Whilst every effort is made to ensure
technical accuracy of the information supplied on iceweb.com.au, Keyfleet Pty
Ltd and its employees accept no liability for any loss or damage caused by error
or omission from the data supplied. Users should make and rely on their own
independent inquiries. By accessing the site users accept this condition. Should
you note any error/omission or an article offends please do not ignore it,
contact the webmaster and we will
review, rectify and remove as necessary.
Get seen by the people who use
your products!
THIS SPACE
can be yours
Fire Detection
CCTV Fire and Smoke Detection Techniques
The Following technical papers are from Micropack
Engineering
CCTV
Detectors from
Micropack
CCTV
techniques- Developments in Optical Fire Detection- Ray Hynd - A
technical article which details the development of the technique.
Flare
Radiation -Not So Friendly Fire - Ian Davidson - Most hydrocarbon and
chemical process plants provide a relief flare or vent to assist in handling
process upsets. A typical relief flare operating at, say 0.1kg/sec under normal
conditions and 10kg/sec under relief conditions will provide flame energies in
the order of 2 MW and 100MW respectively. Where a cold vent (rather than a
flare) is provided, lightening strikes are surprisingly common and there are
many reported instances of an unintentional ’hot’ vent. In addition to the
local relief flare, the possibility of a system being activated by an adjacent
unit’s or site’s flare cannot be ignored. This latter case can result in a
‘domino’ effect that has provoked a number of unscheduled relief (and
vent-snuffing!) system tests over the years. Clearly the fires associated with a
flare are several orders of magnitude greater than the target fire size and
exhibit precisely the infrared radiation signature required by an IR3 detector.
Triple
Channel IR
Flame Detection – Magic or Myth?-Ian
Davidson - Ultraviolet (UV) flame detection was, in the
absence of any alternative, used in mostearly petrochemical installations. While
it has its attractions (for example, very fast speed of response), this
detection technology is prone to blinding by smoke and oil and is not now
considered a credible approach for most technically informed oil and gas flame
detection applications. Single channel (and to a lesser
extent two channel IR) detection began to replace UV in the mid 1980s. However,
while this technology addressed the main shortcomings of UV devices, it was
prone to unwanted alarms associated from background infrared radiation from hot
plant, exhaust stacks and of course flare radiation.
11.11
Guidance
on Video Smoke Detection Technology (VSD) - This FIA Guidance Document
provides an overview of video smoke detection technology (VSD) based on the
analysis of video signals from CCTV cameras and gives some basic guidelines as
to its application in fire detection and alarm systems - from the FIA.
Flame Detector Selection
Flame
Detector Selection
- Ian Davidson
Detector
Selection Overview
Fire / Flame Detection
11.11
MGD
- The Electronic Nose - The MGD detector is an
innovative technology offering unique solution for early
fire detection in extremely harsh environments as storage
silos, turbines, conveying systems and electrical rooms.
The MGD detector contains extremely sensitive sensors that
reacts fast on the gases released in a very early stage of a
fire, even before the precense of visible smoke or flames.
The detector is constantly comparing the actual gas
pattern with different classified patterns of gas. Based
on this the detector can differentiate the actual gas from
a fire from other gases in the air coming from other
disturbing elements - Thanks to FireFly and ICEweb sponsor PROdetec.
Detection Down to the Right Temperature - The
detector is of vital importance in a preventative protection system. Firefly has
a unique position in the market for detecting ignition sources in different
applications. The Firefly technology detects dangerous particles, flames and are
designed to minimise the risk of false alarms. All fires and dust explosions
have an ignition sequence. An effective means of protection is to neutralize the
small amounts of energy (ignition sources) before they manage to ignite the fine
particles - Thanks to FireFly and ICEweb sponsor PROdetec.
Test
Lamp for Multispectrum Flame Detectors - This is a useful tool.
