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Heat Detectors

Need help? Need help? Do you comply with heat detector legislation? Premium Quality Heat Detectors Vital For Safe Fire Evacuation

In 2017/2018 there were 15,577 recorded incidents of fire at non-dwellings, in the UK. With this in mind, it is vital that all businesses install heat detectors as part of their fire alarm systems.

Alongside smoke, heat is one of the early signs of the outbreak of fire. Having heat detectors is one way to help minimise damage caused to property as well as ensure casualties are kept to a minimum if an emergency occurs. Order yours today to ensure you and your team are fully protected.

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Expert Advice: Heat detectors & Heat Alarms


What are heat alarms?

Heat alarms are a type of fire alarm that activates when it detects a rise in the air temperature using a thermistor.

There are two kinds of heat detectors:

1) Fixed temperature heat detectors

This type of detector will only activate once the heat has risen to a certain point – usually either 58°C or 47°C. Fixed temperature heat detectors activate at the point where a solid within the device changes to a liquid.

2) Rate-of-rise detectors

A rate-of-rise detector (ROR) can monitor rapid increases in temperature, regardless of what the starting temperature might have been. ROR heat detectors may not for this reason respond to smouldering / slowly developing fires.

Heat Alarm vs Smoke Alarm - Why do you need a heat alarm?

In some working environments smoke detectors are not practical. For example in kitchens where there is a lot of smoke and steam. Often a smoke alarm can go off when there is no danger which can cause havoc in your workplace.

However, it is important to note that smoke is one of the first indicators of a fire so here at Seton we recommend using both heat alarms and smoke alarms in your fire detection system. You are then fully protected.

In 2017/2018 there were 15,577 fire incidents at non-dwellings, in the UK, according to government statistics; which highlights the importance of having working alarms and detectors in your workplace.

Heat Detection Legislation - British Standard 5839-1:2017

All commercial businesses need to comply with the British Standard 5839-1:2017 which covers the planning, design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire systems.

A fire in your organisations building needs to be detected promptly so that a warning can be given quickly. This will ensure that people can escape safely using the emergency exits. Reducing the possibility of casualties is essential so ensuring a fire is detected and personnel can escape the building is vital. If a fire is undiscovered for a long time then this could cause escape routes to become blocked making it harder for employees and visitors to reach safety.

All workplaces no matter the size need to have detection systems in place like heat detectors. Always consider the size and amount of rooms in your work building when writing your fire risk assessment and ensure that there is an adequate amount of fire detectors in place.

For a comprehensive overview of fire alarm safety, how to set up an effective fire alarm system and the legislation that covers fire safety, we have create The Ultimate Fire Alarm Buyers Cheat Sheet. A detailed guide for creating and maintaining an effective fire alarm system at your workplace.

FAQ's

Are heat detectors mandatory?

The BS 5839-1:2017 currently states that all business premises must have an appropriate fire detection system. Therefore, heat detectors are not mandatory in all workplaces as long as other fire detection devices are used. However, we strongly recommend that you use heat detectors in areas where there is lots of smoke, steam or dust like in kitchens as smoke alarms can be easily set off creating false alarms.

Where to locate heat alarms?

Here are examples of environments that would benefit from installing a heat detector

Kitchens

Kitchens in restaurants and cafes can produce copious amounts of steam and smoke. This means that smoke alarms can be falsely set off. Also, a kitchen is a high risk area for a fire to start, which means it is vital that detection is prompt to allow time for people to evacuate. A rate-of- rise detector like our Series 65 Heat Detector is the perfect solution.

Garages

In commercial garages there are abundant amounts of flammable and combustible substances as well as tools that can potentially start a fire. This means that it is highly important to have fire detection systems in place to reduce the impact if a fire occurs. Smoke and fumes are commonly present in garages meaning heat alarms are more useful as causing false alarms could be a real problem.

Road and Rail Tunnels (The Underground)

There is a high risk of casualties if a fire starts in a tunnel, especially one that is underground as there are few exits. This increases the importance of fire detection. Heat alarms are the best to use in tunnels as a smoke alarm can be falsely set off due to the high amounts of air flow.

Multi Storey Car Parks

Car parks are high risk areas. Newer cars are made from an increased amount of plastics which results in hotter fires that are more likely to spread. As well as there being flammable substances in cars like fuel and oil. This means that fire detection is very important.

Smoke detectors are not as useful in this environment as there are concentrated amounts of exhaust emissions which can cause an alarm to go off even when there is no emergency.

Do heat detectors need to be replaced?

Generally heat detectors are supplied by the mains electric so they will always work if the air temperature increases or if the temperature reaches the fixed threshold. If your heat detector uses batteries then you will have to complete tests to ensure that the batteries are still powering the device.

Heat detectors will eventually need replacing as most have a lifespan of up to 10 years. Always check the guidance leaflet that comes with the device to ensure you are following the manufacturer's guidelines all heat detectors can vary. Also, remember to always test the devices regularly to ensure they are working properly.