As a society, we increasingly desire both beautiful buildings and safe ones. However, often the devices we use to protect both our property and ourselves spoil the very thing we hope to protect. From metal bars covering windows, to hand rails on stairs there is often a need to compromise the aesthetics of a building to improve its safety. Dr. Daniel Waldron, product manager at FFE explores.
Fire detection is another example of this, where the small mounds of point detectors are seen across the ceiling of most buildings, like a series of inverted molehills. However, this does not have to be the case. Indeed, two specialist technologies are ideal for the discreet installation of fire detectors, which allow the building designer to meet fire installation requirements without compromising their design.
Beam smoke detection
Beam smoke detectors are an ideal choice for many aesthetic applications. They work by sending out an IR (infrared) beam of light, which can cover a large protected area (usually 1500 m2 per device). Should a fire start, the smoke created will block the light beam, which in turn signals a fire. As an IR device, the light produced is invisible to the naked eye, making this a strong technology for covering wide, open areas. It also does not have any associated infrastructure, other than the beam detector itself (typically, a hand held object about as large as a camera). Many other technologies require extensive pipe-work across the protected area, which is costly to both purchase and install. For aesthetic installations, a tried and tested solution is to recess the beam detector beyond sight, gaining all the coverage but hiding the actual unit away from users.
Beam smoke detectors are available in two broad categories: end-to-end systems and reflective systems. For aesthetic installations, the end-to-end system is the unit of choice as it can operate through very narrow gaps. There also exist in the marketplace beam detectors that can cancel out the effect of sunlight – these units are perfect for atria and other areas where there is a lot of glass/reflective surfaces.
Aspirating smoke detection
Aspirating smoke detection (also known as air sampling) is a fire detection technology for server rooms and other clean environments. It operates by installing a series of air sampling pipes across the protected area that ‘sample’ the air, sucking it into a central detector. The detection this technique can achieve is very impressive, with high sensitivity to smoke. The technology is now quite mature, with models available on the market that can distinguish between dust and other false alarm sources.
When installing aspirating detection, it is possible with a little forethought to create a detection system that blends in perfectly with its surroundings. The central detector may be placed in a cupboard or utility room, removing it from the protected area. The pipework however, is a bit more of an issue. Aspirating pipes need to have direct access to the area protected, and so must be physically present. Fortunately, there are two common solutions to this issue. The simplest solution to this is to paint the pipe the same colour as its surroundings (or camouflage it as part of the heating system etc.). While effective, it is very important that the air sampling pipe is placed in the correct part of the room (smoke rises, so a floor level pipe is not ideal), and most importantly, that the pipe itself is not blocked by the paint. The second solution is significantly more elegant, but ultimately more costly. It is possible to place the aspirating smoke detector in voids or false walls/ceilings. This will reduce the sensitivity of the unit, increasing its response time but will hide the pipework away from all users.
Conclusion
There are methods and technologies available for fire protection of aesthetic sites, but they require care and forethought to get the best combination of safety and beauty. The fire detection industry is full of experts that can help you get the best coverage, without compromising the aesthetics of a design. Everyone wants to inhabit safe, beautiful buildings – the fire industry is here to help.