System and method for monitoring a building

1. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving first data representing conditions at each of the plurality of sensors, the plurality of sensors comprising at least a first sensor and a second sensor;

determining a plurality of averages using data from each sensor, each of the plurality of averages determined using data received over an interval of time;

repeatedly combining the plurality of averages to obtain a plurality of combined averages for each sensor;

determining a distribution of the plurality of combined averages for each sensor;

using the distribution, determine an upper control limit and a lower control limit for each sensor;

receiving second data from the plurality of sensors representing conditions at each of the plurality of sensors;

comparing the received second data from a first sensor with the upper control limit and lower control limit for the first sensor and identify an undesirable condition if the second data falls outside of a range defined between the upper control limit for the first sensor and the lower control limit for the first sensor;

determining a severity value of an undesirable condition at the first sensor by dividing the received second data from the first sensor representing the undesirable condition by the upper control limit for the first sensor;

determining the cumulative severity of detected undesirable conditions by performing the steps of:

combining the severity value of the undesirable condition at the first sensor with a severity value of an undesirable condition from at least one additional sensor into a mean severity value;

applying a cumulative distribution function to the resulting mean severity values determined over a period of time; and

applying a sensor location multiplier to a result of the cumulative distribution function; and

triggering an alert as the result of the identified undesirable condition.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the distribution of the plurality of combined averages is determined from a standard deviation and the upper control limit is determined using a goodness of fit technique.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the plurality of averages for each sensor is performed using a moving average calculation method.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the plurality of averages for each sensor is performed using a weighted average calculation method.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a probability of a damaging condition by determining the result of

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6. A system comprising:

a plurality of sensors configured to monitor one or more ambient conditions; and

a processing system coupled to the plurality of sensors, wherein the processing system comprises instructions which when executed by the processing system causes the processing system to:

receive first data representing conditions at each of the plurality of sensors, the plurality of sensors comprising at least a first sensor and a second sensor;

determine a plurality of averages using data from each sensor, each of the plurality of averages determined using data received over an interval of time;

repeatedly combine the plurality of averages to obtain a plurality of combined averages for each sensor;

determine a distribution of the plurality of combined averages for each sensor;

using the distribution, determine an upper control limit and a lower control limit for each sensor;

receive a second data from the plurality of sensors representing conditions at each of the plurality of sensors;

compare the received second data from a first sensor with the upper control limit and lower control limit for the first sensor and identify an undesirable condition if the second data falls outside of a range defined between the upper control limit for the first sensor and the lower control limit for the first sensor;

determine a severity value of an undesirable condition at the first sensor by dividing the received second data from the first sensor representing the undesirable condition by the upper control limit for the first sensor; and

trigger an alert as the result of the undesirable condition.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the processing system determines the distribution of the plurality of combined averages from a standard deviation and the upper control limit is determined using a goodness of fit technique.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the step of determining the plurality of averages for each sensor is performed using a moving average calculation method.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the step of determining the plurality of averages for each sensor is performed using a weighted average calculation method.

10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the processing system further comprises instructions which when executed by the processing system causes the processing system to:

determine the cumulative severity of detected undesirable conditions by performing the steps of:

combine the severity value of the undesirable condition at the first sensor with a severity value of an undesirable condition from at least one additional sensor into a mean severity value;

applying a cumulative distribution function to the mean severity values determined over a period of time; and

applying a sensor location multiplier to a result of the cumulative distribution function.

11. The system of claim 6 , wherein the processing system comprises:

a communication gateway in electronic communication with a least a portion of the plurality of sensors; and

a server in communication with the communications gateway.

12. A real time severity notification system comprising:

a plurality of sensors configured to monitor one or more ambient conditions; and

a processing system coupled to the plurality of sensors, wherein the processing system comprises instructions which when executed by the processing system causes the processing system to:

receive first data representing conditions at each of the plurality of sensors, the plurality of sensors comprising at least a first sensor and a second sensor;

determine a plurality of averages using data from each sensor, each of the plurality of averages determined using data received over an interval of time;

repeatedly combine the plurality of averages to obtain a plurality of combined averages for each sensor;

determine a distribution of the plurality of combined averages for each sensor;

determine an upper control limit and a lower control limit for each sensor from the distribution;

receive second data from the plurality of sensors representing conditions at each of the plurality of sensors;

compare the received second data from a first sensor with the upper control limit and lower control limit for the first sensor and identify an undesirable condition if the second data falls outside of a range defined between the upper control limit for the first sensor and the lower control limit for the first sensor;

determine a severity value of an undesirable condition at the first sensor by dividing the received second data from the first sensor representing the undesirable condition by the upper control limit for the first sensor;

determine the cumulative severity of detected undesirable conditions by performing the steps of:

combine the severity value of the undesirable condition at the first sensor with a severity value of an undesirable condition from at least one additional sensor into a mean severity value;

applying a cumulative distribution function to the resulting mean severity values determined over a period of time;

applying a sensor location multiplier to result of the cumulative distribution function;

determine a probability of a damaging condition by determining the result of:

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a portable electronic device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive the transmitted probability of a damaging condition;

a user interface; and

a processor that comprises instructions which when executed, cause the processor to:

receive the transmitted probability of a damaging condition from the receiver; and

using the user interface, communicate the probability of a damaging condition to a user.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processing system comprises:

a communication gateway in electronic communication with a least a portion of the plurality of sensors; and

a server in communication with the communications gateway.

14. The system of claim 6 , wherein the processing system further comprises instructions which when executed by the processing system causes the processing system to:

determine a probability of a damaging condition by determining a result of:

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