Types of Fire Detectors

 

So what are the types of fire detectors? What do different detectors detect and work by?

 

The types of fire detectors are generally divided into two:

 

Smoke Detectors: They work by measuring the particle density in the air. These particles represent the smoke released in a fire.

 

Heat Detectors: They detect abnormal temperature changes that exceed the standard temperature value in an area or abnormal heat increase rate.

 

However, these systems are used together under the name of Combined Detectors in fire safety.

 

Optical Smoke Detector

 

The working principle of optical smoke detectors, also known as photoelectric smoke detectors, is based on detecting the particles of smoke suspended in the air. The basic structure of these detectors consists of a light source and a photoelectric cell. The light source is usually an LED or laser light, and the photoelectric cell is located on the opposite side of the light.

 

Under normal conditions, the light going to the photoelectric cell comes straight and in this case the detector works normally. However, if there is smoke or smoke particles in the environment, these particles change the direction of the light or block its passage. In this case, the amount of light reaching the photoelectric cell is reduced or cut off. The detector detects this change and triggers the alarm system.

 

Optical smoke detectors, which are generally used for fire safety in homes, workplaces and public buildings, are generally more effective in detecting slow-burning fires. They are used as an important warning system, especially in cases where smoke is dense or the fire is developing slowly. These detectors can be used together with heat detectors used to detect fast-spreading fires to create a more comprehensive fire safety system.

Fixed Temperature Detector

 

A reference temperature threshold is determined in the fixed temperature detector and an alarm is triggered when the ambient temperature exceeds this temperature. For example, fixed temperature detectors can give an alarm when the temperature exceeds 55°C.

 

Heat Increase Detector

 

Heat increase detectors, also known as rising heat rate detectors, give an alarm by detecting that the temperature in the environment is rapidly increasing. They are very effective in situations where the fire is spreading rapidly and provide valuable time for emergency intervention. For this reason, these detectors are especially effective in areas where there is a risk of rapid fire spread.

 

Combined Detectors

 

Combined detectors provide a more comprehensive fire safety system by using smoke and heat detection technologies together. The main purpose of these detectors is to detect the fire danger more quickly. For example, when only smoke detectors are used, it may be difficult to detect temperature changes in the environment before smoke occurs. However, combined detectors provide a faster warning system by detecting abnormal temperature increases in the environment as well as smoke.

 

The Importance Of Fire Detectors In Fire Safety

 

Fire detectors are vital devices for fire safety. Understanding how fire detectors work and how they should be used is important to increase your safety. Fire detectors can save lives through early fire detection and rapid intervention. Having information about choosing the right fire detector, installing it, and maintaining it will allow you to implement fire safety measures correctly.

 

The importance of fire safety systems should never be underestimated. You should make sure that you are taking the right steps to ensure your safety.