Fire Detection and Fire Fighting Systems

Chapter 1 Detection system

 Detection System:
 Need of detection system in fire service
 Automatic fire detectors
 General Principle of working of common detectors
 Various types of detectors:
 Heat detectors and its operational principle
 Smoke detectors and its operational principle
 Photo-electric relay and its operational principle
 Ionization chamber their operational principle
 Infra-red heat detectors
 General test for heat detectors.
Detection system:
A fire detection system is an automatic (electronic) device designed to detect fires and alert people from visual
and audio alarms when smoke/fire is present. These alarms may be activated by smoke, heat etc.

Need of detection system in fire service:

It is convenient to keep continuous watch on fires at every place in the fire prone zones. In these cases fire
detectors are convenient and very important in detecting fires as soon as they start and alarming the people.
When the fires are detected at earlier stage they are noticed and fire fighting and extinguishing are pressed in
action. This helps to reduce the spread of fire and subsequently minimize the loss of life and property caused by
fire.

Automatic fire detectors:

Automatic fire detectors are the (electronic) devices designed to detect fires and alert people from visual and
audio alarms when smoke/fire is present. These alarms may be activated by smoke, heat etc. Automatic
detectors do not require any manual add they work on automatic basis. Automatic fire detectors do not require
any human add and they are needed in the fire prone areas because it is not convenient to keep continuous
watch on fires. There are different types of automatic fire detectors such as smoke detectors, heat detectors, gas
detectors etc.

General Principle of working of common detectors:

There are different types of fire detectors each type of detector can have different principal of operation. The
general principal of working in common fire detectors in described below.

The primary purpose of a fire indicator panel is to monitor each circuit, zone or point for any condition (alarm
signal or other abnormal condition); display the status of that condition and to operate any required output or
outputs according to the approved design of the system. These outputs are typically for the purpose of warning
occupants on a fire alarm signal, notify the fire brigade, control the spread of heat, smoke or fire; or used for a
wide variety of other purposes.

Various types of detectors:

There are different types of fire detectors such as smoke detectors, gas detectors, heat detectors etc. which are
described below.
Heat detectors and their operational principle:

A heat detector is a device that is used as a warning of a possible fire. They are are designed to go off when a
certain temperature is met or when the temperature rises at a certain rate.

Fixed Heat Detectors

Fixed heat detectors monitor a room and will sound the alarm only when the temperature has reached a critical
level, normally 115 degrees to 135 degrees Fahrenheit. These heat detectors often employ a metal alloy that
melts at the specified temperature. The melted alloy then acts as a fuse that activates the alarm. Once this type
of heat detector is activated, it must then be replaced.

Rate-of-Rise Heat Detectors

Rate-of-rise heat detectors are designed to detect abrupt changes in area temperatures, and can be programmed
to detect slow-and-steady rises in temperature along with sudden ones. Be careful where you position a rate-of-
rise heat detector, though, since putting one by a door or oven can cause false alarms in the right circumstances.
These detectors can be automatically reset, though, after the alarm has gone off. Some heat detectors combine
fixed and rate-of-rise detection methods, though these can be more expensive.

Principle of operation:
Many detectors contain a small piece of metal that changes in size in response to air temperature. Higher
temperatures cause it to extend, eventually bringing it into contact with another piece of metal completing a
circuit and triggering the alarm.

Non fire condition

Fire Condition

Fig: Heat detectors mechanism of working.

Smoke detectors and their operational principle:
A smoke detector also known as a smoke alarm is a device that detects smoke, typically as an indicator of fire.
Commercial, industrial, and mass residential devices issue a signal to a fire alarm system, while household
detectors, known as smoke alarms, generally issue a local audible or visual alarm from the detector itself.

Photo-electric relay and their operational principle:

In photo electric relay, on one side there is a source of beam of light (either a white light and a lens or a low-
power laser) on the other side there is a photodetector (sensor) that can see the light. When the smoke cross the
beam of light it cuts off the beam of light falling on the photodetector (sensor). The lack of light and triggers a
bell.

Ionization chambers their operational principle:

The ionization chamber is basically two metal plates a small distance apart. One of the plates carries a positive
charge, the other a negative charge. Between the two plates, air molecules-made up mostly of oxygen and
nitrogen atoms-are ionized. The ionization chamber also contains the radioactive material to produce ionization
rays such as x-rays, gamma rays which bring about ionization of gas molecules in the ionization chamber.

The positive atoms flow toward the negative plate, as the negative electrons flow toward the positive plate. The
movement of the electrons registers as a small but steady flow of current. When smoke enters the ionization
chamber, the current is disrupted as the smoke particles attach to the charged ions and restore them to a neutral
electrical state. This reduces the flow of electricity between the two plates in the ionization chamber. When the
electric current drops below a certain threshold, the alarm is triggered.
 In the smoke-free chamber, positive and As fewer ions are available to migrate to
negative ions create a small current as the plates, the disrupted current triggers
they migrate to charged plates the alarm

Infra-red heat detectors:

Infra red detectors are the devices that detect the radiant energy emitted by flame. Thus infra red detectors
detect flame. The infra red detectors are installed in high fire prone areas where rapid fire spreading is
anticipated. Infra red detectors detect wave lengths that fall in the infrared spectrum.

Almost all the materials that participate in the flaming combustion emit infra red radiations which are detected
by infra red sensitive photoelectric cell installed in the infra red flame detectors. The output from photo electric
cell is monitored by electronically, the electronic system trigger alarm when infra red are detected by the
detector.

General test for heat detectors:

Fire safety standards throughout the world require the testing of fire detection system in a safe and controlled
manner. In order to ensure and ascertain proper functioning of heat detectors they need to be tested. It is a part
of regular way for the maintenance of fire detection system.

“Repair service, including periodic inspections and tests, required to keep the fire alarm system and its
component parts in an operative condition at all times, and the replacement of the system or its components
when they become undependable or inoperable for any reason.”

Fire detection system inspection and testing and detection system test and inspection involves a series of visual
checks being carried out on the components of the system to ensure their integrity. This will include cables,
containment, panels, detectors and sounders. Whilst this type of work is completely non-evasive, it will also be
necessary for the inspecting engineer to carry out a fire alarm drill which involves triggering the alarm system
via a detector or break-glass unit.