Many households are fitted with alarms, such as smoke, methane and carbon monoxide to warn people when hazards are detected.
When alerted, they’re encouraged to contact their local gas distribution network (GDN), who can deploy emergency response teams to respond to carbon monoxide and methane leak alerts.
These alarms are often sufficient, but don’t cater for some customers in vulnerable situations, such as people with hearing or visual impairments, or people with mental health conditions. These people may be at risk if they’re unable to detect or interpret household alarms. Also, alarm sounds can cause anxiety and stress for some, which may result in them disconnecting devices, leading to hazards not being reported.
The Solution
This project will develop Home Shield, an acoustic monitoring device that can be fitted into customers’ properties to:
1. Detect household alarms
2. Distinguish between multiple alarm sounds
3. Communicate alerts to the occupant and their ‘key contacts’.
Following engagement with several charities, the solution will also include functionalities that are bespoke to a range of vulnerabilities, such as hearing, sight and mental health conditions, with the aim of ensuring no customers are excluded. This will help ensure the safety of all customers in vulnerable situations when household hazards are detected.
Partners
The EIC are facilitating an NIA funded collaborative project between Cadent Gas, Northern Gas Networks, Wales and West Utilities and an innovator.
This collaboration is enabling the development of the solution from TRL3 to TRL8. When the project is complete, the solution will be deployed into business as usual (BAU) operations, allowing the networks to enhance the safety of customers in vulnerable situations.
The Project
Initially the project focused on engaging with charities to understand how the solution can cater for customers with a wide range of vulnerabilities. As it progressed, mental health charities were also consulted to gain insight into functions that will be useful for people living with conditions such as Alzheimer’s or dementia.
Following this, the project focused on:
1. Initial Prototype Build: Prototype devices will be built and tested to ensure that the fundamental objectives are achieved, including detecting multiple alarms, differentiating between alarms and communicating alerts
2: Prototype Advancement: User feedback and recommendations will be used to improve the original prototype. Additional functions suggested during charity engagement will also be incorporated whenever possible
3: Design Finalisation: Following further testing and user feedback from networks and charities, the prototypes will be further enhanced to inform the final design.
Key Learning:
1. Understanding the capabilities and limitations of in-home acoustic monitoring devices
2. Better understanding the needs and expectations of customers in vulnerable situations (and the charities representing them).
Next Steps
To improve knowledge on customers in vulnerable situations, this project’s final report is being disseminated through NEA’s and NGN’s relevant stakeholders.
NGN are reviewing the final report to influence their core strategy on how they engage with customers in vulnerable situations. NGN plan to share and promote the changes made to their strategy supported by NEA.
This innovation specifically supports the embedding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 by supporting those who are unable to utilise a standard audible alarm and wouldn’t respond if one were sounding. Cadent recognises the importance of this initiative and is committed to supporting the independent living of our consumers in vulnerable situations.
Process Specialist, Cadent Gas John Mendes da Costa