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Unit4HEATDETECTORS|FiresafetyandProtectionSystems

28thJanuary2014

Unit4HEATDETECTORS

Heatdetectorsaredesignedtodetectfireinitsmoreadvancedstageswhenthetemperatureintheprotected
areastartstorise.Theyaretheoldesttypeofautomaticfiredetectiondevice.
Heat detectors respond to the converted thermal energy of a fire and are generally located on or near the
ceiling. They respond either when the detecting element reaches a predetermined fixed temperature or to a
specifiedrateoftemperaturechange.
In general, heat detectors are designed to operate when heat causes a prescribed change in a physical or
electricalpropertyofamaterialorgas.

A.TYPESOFHEATDETECTORS
Thetwomaintypesofheatdetectorare:
1.Rateofrisedetectors
2.Fixedtemperaturedetectors

Heatdetectorscanfurtherbesubdividedbytheiroperatingprinciples

1.RateofriseHeatDetectors

Oneeffectthatfirehasonthesurroundingareaistorapidlyincreaseairtemperatureinthespaceabovethe
fire.Therateofrisedetectorwillfunctionwhentherateoftemperatureincreaseexceedsapredetermined
value, typically around 7 to 8C per minute. Rateofrise detectors are designed to compensate for the
normalchangesinambienttemperaturethatareexpectedundernonfireconditions.
Basedondifferentoperatingprinciples,therearegeneral2typesofrateofriseheatdetector
BimetallicType
Thermistortype

ConstructionAndOperationOfBimetallicRateofriseDetector
Inabimetallicdetector,twometalswithdifferentexpansionratesarebondedtogetherinastrip.Whenthe
stripisheated,onemetalexpandsfasterthantheother,causingthestriptobend.Thiswillopenorclosethe
circuit,therebyactivatingthealarm.
Figure 41 shows a bimetallic rateofrise detector. Two bimetallic strips have been formed into incomplete
circles.Theyarebothcutfromthesamesheetsothattheircharacteristicsarethesame.
The metal with the highest coefficient of expansion is on the outer surface, so that as the temperature
increasesthefreeendsofthetwostripswillmoveinwards.Theybothcarryelectricalcontactsandthereisa
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slightgapbetweenthecontacts.Ifbothstripsmovetogether,contactwillnotbemade.
Butthelowerstripiscoveredbyathinaluminiumcupandtheupperoneissurroundedbyaplasticmoulding
(ofverylowthermalconductivity).Ifthereisaverygradualincreaseintemperaturebothstripswillreceivethe
same amount of heat and will move together. If there is a rapid rise, the lower strip will be heated more
rapidlythantheupperoneitwillbendmoreandthecontactswillbeclosed.

The stop enables fixed temperature response. If both strips move together in response to a slow rise in
temperature,theupperonewilleventuallycomeagainstthestop.Theloweronewillcontinuetomoveandthe
contactswillbeclosed.

[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/90UkxMDkNjU/Uuce5qCMK4I/AAAAAAAAABE/TooKQfzcrwY/s1600/pica.png]

Figure41:BimetalCoilRateofriseDetector

ConstructionAndOperationOfThermistorRateofriseDetector
This type of heat detectors uses a thermistor as the primary heat sensing device. A thermistor is a
component whose resistance changes with temperature. Its electrical resistance decreases with increasing
temperature.Theeffectcanbequiteremarkable,withtheresistancechangingfromabout100kat200C to
only100at1000C.
[] Thisresistancechangeismonitoredbyanassociatedelectroniccircuitry,andthedetectorrespondswhen

the resistance changes at an abnormal rate (rateofrise type) or when the resistance reaches a specific
value(fixedtemperaturetype).
Figure42showsathermistorrateofrisedetector.Amatchedpairofthermistorsisusedtoprovidearate
ofrise sensitivity. One is exposed to the atmosphere and the other is thermally insulated. When the
temperaturechangesrapidlyinfiresituation,thetemperatureoftheexposedthermistorwillincreasefaster
than the temperature of the unexposed reference thermistor, thereby generate a net change in resistance
andcausethedetectortogointoalarmcondition.Thecircuitwithinthedetectorisdesignedtosetoffthe
alarmwhenthedifferenceintheresistanceofthetwothermistorsexceedsapresetvalue.
Detectors could have indicators showing that they are activated, a light emitting diode which is turned on
whenthedetectorhasalarmed.

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[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/QBsjwSTRhDw/Uucftci4XvI/AAAAAAAAABM/kHbAuO7dx0Q/s1600/pic2.png]

Figure42:Thermistorrateofrisedetector

2.FixedtemperatureHeatDetectors
Fixedtemperature heat detectors are designed to initiate an alarm when the temperature of the operating
elementsreachesaspecificoperatingpoint.Fixedtemperatureheatdetectorsareavailabletocoverawide
rangeofoperatingtemperaturesfromabout57Candhigher.
Theairtemperatureatthetimeofalarmisusuallyconsiderablyhigherthantheratedtemperaturebecauseit
takestimefortheairtoraisethetemperatureoftheoperatingelementtoitssetpoint.Thisconditioniscalled
thermallag.
Basedondifferentoperatingprinciples,therearegeneral3typesoffixedtemperatureheatdetector
FusibleLinktype
Cartridgetype
Bimetallictype

ConstructionAndOperationOfFusibleLinkTypeHeatDetector
Atypicaldesignisillustratedinfigure43.Thefusiblelinkordiscscomprisestwostripsofmetalordiscsheld
together by solder under tension by the vertical phosphorbronze springs. When the solder melts, these
springapartandbreakthecircuit.