Hazardous Area Certified Test Lamp for a range of Multispectrum Optical Flame
Detectors covering both IR3 and UV/IR detection range. The LT15 is a handheld
flashing test lamp for functional test of optical flame detectors. The emission
spectrum of the lamp covers both UV and IR detection range. The emission is
modulated to simulate the typical flickering of flames. This allows testing of
most UV, IR and UV/IR flame detectors as well as Simtronics range of
MultiSpectrum Optical Flame Detectors (IR3 & UV/2IR) It is ATEX approved Ex
d IICT6-T5 and suitable for operation in hazardous areas, (area 1 and 2) in
accordance with the EN 60079-0 and EN 60079-1 (2004) standards. From ICEweb
sponsor ProDetec.
Fire
and Gas Detection - From the UK HSE -There are two principal types of
detector which are commonly in use in off-shore installations: heat, flame &
smoke, and flammable gas instruments. The most significant for risk reduction
are gas detection systems, since they give the earliest warning of hazardous
situations. Infra Red (IR), line-of-sight or point type detectors which identify
an accumulation of gas and acoustic leak detectors, are also used. The OSD
strategy is to promote the use of a combination of sensors, thereby giving early
leak detection with the acoustic detectors and identifying a gas cloud
accumulation with the IR type sensors.
Flame
Detector - One of the Cheapest Devices to Fight Fire - A flame detector is a
fire protection device, which detects the flame in the place where it is fixed
and issues an alarm thereby alerting nearby people to the danger of fire. In
most of the manufacturing companies, furnace flame detector is used in order to
detect and prevent fire. Flame detector responds either to radiant energy
visible to the human eye or outside the range of human vision. Most flame
detectors work either by optical flame detector or flame ionization detector but
some of them use combination of both detectors. From firesnoop.com .
Applying
Neural Network Technology to the Next Generation Flame Detector
- from General Monitors - Accurate and reliable
industrial flame monitoring has always represented a technical challenge. The
main flame monitoring concern lies in the requirement to differentiate spectral
radiation emitted by flames from that of background radiation, which is always
present in the industrial environment. Insufficient differentiation of flames
from background sources typically causes the highly undesirable condition of
false alarm. When a false alarm condition occurs, it activates automated fire
suppression equipment, causes operational interrupts, consumes extinguishing
materials, and requires resolution of the alarm condition, which can include a
complete system shutdown and restart. The development of Neural Network
Technology for multi-spectral optical flame detectors helps to resolve the
problems described
Handbook
for Fire Detection and Emergency Warning Systems in Buildings (From Ampac
industries Pty Ltd) - The purpose of this handbook is to provide information on
the various configurations available for Fire Detection Systems. Appendixes on
AS1668 controls and emergency warning systems have been included as they form
part of the modern day requirements for fire control.
How
to Select a Flame Detector - Process and plant
engineers in the oil and gas industry and a wide range of other hazardous
process and manufacturing industries require continuous flame monitoring
equipment to prevent catastrophic fires. In order to select such detection
equipment, users should understand the principles of flame detection and review
the types of detectors available today. Armed with this knowledge they will be
better able to match the appropriate flame detector to process and site
performance requirements and to the type of hazard whose consequences the
instrument is designed to mitigate - from General Monitors.
Detecting
Hydrogen Fires -Hydrogen fires emit large amounts of UV and IR radiation and
almost no visible light radiation. Detecting a hydrogen fire is difficult due to
mostly an invisible flame. The Kennedy Space Center uses flame detectors
designed to detect hydrogen fires during launch operations. The flame detectors
are used on the cross-country fuel lines, launch pad service structures, and
Mobile Launcher Platforms (MLP) - from General Monitors.
11.11
The Fire Industry Association (FIA) is a not-for-profit
trade association with the aim of promoting the professional status of the UK
fire safety industry. The FIA's main objective is to promote the professional
standards of the fire industry. They provide technical knowledge and advice to
anyone who needs it regarding fire safety in the UK. This site is an excellent
Fire Detection and Protection resource. It provides;
- Technical
Updates - General technical information of interest. This includes
consultation requests from UK Government on new or proposed legislation, public
comment drafts of Standards, and comment drafts of FIA technical documents as
well as the notification of publication of new standards and legislation.
