How to identify location of Fire Detectors

Fire detectors  are designed to respond at an early stage to one more of the four major characteristics of combustion, heat, smoke, flame or gas.

No single type of detector is suitable for all types of premises or fires. Detectors should be chosen for the best response to the effects of fires, as well the need to minimise unwanted false alarm activations.

Detectors should be located where the early stages of fire will be detected, and ensure they are placed at regular intervals on the ceiling. The issue of unwanted fire alarm activations from environmental conditions must also be considered.

Heat detectors

Heat detectors respond to the temperature rise associated with a fire.

A fixed temperature heat detector is designed to operate when the temperature at the detector exceeds a predetermined value. A rate of rise detector is designed to operate when the rate of temperature rise at the detector exceeds a predetermined value.

Smoke detectors should be preferred to heat detectors where detection of visible smoke or smouldering fire is required. Rate of rise detectors should be avoided where rapid temperature fluctuations are expected.

Ionisation Smoke detectors

Ionisation smoke detectors respond to very small smoke particles a wide range of responses. They are most sensitive to hot fast burning fires, and less sensitive to slow smouldering fires. Don’t locate them near locations subject to high air velocity.

Photo electric smoke detectors

Photo-electric smoke detectors measure the scattered light from smoke particles. They are most sensitive to larger, cooler, smoke particles typical of smouldering fires such as plastics. Don’t locate in area’s subject to steam to prevent unwanted false alarms Often called optical or photo-optical detectors.

Linear beam smoke detectors

Linear beam smoke detectors measure the reduction of intensity of a beam of light due to the presence of smoke particles. They have broad response to a wide range of smoke types, and are particularly useful for detection applications in large spaces. Require careful installation.

Aspirated smoke detectors

Aspiring-type systems are more effective in detecting smoke than point type detectors in many applications. The sensitivity of the actual ‘sampling points’  is  dependent  on  the  sensing  chamber  sensitivity  and  the  design  of  the aspiring pipe network.

Physical or electronic filtration of the air drawn through the sensing chamber and processing of the output signals has been shower to reduce spurious alarms caused by pollution, smoking and dust particles.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) fire detectors

CO fire detectors  respond to the presence of carbon monoxide (CO) in fires involving carbon based materials. CO is produced due to incomplete combustion during smouldering or slow burning fires. Not suitable for the detection of slow burning fires. Currently should not be used as a sole detector for early warning, but used in combination with other early warning detectors as part of a fire engineering design. Ongoing tests are being carried out to improve these type of detectors.

Combination( multi-criteria ) detectors

These type of detectors are available as part of an analogue addressable fire alarm system. They vary of the type of combination, and can involve up to 4 separate sensing elements, such as CO, Infra- Red Sensing, Optical and Heat detection.

The integration of continual monitoring of all the major elements of a fire allows a quick response to any fire and the reduction of nuisance alarm activations (false alarms)

Location of Detectors

The  location  of  smoke  detectors  should  take  into consideration areas where false operation or no-operation is likely.

Some  typical  locations  where  the  use  of  smoke  detectors  should  be  carefully evaluated are as follows:

(a) In the vicinity of certain materials, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which when smouldering produce mainly large particles to which optical detectors are more responsive.

(b) Areas where gases may be present from exhausts and normal manufacturing processes.

(c) Kitchens and other areas subject to cooking fumes. Photoelectric detectors are more suitable for these areas, however not in the actual kitchen.

(d) Near  openings,  such  as  doors,  windows,  or  other  inlets,  where  the introduction of outside industrial gases or products of combustion may be possible.

(e) Areas where the detector is subject to movement and excessive vibration in particular where beam detectors are used.

(f) Dusty areas or in areas where particulate matter, such as aerosols, could enter the detector.

(g) In  areas  subject  to  high  velocity  air  currents,  a  sampling  type  detection system may be more suitable.

(h) In  areas  where  high  concentrations  of  tobacco  smoke  are  expected, ionization detectors are less susceptible to false operation.

(i) In  areas  where  steam  or  condensation  vapour  is  expected,  ionization detectors are less susceptible to false operation.