211 - Fire Fundamentals pt. 17 - Detecting fires

In episode 17 of the Fire Fundamentals, we delve into the fire detection technology. Fire detection forms the critical foundation of all active fire protection measures, serving as the prerequisite for any fire safety engineering solution to work effectively. Following key points are discussed:Detection systems must balance sensitivity with reliability to avoid false alarms that disrupt building operationsFalse alarms lead to serious business continuity issues and may eventually cause systems to be disabledTest fires methodology to assess sensor viability is discussedOptical smoke detectors use light scattering principles to detect smoke particles in their detection chamberIonisation detectors utilise a small radioactive source creating an ionised environment in which an electrical current can be present, and gets disrupted by smokeHeat detectors operate based on absolute temperature thresholds or rate-of-rise measurementsCO sensors complement other detection technologies to improve reliability and reduce false alarmsLine detectors (both optical and heat-based) provide coverage for large areas like atria and tunnelsAspirating detection systems offer extremely early warning by continuously sampling air through pipesFuture technologies include camera-based detection with AI processing and thermal imagingStrategies to reduce false alarms include multi-sensor devices, coincidence detection, and verification delays Without detection, we"re blind, and no automated systems may act—making fire detection critical for whatever application of fire safety engineering we implement. ---- The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.