Latest Developments in Fire Detection

The fire detection market continues to evolve in order to meet the needs and expectations of the end user.

As buildings become more sophisticated, fire detection technology must keep pace in order to continue to accurately and reliably provide warning of fire. One of the biggest challenges for fire detection product manufacturers is to predict what new technological demands will emerge, and to develop timely solutions for them.

It’s Good To Talk.

There is increasing demand for products that interact with one another without the need for specialist knowledge on the part of the user. People assume, with some justification, that if their mobile phone can talk to their home computer and car entertainment system then there should be no problem getting their security system and fire alarm system to work together as well.

Buildings today can have any number of systems installed in order to control security, heating, lighting and ventilation. Controlling all of these systems through a common interface would undoubtedly make life easier for the end user. Indeed, modern building management systems (BMS) have evolved to offer this level of integration. However, fire detection has resisted full integration to date.

There are good practical reasons for this; not least the fact that fire protection is a life-critical function. The possibility that a fire signal could be compromised by a fault in a lighting circuit is not an acceptable risk. Historically, legislation and guidance governing fire system design and installation has been more prescriptive than for other BMS functions. It has therefore been simpler to keep fire detection separate – although this situation is changing as pan-European legislation seeks to unify and update individual country’s regulations.

In real terms, there is a lot to be said for closer interaction between fire systems and other building functions like heating, ventilation and lighting. Indeed, it can bring some positive safety benefits. For example, the signal from a fire system could be used to tell the security system to release certain access doors in an emergency, or to page staff to enable them to respond appropriately when an alert has been raised. The aim would be to develop a means of facilitating greater integration between fire detection and other BMS functions without introducing more levels of complexity – either for the installer or the end user.

Apollo has been addressing the issues of integration and has come up with an answer called OpenConnect Gateway. This discreet device can be incorporated into a fire control panel and enables the information from a fire system to be communicated to a BMS (and vice versa) using standard protocols Modbus, BACnet and LonWorks. In essence, this allows the fire signals to be fully integrated with other BMS signals, but allows the fire detection wiring and devices to remain physically separate.

Making Improvements.

Of course, not all market trends demand the development of a brand new product or technology; sometimes making modifications and improvements to existing fire detection devices can ensure that they continue to offer optimum value and reliability to the installer and the end user.

One continuing challenge is the adequate protection of large open internal spaces, such as sports halls, warehouses, hangars, theatres and churches. The detection method of choice for wide areas is beam detection. Essentially, these devices work by projecting a beam of light across the space and measuring how much light is returned to the sensor. Smoke particles disrupt the beam, reducing the amount of light being received. It is therefore crucial that the emitter and the receiver are correctly aligned to avoid false readings. This is not always easy to achieve – particularly at height.

Apollo has recently introduced an auto-aligning beam detector with laser alignment that helps to overcome this problem. It enables the installer to use a visible laser to align the beam initially, rather than relying on sight alone. The technology also includes an automatic, motorised auto-alignment feature to ensure that the beam remains on target. This feature compensates for minor adjustments and counters any building movement over time.

Technology and Training.

Sometimes, improving fire detection requires a combination of better technology and improved skills. For example, there is an ongoing need to provide adequate fire protection in circumstances where hard wiring is either not possible or not desirable. This covers quite a number of scenarios; from historic buildings with delicate interiors to remote or temporary structures where hard wiring is impractical.

Wireless fire detection is ideal for these types of situations. Instead of communicating using electrical impulses sent down cabling, these devices transmit radio signals back to a receiver. Apollo’s own wireless range, XPander, is designed to be used in conjunction with a standard fire detection system, in order to protect areas that require wireless technology.

XPander has recently been improved to make the technology even more reliable. The range has been extended to include an optical smoke detector, a multi-sensor smoke detector, heat detector types A1R and CS, a wireless base, a manual call point, a sounder and a sounder beacon and single and dual Input/output units.