- Fact
Files - Fact Files are a collation of technical, legislative or procedural
facts on a single subject or closely associated group.
- Guidance
Notes - These are recommendations and interpretations by the FIA (written by
Council, Committee, and Secretariat etc) to give help and guidance to members
and non-members on technical subjects, legislative matters, FIA
processes/procedures etc.
- Codes
of Practice - These are ‘how to’ documents that are drafted and
formatted in a similar fashion to a national standard by the FIA (written by
Council, Committee, and Secretariat etc) to give help and guidance to members
and non-members, primarily on technical subjects.
Flame Detector Maintenance
11.11Design
Guidelines for Point Type Multisensor Fire Detectors and Associated Control and
Indicating Equipment with Respect to Field Testing - This document provides
guidance on the design of point type multisensor fire detectors, associated
control and indicating equipment (CIE), and field test equipment functionality
to facilitate field testing of such multisensor devices. The aim is that simple
and efficient field testing shall be possible, according to previously-issued
FIA guidelines and BS5839 pt1 recommendations - from the FIA.
Reducing False Alarms from
Automatic Fire Detection Systems
11.11
Guide
to Reducing False
Alarms from Automatic Fire Detection
Systems - About 90% of automatic fire-detection
and fire-alarm systems do not cause regular false
alarms. However, the remaining 10% are involved in most
false alarms. Every false alarm causes disruption. This
may affect your customer service, your productivity or the
general routine of your organisation The cost of false
alarms in the UK is estimated to be about £1 billion a
year. If you assessed the cost to your company, you would
probably be surprised. One medium-sized company found that
the average false alarm at one of their sites cost them
£1,200, and at another site costs amounted to around
£126,000 in one year alone. However false alarms affect
you, they could also be a risk to the lives of others -
From Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.
11.11
Managing False
Alarms - For users of Automatic Fire Detection and Alarm Systems - This guide has been produced to advise and
give recommendations for all users of automatic fire detection and alarm systems ways in which
to avoid unwanted alarms, be they malicious, accidental or arising from neglect of a
system - From Chubb UK.
11.11
Chief
Fire Officers Association Protocol for the
Reduction of False Alarms & Unwanted
Fire Signals - The Aims Of This
Protocol are to; Provide a uniform process for those parties involved in
managing the reduction of false alarms and UwFS, reduce the number of false
alarms generated by fire detection and AFAS, reduce the numbers of UwFS sent to
FRSs and provide the most appropriate response - from the FIA
11.11
Guidance
for Responsible Persons on False Alarm Management of
Fire Detection and Alarm Systems - This is a
generic guideline, for the end user or ‘Responsible Person’, to manage and
ultimately reduce false alarms from a building’s fire detection and alarm
system - from the FIA.
Oil Mist Detectors
Oil Mist Detectors
- Some detail on the principle of operation
The
following excellent technical articles are from the Quality Monitoring Instruments
Ltd
11.11
About
Oil Mist Detection - How to overcome the problems associated with oil mist
measurement.
Oil
Mist Detection as an Aid to Monitoring an Engine's Condition - Brian J. Smith
- Advances in technology have been such that health monitoring has now
become increasingly important with regard to diesel engine maintenance and
safety. Oil mist can give some of the first signs of impending problems for all
the moving parts of the engine. It is acknowledged that temperature and pressure
indication can also provide appropriate early warning of potential problems with
certain components, particularly those components that can be fitted with
temperature probes.
Oil
Mist Detection in the Atmosphere of the Engine Room - Brian J. Smith - You
may be aware MCA and IMO, together with other Societies, are very concerned
about the number of fires that start in machine room spaces. Places most at risk
are engine and purifier rooms. However, other areas have their own problems and
these include bowthruster rooms, steering gear and hydraulic pumps. Figures
produced suggest that up to 65% of machine room fires are the result of oil
mist.
