Different applications call for different fire and life safety technologies. See how System Sensor detection products cover the bases.
This guide provides an overview of System Sensor fire and smoke detection technologies. It is not a comprehensive overview of all System Sensor products; rather, the objective is to show how System Sensor has detection technologies that are suitable for different fire and environmental scenarios.
Please consult with System Sensor for specific product information, and for notification products and other systems not covered in this guide. Also, consult with your Authority Having Jurisdiction for code applicability before selecting a system.
Conventional Smoke Detectors
System Sensor conventional smoke detectors include the 100 Series detectors and the i3 Series, amongst others. These photoelectric 2- and 4-wire spot-type detectors can include a built-in sounder, thermal sensor, and Form C relay to meet a range of requirements. Conventional detectors specialize in the detection of slow, smoldering fires with particulates in the 0.4 to 10.0 micron range. These detectors have an approximate maximum coverage area of 900 sq. ft. (30 ft. x 30 ft.).
Conventional smoke detectors are a practical choice for typical applications when they don’t require an intelligent device and the primary objective is to protect lives from fire and smoke. For example, they are often ideally suited to general commercial and multi-family residential applications.
Intelligent Smoke Detectors
Many of today’s fire systems are “smart” or “intelligent.” The components of these systems are able to engage in two-way dialogue, analyze complex environments, adjust their own sensitivity levels and make “educated” decisions based on stored data.
One important benefit of intelligent (addressable) smoke detectors is the ability for the panel to pinpoint detector locations for quick identification of detectors that are in alarm, have been tampered with or require maintenance.
System Sensor produces a full line of intelligent smoke detectors, from standard photoelectric smoke detectors (2251B) used in many commercial applications, to a host of specialty detectors, some of which are detailed in this guide.
Aspiration Smoke Detectors
Aspiration smoke detectors draw air into a high-sensitivity sensor through a pipe network to provide Very Early Warning Fire Detection. This approach enables these detectors to protect mission-critical facilities and high-value assets from the faintest traces of smoke – even in highly challenging environments.
The System Sensor FAAST® Fire Alarm Aspiration Sensing Technology (8100) includes unique dual vision sensing technology. This sensor uses an extremely sensitive blue LED to provide Very Early Warning Fire Detection, and an infrared laser to identify nuisances like dust that can cause false alarms and downtime. The detector interprets signals from both sources to provide the earliest and most accurate warning of the widest range of fires available. FAAST includes five programmable alarm levels and ten pre-alert particulate levels, so thresholds can be set to specific site requirements. System conditions are displayed at the user interface and at a fire alarm control panel via relays. With integral TCP/IP Ethernet connectivity, FAAST provides e-mail notification of device status updates and can be monitored remotely via its PipeIQ™ software or a smart phone through any Web browser. FAAST’s remote monitoring capabilities enable facility managers to mount an appropriate response to any situation.
A single FAAST unit can protect up to 8,000 sq. ft. with a wide sensitivity range of 0.00046 to 6.25 %/ft. obscuration. Because FAAST can be installed remotely while sampling points can be run into the protected area through the pipe network, it can be an ideal choice for challenging environments, such as cold storage facilities or medical testing rooms. The pipe network can also be hidden above a ceiling or in a floor cavity to eliminate tampering in public areas or to maintain a facility’s aesthetics while protecting important assets, such as in a museum. And with its ability to provide the earliest, most accurate detection available, FAAST can also be ideal to protect mission-critical environments, such as telecom/data centers and hi-tech fabrication facilities.
BEAM Smoke Detectors
System Sensor single-ended BEAM smoke detectors (BEAM1224 conventional, BEAM200 intelligent) are designed to save time and money and provide better detection capabilities for many open-area and high-ceiling applications. BEAM detectors provide a very wide coverage area – up to 19,800 sq. ft. (330 ft. x 60 ft.) and are well suited for applications where it is difficult to install or maintain traditional spot detectors or where smoke might not reach the ceiling due to stratification.