Upgrading the technology is only part of the story. The ability of any fire detection device to function correctly is not reliant on good technology alone - it must be correctly specified and installed too. This is particularly important with wireless devices because they communicate in a very different way to hard wired fire detectors. Apollo therefore does not sell XPander to companies unless their installers have had suitable training. Apollo offers free training courses on XPander – and indeed all its other products – to improve reliability by ensuring that the technology is fully understood and applied correctly.
 

Improving Confidence.

Having ensured that the right product is installed correctly and in the appropriate environment, it is important that end users have full confidence in their fire system throughout its lifetime. Apollo sees the issue of lifecycle costs as an area where knowledge within the fire industry is lacking, and has introduced a CPD-approved training course on this topic.

In addition, Apollo has taken the lead in introducing a product lifetime guarantee, which makes clear the life expectancy of Apollo products and is currently being rolled out worldwide.

At present there is no legal obligation to supply product lifetime information. BS5839, the industry code of practice, puts the onus on the manufacturer to define the working life of the product, along with requirements for servicing and maintenance. However, the amount of detail available can vary enormously from manufacturer to manufacturer.

The product lifetime guarantee provides a warranty on Apollo products, which for detectors is ten years (CO detectors, five years). It protects against the unlikely event of a manufacturing defect and is applicable when products are used in dry, non-corrosive atmospheres (provided that they are regularly inspected, tested and cleaned in accordance with Apollo guidelines). All products that were manufactured from 1st December 2010 onwards are covered by the new guarantee.

We hope that other manufacturers will follow our lead in making this simple piece of information much more transparent in future. The benefits to the industry in terms of improving reputation and customer confidence are significant.
 

Looking Forward.

So, fire detection technology is continuing to evolve to meet the needs of the market. However, there is a limit as to how far any single technology can be progressed. Fire detection has historically relied on a very small number of sensing technologies; mainly ionisation, optical and thermistor (heat). It is likely that a major step change in technology will be required in order for the industry to develop in new directions. In light of this, Apollo is already looking to the future.

One avenue that is being explored is the adoption of sensor technologies that are currently used successfully in a variety of other industries. An example is chemical or semiconductor sensors, which have proven very reliable in other applications and particularly in the detection of toxic and combustible gases. If this technology could be transferred reliably to fire detection it could lead to the use of just one sensor type to identify a whole range of fires – a move that could revolutionise the industry. Because they respond to traces of gas, semiconductor sensors could pick up the products of combustion far earlier than traditional smoke and heat sensors, allowing more precious time for evacuation or remedial action.

With regard to general trends in fire detection, these continue to be driven by the desire to improve reliability and use technological improvements to deliver excellent customer service. In order to do so, specifiers and installers need to be able to respond quickly to new trends. We believe this is one of the reasons that open protocol fire systems will become the preferred choice in future.

Adopting an open protocol policy offers freedom of choice regarding sourcing products and which components are used, both now and in the future. This means that technology based on an open protocol is fully interchangeable, even if it is made by a different manufacturer. Forwards and backwards compatibility also means that an updated or new product can easily be added to an existing system at minimum cost and with minimum disruption.

Conclusion.

When dealing with a safety-critical technology such as fire detection, it is crucial that the technology is reliable and accurate. As buildings continue to evolve, it is not only the fire detection that must keep pace. As an industry, we must ensure that skills continue to match the technology available: the best fire detection product in the world cannot work to its best if it is incorrectly specified, installed or maintained. Apollo therefore puts great emphasis on training and will continue to add new courses to cover any skills gaps.

Customers’ expectations continue to rise. The fire industry therefore needs to ensure that it delivers. Added to the development of new, appropriate technology and relevant skills, we need to demonstrate flexibility and responsiveness. This cannot be achieved in an atmosphere of secrecy or by limiting ourselves to one product or manufacturer for the lifetime of a fire system. Apollo firmly believes that improvements are best made by being open, sharing information and allowing trained professionals responsible for system design, installation and maintenance the freedom to choose.

Contact: For further information, go to www.apollo-fire.co.uk

(Author)

Richard Bramham is Marketing Director at Apollo Fire Detectors