Point Fire Detectors

Point Detectors refer to standard ceiling mounted fire alarm detectors. There are three main types of point type detectors, – Smoke, Heat and Carbon Monoxide. Smoke detectors can be either Optical or Ionisation.

An optical smoke detector (also known as photo-electric smoke detector) works using the light scatter principle. The detector contains a pulsed Infrared LED which pulses a beam of light into the sensor chamber every 10 seconds to check for smoke particles.

An Ionisation smoke detector works by ionising the air between 2 electrodes which are positively and negatively charged, this creates a small current inside the chamber. When smoke enters the chamber, it disrupts the flow of ions, thus reducing the flow of current and activating the alarm.

Optical smoke detectors respond quicker to a ‘smouldering’ type of fire, whilst Ionisation detectors usually respond quicker to ‘flaming’ type fires.

Carbon monoxide detectors sample the level of carbon monoxide in the environment, if this level changes, as is often associated with hot fires, the detector will respond.

Multi-Sensor Detectors are also available, these devices can be a mixture of both a Smoke and Heat element, or a Smoke and Carbon Monoxide element, or indeed all three elements and can help to reduce false alarms in certain applications.

A Manual Call Point (also known as break glass) is a device which enables personnel to raise an alarm in the event of a fire incident by pressing a frangible element to activate the alarm system.