Detectorsusingsuchfusedspringscannotbereused.
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Thegoodthingaboutthesedetectorsisthattheyhavelowthermalmass,thereforecouldgivefastresponse.

[http://3.bp.blogspot.com/
anwnaW0US4Y/UucgfDhRoOI/AAAAAAAAABU/gTbDbBnspio/s1600/lpd.jpg]

Figure43ExampleofFixedtemperatureFusibleHeatDetector

ConstructionAndOperationOfCartridgeTypeHeatDetector
Figure44showsonesuchdetector.
The tubular outer case is the sensitive element and is in direct contact with the hot gases. When the outer
case expands the contacts on the bow mechanism are pulled together and the circuit is completed. This is
sensitivetoarapidincreaseintemperaturebecausetheretimeisnotneededforheattopenetratetothetwo
bowstocausethemtoexpand.

[http://3.bp.blogspot.com/pYBtuouPZx0/UucgyB5aCYI/AAAAAAAAABc/tR3Ajeh6vOk/s1600/pppp.png]

Figure44ACartridgeTypeHeatDetector

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ConstructionAndOperationOfBimetallicDiscHeatDetector
A bimetallic disc heat detector is shown in figure 45. A dished bimetallic disc, exposed directly to the
atmosphere,isdesignedtosnapovertoitsalternativepositionatafixedtemperature.
Themovementcaneithermakeorbreakacircuitdependingonthemodel.Thediscwillreverttoitsoriginal
conditionasitcoolsandcanbeusedrepeatedly.Itcanalsobetestedquitereadily.Ahairdryerisoftenused
forthispurpose,anotebeingmadeofthetimetakenforthedisctosnapover.

[http://3.bp.blogspot.com/
XvhgEN77EHw/UuchM6BLiwI/AAAAAAAAABk/Ab2Raylg_is/s1600/asdcz.jpg]

A.ADVANTAGESANDDISADVANTAGESOFHEATDETECTOR
Advantages
1.Theyarereliableandcheap.
2.Somedetectors(thermistorrateofrise)canbeusedtogiveacontinuoussignal:theywillprovideanaccurate
measurementoftheambienttemperature.

Disadvantages
1.Theylacksensitivity:afirehastobequitelargebeforeitcanbedetected.
2.Theyarenotsuitableforplacesthatcouldsufferheavylossesduetosmallfirese.g.computerrooms.

B.REQUIREMENTS(CODEOFPRACTICE)
a.LocationOfHeatDetectors
Heatdetectorsshouldbeinstalledinthehighestpointoftheceiling,andthelocationshouldbetothe
best advantage for detecting a fire. However closer spacing may be required to take account of
specialstructuralcharacteristicsoftheprotectedarea.
The details of proper spacing and mounting heat detectors are found in Subclauses 2.7.3 of
SingaporeStandardCP10:2005
Generally,thespacingbetweendetectorsforflatceilingshouldnotexceed7.2minareasotherthan
corridors and 10.2m for corridors (see figures 76 and 77). The distance from the nearest row of
detectorstoanywallorpartitionshouldnotbelessthan300mmorexceedhalftherelevantmaximum
allowabledistancebetweendetectorsofthatarea.Forcorridors,thisdistanceisrelevantonlytothe
endwalls.
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Generally,thefollowingconsiderationsmustbegivenbeforesitinganyheatdetectors:
a.Shapeofceiling,especiallywithapices
b.Dimensionsofthebeamsandjointsthatmaysegmenttheceiling
c.Heightoftheceiling,particularlythoseabove3.5m
d.Operationisnotprejudicedbyfollowingconditions:
iDampness
iiHighambienttemperature
iiiVibration
ivAircurrent(notlessthan400mmfromanysupplyairoutlet)

[http://1.bp.blogspot.com/k9SQjuALprw/UucjFjuI8XI/AAAAAAAAABw/62cqNH6Y6b4/s1600/qwe.png] (a)Spacingforopen

areas

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[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/GB4tg5UvEEo/UucjVd93soI/AAAAAAAAAB4/rNrbAQ82dFQ/s1600/zxc.png]

(b)Spacingforcorridors

Figure46:SpacingOfDetectors

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[http://1.bp.blogspot.com/3Y8WaEXLwk/Uucjy2TqtpI/AAAAAAAAACA/uebt1MRzPsQ/s1600/pokemon.png]

Figure47:HeatDetectorLocationsforConcealedSpaceswithApexandSlopingRoof

a.MaintenanceAndTestingOfHeatDetectors

Maintenance
Whiletesting,visualcheckofthedetectorandtheprotectedareashouldbemadetoensurethatheatis
notpreventedfromreachingthedetector,norbeblownordivertedaway.

Testing
Eachyearatleast20percentofthedetectorsspreadoverasmanyzonesaspossibleinaninstallation
should be tested insitu, that is, all the detectors in an installation should have been tested at least
oncein5years.
A100Wbulborhairdryercanbeusedfortestingtheoperationofaheatdetector.Thesoundingofthe
alarmandthecorrectsignaltothepanelandfirebrigadearealsotobetestedandchecked.
Supervisionoftheelectriccircuitryisalsoconfirmedbysimplydisconnectingthedetectorandcheckfor
faultsignalstothepanel.
Finally,checkthattherearenotmorethan40detectorsinonealarmzone.
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Foreverytestoralarm,detectorsshouldberestored,resetorreplacedasnecessaryafterwhichthe
detectionsystemreturnedtoserviceaspromptlyaspossible.

Posted28thJanuary2014byridzwangoh
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