Bay Area Medical Center Utilizes Electronically Monitored Fire Extinguishers

AirSense Technology USA Ltd.
July 12, 2007

Mija, Inc. of Rockland, Massachusetts announced that the Bay Area Medical Center (BAMC) in Marinette, Wisconsin completed a successful pilot program with en.Gauge electronically monitored fire extinguishers. BAMC is the first healthcare facility in the United States to utilize en-Gauge extinguishers; it has ten units scattered throughout public areas on the first floor of the hospital.

Everhart noted that over the next several years he hopes to install en.Gauge in several new facilities on the campus including a women's health center, OB, emergency and surgical departments that the hospital plans to construct.

en.Gauge enabled fire extinguishers monitor for three important code-required characteristics - presence: is the fire extinguisher in its appropriate location, pressure: is the extinguisher fully pressurized and operational, and obstruction: is there anything blocking access to the fire extinguisher. If the technology finds any of these items to be faulty, it immediately sends a signal to the fire alarm or security panel alerting officials that there is a problem to address.  

Two national code bodies in the United States - the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the International Codes Council each recognize electronic monitoring of fire extinguishers. Each of these groups allows electronic monitoring in lieu of 30-day physical inspections - potentially saving businesses significant sums of labor hours and money. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) references NFPA 10 in its codes, which allows for electronic monitoring.

Other benefits of electronic monitoring include the ability to create an electronic 'paper trail' for each unit and meet compliance obligations. In addition to the Bay Area Medical Center, several universities, public schools, an international airport and correctional facilities have adopted electronic monitoring of their fire extinguishers.