Different types of fire detectors include infrared, ultraviolet, and smoke sensors. Infrared detectors are used in factories and data storage facilities, while ultraviolet detectors are used for controlled burning. Smoke sensors are the most widely used but can be unreliable and slow to respond. Each type has advantages for specific applications.
A fire detector is a device that gives a warning when there is heat, light or smoke from combustion. An infrared fire detector can recognize when heat levels have exceeded normal operating levels and a fire has started. Ultraviolet fire detectors are activated when they detect the ultraviolet light spectrum emitted by flames. The carbon monoxide sensor inside a smoke-sensing fire detector is calibrated to detect only a few parts per million in the air it samples. Each type of fire protection has characteristics and advantages that make it suitable for a specific fire prevention application.
Infrared fire detectors are commonly used in factories and data storage facilities to monitor the heat levels of electronic and mechanical operations. Early detection from an infrared monitoring system can reduce detection times enough to save thousands of dollars in damages. Infrared fire detectors are commonly mounted above work equipment where they have a full, unobstructed view. Software is often used to monitor the video signal from the infrared fire detector and trigger an alarm when temperatures reach combustible levels. Alarms can then be retransmitted to automatically trigger a fire suppression response within seconds of detection.
Ultraviolet fire detectors are able to detect the heat of the flame within a specific range. Some operations require controlled burning which would constantly set off an infrared fire detector. The ultraviolet detector can be calibrated to trigger an alarm response only when the flame temperature exceeds a specified range. A combustion system can be set to shut down automatically when unwanted fire levels are detected. Fire detectors with ultraviolet sensing capabilities are often used in conjunction with other fire detection devices to provide redundant protection against fire damage.
Smoke sensing fire detectors are the least expensive and most widely used type of fire detection device on the market. The major drawbacks of this type of fire detector are its unreliability and slow response time. Since smoke is a secondary effect of a fire, it may not reach the smoke sensor until the fire reaches an uncontrollable level. Some materials emit a very small amount of smoke when they burn, allowing them to do massive damage before a smoke detector is triggered. Fires in well-ventilated areas and such as outdoors may not produce smoke in sufficient concentration to activate a carbon monoxide sensor.
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