VISUAL NOTIFICATION TOOL
Techniques for visual notification appliance selection are described. A set of dimensions for a structure are received by a processor and stored on a computer-readable storage medium. The processor calculates a maximum distance between a mounting location for a visual notification appliance and a location within the structure based upon the received dimensions. The processor also estimates an illuminance value for each of a plurality of angular paths within the structure. A visual notification appliance is selected that has an illumination rating that produces a minimum illuminance value at the maximum distance and at each of the plurality of angular paths. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
1 . A computer-implemented method for selecting a visual notification appliance, comprising:
receiving a set of dimensions for a structure;
storing, by a processor, the dimensions in a computer-readable storage medium;
calculating, by the processor, a maximum distance between a mounting location for a visual notification appliance and a location within the structure based upon the dimensions;
estimating, by the processor, an illuminance value for each of a plurality of angular paths within the structure; and
selecting a visual notification appliance, wherein the visual notification appliance has an illumination rating that produces a minimum illuminance value at the maximum distance and at each of the plurality of angular paths.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of dimensions includes a width, a height and a depth of the structure.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the visual notification appliance is a strobe light.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the minimum illuminance value is 0.0375 lumens/ft 2 .
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the illuminance values are estimated for a plurality of predetermined illumination ratings.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the predetermined illumination ratings are chosen from the group of 15cd, 30cd, 45cd, 50cd, 60cd, 75cd, 80cd, 95cd, 115cd, and 150cd.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
generating an electronic document according to a document template, the electronic document including the dimensions, calculations performed, estimations performed and the selected visual notification appliance.
8 . A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, enable the processor to:
receive a set of dimensions for a structure;
store the dimensions in a computer-readable storage medium;
calculate a maximum distance between a mounting location for a visual notification appliance and a location within the structure based upon the dimensions;
estimate an illuminance value for each of a plurality of angular paths within the structure; and
select a visual notification appliance, wherein the visual notification appliance has an illumination rating that produces a minimum illuminance value at the maximum distance and at each of the plurality of angular paths.
9 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the set of dimensions includes a width, a height and a depth of the structure.
10 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the visual notification appliance is a strobe light.
11 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the minimum illuminance value is 0.0375 lumens/ft 2 .
12 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the illuminance values are estimated for a plurality of predetermined illumination ratings.
13 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the predetermined illumination ratings are chosen from the group of 15cd, 30cd, 45cd, 50cd, 60cd, 75cd, 80cd, 95cd, 115cd, and 150cd.
14 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further enabled to:
generate an electronic document according to a document template, the electronic document including the dimensions, calculations performed, estimations performed and the selected visual notification appliance.
15 . A system comprising:
a processor; and
a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, enable the processor to:
receive a set of dimensions for a structure;
store the dimensions in a computer-readable storage medium;
calculate a maximum distance between a mounting location for a visual notification appliance and a location within the structure based upon the dimensions;
estimate an illuminance value for each of a plurality of angular paths within the structure; and
select a visual notification appliance, wherein the visual notification appliance has an illumination rating that produces a minimum illuminance value at the maximum distance and at each of the plurality of angular paths.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the set of dimensions includes a width, a height and a depth of the structure.
17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the visual notification appliance is a strobe light.
18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the minimum illuminance value is 0.0375 lumens/ft 2 .
19 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the illuminance values are estimated for a plurality of predetermined illumination ratings.
20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the predetermined illumination ratings are chosen from the group of 15cd, 30cd, 45cd, 50cd, 60cd, 75cd, 80cd, 95cd, 115cd, and 150cd.
21 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further enabled to:
generate an electronic document according to a document template, the electronic document including the dimensions, calculations performed, estimations performed and the selected visual notification appliance.