Systems and methods for detecting building conditions based on wireless signal degradation

1. A method for detecting an event in or around a building, the method comprising:

recording a baseline signal characteristic that characterizes a wireless radio signal transmitted between transceivers of devices in or around the building during a baseline time period;

recording a second signal characteristic that characterizes the wireless radio signal during a second time period after the baseline time period;

detecting an event comprising at least one of a fire within the building or an increased level of water vapor within the building in response to a determination that the second signal characteristic is abnormal relative to the baseline signal characteristic; and

triggering an alarm in response to detecting the event.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless signal is within a frequency range compliant with IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi communications specifications or IEEE 802.15.4-based specifications.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the event comprises:

identifying a building location located between a first device from which the wireless signal is transmitted and a second device at which the wireless signal is received;

determining that the event is occurring within the building location.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second signal characteristic is determined to be abnormal relative to the baseline signal characteristic if the second signal characteristic comprises at least one of a degradation in signal strength, a degradation in link quality, or a degradation in bit rate relative to the baseline signal characteristic.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

observing the baseline signal characteristic and the second signal characteristic at a plurality of locations throughout the building; and

transmitting the baseline signal characteristic and the second signal characteristic observed at the plurality of locations to a controller.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the controller comprises at least one of a building management system (BMS) controller or a fire system controller.

7. A system for detecting an event within a building, the system comprising:

a wireless network comprising a plurality of wireless devices distributed throughout the building and configured to:

record a baseline signal characteristic that characterizes a wireless radio signal transmitted between transceivers of the plurality of wireless devices during a baseline time period;

record a second signal characteristic that characterizes the wireless radio signal during a second time period after the baseline time period;

a controller configured to:

detect an event comprising at least one of a fire within the building or an increased level of water vapor within the building in response to a determination that the second signal characteristic is abnormal relative to the baseline signal characteristic; and

trigger an alarm in response to detecting the event.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the wireless signal is a frequency range compliant with IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi communications specifications or IEEE 802.15.4-based specifications.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

identify a building location located between a first device from which the wireless signal is transmitted and a second device at which the wireless signal is received;

determine that the event is occurring within the building location.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the second signal characteristic is determined to be abnormal relative to the baseline signal characteristic if the second signal characteristic comprises at least one of a degradation in signal strength, a degradation in link quality, or a degradation in bit rate relative to the baseline signal characteristic.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of wireless devices are configured to:

observe the baseline signal characteristic and the second signal characteristic at a plurality of locations throughout the building; and

transmit the baseline signal characteristic and the second signal characteristic observed at the plurality of locations to the controller.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller comprises at least one of a building management system (BMS) controller or a fire system controller.

13. A method for detecting an event in or around a building, the method comprising:

recording a baseline signal characteristic that characterizes a wireless radio signal transmitted between transceivers of devices in or around the building during a baseline time period;

recording a second signal characteristic that characterizes the wireless radio signal during a second time period after the baseline time period;

detecting an event comprising at least one of a fire within the building or an increased level of water vapor within the building in response to a determination that the second signal characteristic is abnormal relative to the baseline signal characteristic.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the wireless signal is within a frequency range compliant with IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi communications specifications or IEEE 802.15.4-based specifications.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein detecting the event comprises:

identifying a building location located between a first device from which the wireless signal is transmitted and a second device at which the wireless signal is received;

determining that the event is occurring within the building location.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the second signal characteristic is determined to be abnormal relative to the baseline signal characteristic if the second signal characteristic comprises at least one of a degradation in signal strength, a degradation in link quality, or a degradation in bit rate relative to the baseline signal characteristic.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

observing the baseline signal characteristic and the second signal characteristic at a plurality of locations throughout the building; and

transmitting the baseline signal characteristic and the second signal characteristic observed at the plurality of locations to a controller.