STAR (SelfTesting Automated Reporting) is a platform designed to support automated testing and reporting for emergency and life safety devices.
Applicable life safety codes, such as NFPA 101, generally require emergency and life safety devices to be tested on a monthly and annual basis, with records maintained and made accessible for review.
STAR is intended to help support these testing and documentation requirements by automating portions of the process.
When STAR is specified on a device, the device is installed in the same manner as a standard unit.
Jacob Palombo
The STAR system is designed to automatically initiate the required monthly and annual tests, log results within the device and wirelessly communicate test data to the CLAIRITY+ mobile app or to a connected STAR gateway, depending on system configuration.
The STAR Gateway is designed to support scalable deployments of up to approximately 20,000 devices, providing facility managers with centralized access to test data through email notifications, webbased interfaces or APIs.
By digitizing test data and reports, the technology is intended to help simplify testing workflows and support ongoing documentation needs.
Today, STAR is available across a range of Acuity emergency and life safety devices, including exit signs, combination units, emergency units and fieldinstallable battery packs for select luminaires.
This breadth of availability is intended to provide flexibility across different applications and support more comprehensive system solutions.
From an operational perspective, STAR can significantly reduce the labor associated with performing required monthly and annual life safety testing when compared to traditional manual processes.
By automating certain testing and reporting functions, the system is intended to help streamline how compliance activities are managed across multiple devices.
STAR is designed to simplify testing workflows by reducing the need for onsite manual testing activities, such as accessing individual fixtures, climbing ladders or physically initiating tests at each device.
Jacob Palombo
By automating these steps, the process may help reduce manual interpretation of indicator lights and the need for individual test results to be manually recorded, which can vary depending on the environment and application.
Another benefit is the ability to perform testing during normal operating hours, which may reduce the need for manual power interruptions and help minimize disruption to building occupants.
In addition, STAR is intended to support digital recordkeeping by storing test data within the CLAIRITY+ app or a connected STAR gateway.
Test reports can be accessed through email, webbased interfaces or shared via API, depending on system configuration.
Digital access to records can help simplify ongoing reporting and review processes.
Facilities that have adopted STAR for emergency lighting testing and reporting have noted reductions in labor, time and disruption associated with routine testing and documentation of emergency and life safety devices.
Some customers using a fully connected STAR system have reported significant decreases in inspection-related labor, allowing resources to be redirected to other priorities.
In certain cases, customers have indicated that these efficiencies contributed to a relatively short return on investment, although actual results can vary based on system configuration, facility size and operational practices.
Jacob Palombo
In larger facilities with a high number of devices, customers have shared that manual testing can be challenging due to the time required to locate each device, gain physical access, perform tests correctly, interpret indicator lights and accurately document results.
Customers have also shared that having greater visibility into testing activity can provide added confidence that devices are being tested as intended and aligned with applicable life safety requirements.
Reducing the time and effort associated with monthly and annual testing could also help lower overall operational costs and support more consistent maintenance practices, depending on the facility.
From a user and industry perspective, accessibility is an important consideration because it can help make test data easier to obtain and manage.
The STAR platform offers two levels of connectivity.
With Mobile STAR, test data is logged in each individual unit and broadcast to the CLAIRITY+ mobile app, where a test report can be generated and emailed to the building owner.
The next level of connectivity is Connected STAR, where test data is logged in the STAR Gateway and made available via email and through online access or API, depending on system configuration.
Jacob Palombo
Either approach is intended to give building owners more timely visibility into the status of their devices and system performance.
Compared to maintaining printed or handwritten reports over long periods of time, digital access to test data may help simplify recordkeeping and improve organization.
From an industry perspective, automated testing and reporting technologies for emergency and life safety systems are generally expected to continue gaining adoption as building owners and facility managers look for ways to improve operational efficiency and reduce the administrative burden associated with routine testing and documentation.
Technologies such as STAR will continue to be incorporated into a broader range of emergency and life safety devices, including select fixtures and battery backup solutions, which could help support a wider variety of applications and installation scenarios over time.
Jacob Palombo
As these technologies evolve, there may be an increased focus on usability and intuitive system interfaces, with the goal of helping users more easily manage testing and reporting processes.
