An Irish PropTech startup has developed an innovative new way to manage building safety compliance. The startup also recently garnered a prestigious European contract for a new project that could help property managers worldwide. Safecility, based in Dublin, will develop a blockchain-based safety management platform after securing the contract from the European Space Agency, according to The Irish Times. The ‘Safeblock’ project will use satellites, sensors, geolocation tools, and blockchain to provide building safety, maintenance, and testing information in an ultra-secure way.
Safeblock will verify safety data collected from building sensors and then publish it to a secure database that can’t be manipulated. The database will use Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning data to authenticate entires. The security of the database means the information can be shared in a more trusted way among building owners, tenants, and regulators.
Most building safety management information still heavily relies on paper. Putting data in a platform like Safeblock will enable property owners to remove human error, track high-quality data, and synchronize compliance and safety auditing and reporting. Cian O’Flaherty, the Safecility founder, envisions using the platform to eventually create a building safety rating, similar to how many commercial buildings have energy ratings.
Managing building safety information, like exit signs, emergency evacuation plans, and fire alarms and extinguishers, isn’t the most exciting job in the world for facility and property managers, nor the easiest. Emergency light maintenance is a legal requirement for buildings in many jurisdictions, enforced by building codes and other authorities, and sometimes overlooked. OSHA also has stringent requirements for emergency plans. New tech that makes the management and auditing process easier is gaining traction. Hopefully, eventually it will lower the costs of testing and monitoring life safety systems significantly as well.
