Smart Fire Alarm and Visual Guidance System for Inclusive Campus Safety: A Technology Management Perspective

Orlene Carin Balungkas; Honey Grace D. Garcia; Joecyn N. Archival; Jeonel S. Lumbab; Gerwine J. Medio; Redjie D. Arcadio; Rodel T. Naval; Francis Mart N. Pacabis

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i04.86059

Smart Fire Alarm and Visual Guidance System for Inclusive Campus Safety: A Technology Management Perspective

Author(s)	Orlene Carin Balungkas, Honey Grace D. Garcia, Joecyn N. Archival, Jeonel S. Lumbab, Gerwine J. Medio, Redjie D. Arcadio, Rodel T. Naval, Francis Mart N. Pacabis
Country	Philippines
Abstract	Conventional emergency evacuation infrastructures in academic institutions rely almost exclusively on acoustic warning systems paired with basic, binary blinking strobes, creating critical safety disparities for hearing-impaired/hard-of-hearing students. In high-density environments like the University of Cebu – Main Campus, relying solely on sound-based alerts compromises occupant safety and violates national and international statutory accessibility mandates. This study designed, constructed, and evaluated a localized, non-networked Smart Fire Alarm and Visual Guidance System to provide equitable, real-time emergency notifications and directional egress guidance for hearing-impaired/hard-of-hearing individuals. Utilizing a descriptive-developmental research design, an independent microcontroller-based system (Arduino Uno) was engineered with multi-sensor arrays (smoke/heat), xenon strobes (1.2 Hz), 105 dB buzzers, and addressable RGB LED matrix displays. Evaluation data were gathered from 70 purposively selected participants (40 hearing-impaired/hard-of-hearing students, 20 safety experts, and 10 facility administrators). Quantitative metrics were assessed via David Garvin’s Dimensions of Quality and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) on 5-point Likert scales, complemented by One-Way ANOVA inferential testing (α = 0.05) and qualitative focus group discussions. Baseline evaluations confirmed that existing campus systems lacked visual warning capabilities, resulting in an average 3.82-minute evacuation delay for hearing-impaired/hard-of-hearing students. Prototype field testing demonstrated near-instantaneous sensor-to-output activation latency (1.18 seconds). The overall system quality was rated as Outstanding (μ=4.815, SD=0.18), with high conformance (μ = 4.93) to RA 9514, RA 7277, and ISO 21542. Overall system acceptability achieved a Very Highly Acceptable composite score (μ = 4.882, SD= 0.15). One-Way ANOVA revealed no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) across respondent groups for quality (p = 0.561) or acceptability (p = 0.294). The non-networked dual-sensory system successfully eliminates evacuation lag for hearing-impaired students. Localized hardware automation delivers cost-effective, fail-safe life safety protection, establishing a validated framework for inclusive smart campus infrastructure.
Keywords	Technology Management, Inclusive Safety, Fire Alarm, Visual Guidance, Hearing-Impaired Egress, Arduino Uno, TAM, Universal Design
Field	Engineering
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 4, July-August 2026
Published On	2026-08-20
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i04.86059

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Smart Fire Alarm and Visual Guidance System for Inclusive Campus Safety: A Technology Management Perspective

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