Installing the wrong detector technology can lead to serious problems that affect the effective protection of the premises
Read our tips designed to help you make no mistake!
Among the point detectors, we find different types of technology, each type is more suitable for the different categories of ignition source:
- smoke detectors, which are based on the light scattering technique, so they react to the presence of products caused by combustion (visible smoke).
- combined smoke and heat detectors, which react to the presence of visible smoke or upon exceeding a fixed temperature threshold.
- thermo-velocity detectors, which instead react when a fixed temperature threshold is exceeded or there is a sudden change in temperature.
- fixed temperature detectors, that react upon exceeding a fixed temperature threshold.
The UNI 9795 reference standard does not provide us with any indication of the type of detector to be installed in a specific environment…
…but then how to evaluate which one to install without running the risk of compromising protection and safety?
First of all, it is important to understand why it is essential to install a specific type of detector rather than another in a given environment.
And to do this, we use a practical example: the detector to be placed in the kitchen of a restaurant.
- In this case we could opt for a smoke detector based on optical technology, however the cooking steams and fumes would obscure the internal sensitive element, immediately alarming the optical chamber of the smoke detector.
This is because the device is not able to discern the type of smoke that is invading it.
- Another hypothesis is to provide a combined smoke and heat detector, however also in this case the same problem of false alarm would occur
This is because the combined smoke and heat detector works with an OR logic, this means that it intervenes one technology or the other in an alternative, non-cumulative way, based on the source of ignition.
Therefore, in the example of the kitchen where cooking fumes and steams are produced, the optical smoke technology would trigger first, causing the false alarm.
- Another alternative is the thermo-velocity detector, which is based on heat detection technology associated with the sudden change in temperature, therefore the classic flame or energy source that generates a sudden and non-persistent heat.
It is clear that even this cannot be the suitable detector for a kitchen, given the presence of the electric oven which, by opening the door, triggers a flush of heat that would also generate a false alarm in this case.
- Proceeding by way of exclusion, we arrive at the definitive solution: in the kitchen, on the ceiling, the most appropriate detectors to install are exclusively those with fixed threshold heat.
In this way, the alarm will only be generated upon reaching that preset temperature for which the detector has been sized, avoiding false alarms.
So, to answer the question “why is it important to understand the most suitable type of detection for a specific environment?”….
Because a wrong choice can lead to the generation of false alarms, with consequent activation of all emergency procedures, and also affect the real and effective protection of the environments.
For the choice of the most appropriate type of detection, the characteristics of the environment, its intended use and the consequent types of trigger sources must be evaluated.
Do you think it is complicated, don’t you?
In fact, it is a complicated matter, even more so because the protection of people is at stake…
For this reason, if you want to be sure not to make mistakes and inaccuracies, to protect yourself and above all not to puzzle over such thorny topics, the best solution is to contact FDP International, a specialist manufacturer of fire systems that becomes your guide in design, installation and service.
The analysis chamber of FireFocus detectors
Unlike most of the brands, we design and produce the detector analysis chamber of our FireFocus system internally, we have the know-how and for this we can be your point of reference, providing you with everything you need to be relieved of all the extremely complex work of risk analysis.