Oil
Mist and Machinery Space Fires - Dr MH Holness - A review is
presented of the role of oil mist as a principal agent in machinery space fires.
The ways in which oil mist can be produced are described and the distinction
between mist and spray. The contrast between the oil mist conditions inside
crankcases and that in the general atmosphere in machinery spaces is discussed.
Methods of measuring oil mist and spray are described and equipment suitable for
monitoring conditions inside machinery and in machinery spaces is discussed.
Recommendations are made to improve safety on board ship and in industrial
plant.
IMO
Code of Practice for Atmospheric Oil Mist Detectors (PDF format - 234K) - International Maritime Organisation
Point Detector Cleanliness
11.11
Guide
to (Point) Detector Cleanliness - Some excellent tips of how to clean Fire
Detectors - from the FIA
Smoke Detectors
11.11
Smoke
Detection in High Spaces using Aspirating Smoke Detectors - Reliable
detection of smoke in high ceiling spaces has been considered a challenge for
many years and most Design and Installation Codes (including BS5839-1) define
limits on the ceiling height that may be protected by a particular technology.
Most practitioners default to using detection technologies – such as Optical
Beam Smoke Detectors (OBSD) or Aspirating Smoke Detectors (ASD) – which derive
their smoke measurement over an area – not at a single location. Such
"integrating" technologies are inherently more sensitive to smoke that
is diluted or distributed as it rises to higher levels than point type
detectors. BRE Global has recently completed a research project jointly funded
by the BRE Trust and the FIA to review the recommendations provided for using
OBSD and ASD in high ceiling spaces. The results of this research are published
in a BRE Information Paper but are summarized in this Fact File along with news
of how the results have influenced changes to the FIA Code of Practice for ASD
Systems - From the Fire Industry Council.
11.11
Application
Guidelines for Thermally Enhanced Carbon Monoxide (CO) Fire Detectors - This
FIA Fact File provides guidelines for the use of fire detectors utilizing carbon
monoxide (CO) sensors based on electrochemical cell technology
enhanced by one or more thermal sensors. It covers
detectors where the thermal sensor(s) may also provide a
response to fire independently. This Fact File does not give guidelines for
detectors which incorporate additional or other sensing
technologies. This Fact File does not give guidelines for
CO gas detectors for environmental monitoring or toxic gas
detection.
11.11
Application
Guidelines for Carbon Monoxide (CO) Fire Detectors - This FIA Fact
File provides guidelines for the use of fire detectors utilizing carbon monoxide
(CO) sensors based on electrochemical cell technology.
How
to Select the Perfect Smoke Detector - A Smoke detector is an important
device that helps you to prevent loss of persons or property due to fire
accidents. Smoke detectors are preferred as ideal equipment because you can get
away from the problem as soon as there is an abnormal smoke, thereby giving you
the optimum time and opportunity from the aftermaths of a fire accident. Hard
wired smoke detector and home smoke detector are the prominent ones used in the
current scenario. From firesnoop.com .
Smoke
Can Evade Our Eyes! But, it is Surely Visible to Ionization Detectors - Ionization
Smoke detector works with the help of ions. Ionization smoke detectors cannot be
used without seeking the prior permission of the concerned government authority.
Since ionization smoke detector calls for working under a process that may
involve hazardous process lot of formalities have to be complied with before
using an ionization detector. From firesnoop.com .
11.11
Code
of Practice for Design, Installation, Commissioning & Maintenance of
Aspirating Smoke Detector (ASD) Systems - The Code of practice provides
recommendations for the planning, design, installation, commission and
maintenance of aspirating smoke detection systems. It identifies categories of
ASD systems and typical applications where such systems can be used. It also
provides specific design rules on common applications and guidance on good
practice - from the FIA.