These detectors include an 8-inch reflector that is mounted opposite the transmitter/sensor, so only one device needs to be wired. They have a wider operating temperature range than typical spot detectors and work well in colder environments, such as cold storage warehouses and sports arenas, as well as other high-ceilinged areas like atria, lobbies, gymnasiums, and factories. BEAM detectors also include a full line of accessories, such as heavy-duty mounting kits, heater kits, long range kits, etc., to help installers meet a variety of application requirements.
Duct Smoke Detectors
A duct smoke detector is a device or group of devices used to detect the presence of smoke in the airstream of ductwork sections of the HVAC air-handling systems used in industrial/commercial facilities. Duct smoke detection not only serves to assist in preventing the spread of toxic smoke and combustion gases, it can also be used to assist in equipment protection applications.
Made to operate in air velocities from 100 to 4,000 feet per minute, System Sensor InnovairFlex™ photoelectric duct smoke detectors (D4120 conventional, DNR intelligent) utilize a pivoting housing that fits both square and rectangular footprints on round or rectangular ductwork. These detectors provide the superior false alarm immunity necessary to reduce callbacks in duct applications that are prone to have nuisance conditions. InnovairFlex detectors also use patented sampling tubes that plug into these often difficult-to-access detectors from the front or back of the device without the need for tools.
The InnovairFlex line includes specialty detectors that are designed specifically for challenging or unique duct smoke applications. The DNRHS high-sensitivity duct smoke detector uses a highly sensitive laser sensor to provide very early warning of fires to protect high-value assets and mission-critical operations from fire and the spread of damaging smoke through air management systems.
NEMA 4-rated InnovairFlex watertight duct smoke detectors (D4120W conventional, DNRW intelligent) are built to operate on rooftops or other challenging applications without the need for bulky or costly enclosures. These detectors can operate in airflow speeds from 100 to 4,000 feet per minute, temperatures from –4°F to 158°F and humidity ranges from 0 to 95 percent (non-condensing). In addition, the watertight, UV-resistant housing provides protection against rain, windblown dust and dirt, splashing, and hose-directed water.
Multi-Criteria Fire Detectors
Intelligent multi-criteria detectors monitor more than one product of a fire in order to achieve higher levels of sensitivity, detect a wider range of fires, or improve accuracy. The Advanced Multi-Criteria Fire Detector (2251-COPTIR) combines four sensing technologies – smoke, carbon monoxide, heat, and infrared – with intelligent detection algorithms that enable the detector to respond very quickly to an actual fire while maintaining the highest levels of nuisance immunity available.
This detector is ideal for challenging applications where ambient conditions have the potential to cause nuisance alarms in typical spot detection technologies or where nuisance alarms can be especially costly or dangerous, such as in theaters, medical facilities, dormitories, senior living centers, financial trading centers, telecom networks and manufacturing facilities.
Another intelligent multi-criteria detector, Acclimate® (2251TMB), combines photoelectric and 135°F thermal sensor signals to provide early and accurate fire detection. To further enhance its speed and accuracy, Acclimate can automatically adjust its sensitivity within specified parameters. For example, if usage for a protected area varies, the detector will adjust itself to provide the appropriate sensitivity to suit current environmental conditions. Other System Sensor detectors, such as the Advanced Multi-Criteria Fire Detector and FAAST, also utilize Acclimate’s self-adjusting technology.
Heat Detectors
System Sensor 400 Series and 5600 Series heat detectors include combination fixed and rate-of-rise plug-in heat detectors and mechanical heat detectors. These detectors offer a low-cost means for property protection against fire and for non-life-safety installations where smoke detectors are inappropriate.
Heat detectors are appropriate for areas with unsuitable conditions for smoke detectors, including areas that experience rapid changes in temperature or where high ambient temperatures exist, such as storage facilities, garages, mechanical rooms, kitchens and other service areas.
To learn more about how System Sensor fire detectors can be used in a variety of projects and applications, visit systemsensor.com/appguides.
