerable effort is invested in the installation and commissioning of fire panels. Manufacturers and suppliers play a significant role by offering technical training and support. The complete product life cycle of a fire panel involves various stakeholders, including engineering teams, suppliers/distributors, technical support personnel, system designers, and commissioning and installation teams.
Given the involvement of multiple stakeholders, effective communication among these groups is crucial. An excellent software tool that can bridge the communication gap is a loop calculator. Some notable features of a loop calculator include.
● Loop load calculations,
● Wiring topology analysis (Class A and B)
● Generation of component and parts reports
● Panel battery calculations
● System validation
Traditionally, loop calculators have been implemented as spreadsheets or desktop GUI tools, each accomplishing one or two of the aforementioned features. However, these tools often require costly development and maintenance efforts as they attempt to cater to the diverse needs of different user groups.
Web-based loop calculators offer a solution by enabling the creation of a single software tool that incorporates features ranging from simple to complex, addressing the distinct requirements of various user groups while maintaining a user-friendly interface. Additionally, web-based loop calculators provide several benefits, such as
● Easier reports extraction
● Customization of user experience
● Applying rules and fool proofing of designs
● Simple yet fully different user interfaces
● Easy to release and deploy features iteratively
● Create template for starting designs based on best practices
● Can be used to create cause and effects (co-relations of I/O devices)
● Build complex features like dynamic analysis of network topology
The ever-evolving landscape of technology and the availability of outsourcing models, such as EMCUS Technologies, have made it feasible to develop modern tools iteratively. One such tool is a web-based application that can be commercialized through a subscription model.
Field technicians and system engineers derive substantial benefits from these modern tools. By integrating the tool with suppliers’ inventory systems, a dynamic view of lead times can be obtained, enabling the accurate estimation of promise times to end customers. This integration enhances efficiency and ensures timely service delivery.