Fire Services-

Fire Detection

Fire Detection
The purpose of a building fire alarm system is to detect fires, notify occupants, summon emergency

responders, and provide information to help manage the response.

Fire Detection and Alarm System is electronic equipment which detects fire and raises alarm as warning of

fire

is an integral part of the

building layout and materials of
construction

Heat

Underlying
principle
for
detectioncome into play only when a

Light

fire is present and require

activation through a
combination of sensors or
mechanical
Smoke means.

Three things
produced by fire forms
the basis of detection

Fire Detection: Components

The purpose of a building fire alarm system is to detect fires, notify occupants, summon emergency

responders, and provide information to help manage the response.

Fire Detection and Alarm System is electronic equipment which detects fire and raises alarm as warning of

fire

Fire Detection: System Types

Conventional/ Analogue

Fire detection

Addressable

Fire Detection: Conventional

consist of a fire alarm panel,

which will have a number of
zone- circuits run from it
(respective detection and
signalling circuit)

Each detection zone

is run in a radial from
the fire alarm panel to
various initiation
devices

must be wired in fire

resistant cables for
the bell circuits, and
can be wired in a
standard cable for the
detection circuit

These systems are actually monitoring and controlling circuits, and not individual
devices

Fire Detection: Addressable

The loop also has isolator

devices installed in the loop at
selected points, (normally where
the loop cable passes through a
wall).

Each devices number

is unique to that loop,
and once all devices
are numbered, the fire
alarm panel is then
programmed to
recognize

These systems utilizes a

minimum of two loops,
generally one per floor,
with upto a maximum of
128 devices on a loop.

Fire Detection: Comparison

Addressable
ADVANTAGES

DISADVANTAGES

- Reduced
possibility of false
alarms, by means
of Control station
reset.
-they are able to
monitor the status
of each detector,
thus providing
enhanced
maintenance.
-Accuracy and
ease of
modification

-Requires trained
servicemen, to
install and operate.

Fire Detection: Initiating devices

Flame detector
Infrared detectors
UV detectors

Fire Detection: Smoke Detectors

A smoke detector is a device that detects smoke, typically as an indicator of fire.

IONIZATION
generally more
responsive to
flaming fires. have
a small amount of
radioactive material
between two
electrically charged
plates, which
ionizes the air and
causes current to
flow between the
plates. When
smoke enters, it
disrupts the flow of
ions, thus reducing
the flow of current
and activating the
alarm.

PHOTOELECTRIC
generally more
responsive to
fires that begin
with a long period
of smoldering.
aim a light source
into a sensing
chamber at an
angle away from
the sensor.
Smoke enters the
chamber,
reflecting light
onto the light
sensor; triggering
the alarm

AIR SAMPLING
capable of
detecting
microscopic
particles of smoke.
consists of a
central detection
unit which draws
air through a
network of pipes to
detect smoke.
capable of
detecting the
presence of smoke
particles
suspended in air
by detecting the
light scattered by
them in the
chamber

BEAM
DETECTOR
consists of a
transmitter and
receiver and
operates in line of
sight has a
separate alarm and
trouble signals.
suitable for
protecting open
areas with high
ceilings where
conventional spot
type smoke
detectors are
difficult to install
and maintain.

Fire Detection: Heat Detectors

Ideally suited to locations where high sensitivity is required for change in heat and where

smoke detectors are found unsuitable

response temperature of a heat detector should be a minimum of 29C above the

maximum ambient temperature likely to be experienced for long periods of time

-Typically- 8-110 C/min

-fixed temperature
backstop to
ensure that even very
slow increases in
temperature will
eventually raise an
alarm, if the
increase continues for a
sufficiently long period.

Fire Detection: Heat Detectors V/s Smoke Detectors

Smoke Detector

Heat Detector

transmits a signal to the control unit when

the concentration of airborne combustion
products reaches a predetermined level.

transmits a similar signal when the

temperature reaches a predetermined
level or when there is an abnormal rate of
temperature rise.

give the earliest warning of fire, typically

responding to a fire 1/10th of the size as
that required to operate a heat detector

Slow to react. Heat detectors are not

prone to false alarms although it is rather
insensitive to smoldering fires of low
temperature

Fire Detection: Detector Recommendation

Fire Detection: Positioning of Detectors

In corridors up to 2 m wide

Fire Detection: Positioning of Detectors

a detector should be mounted near to the
apex but spacing can be increased by 1%
for each 1 degree of slope up to 25%.
Near is defined as within 600 mm for
smoke
detectors and within 150 mm for heat
detectors.

Mounting height for detectors

Fire Detection: Positioning of Detectors

Fire Detection: Positioning of Detectors

Fire Detection: Sound & Visual Alarms