Brooks ALARM 2000, Site Manual

Page: 7 / 70

Site Manual
Alarm 2000 Iss 5
7
3 SYSTEM COMPONENTS
3.1 SMOKE / HEAT ALARMS
3.1.1 Basic Information about your Smoke / Heat Alarm
A Smoke / Heat Alarm does not prevent fires but correctly located and maintained they will
provide the earliest possible warning of fire in order that occupants may exit safely. A
Smoke Alarm is an early warning device, Heat Alarms are not therefore are supplementary
to Smoke Alarms for those areas where Smoke Alarms would not be suitable. Where Heat
Alarms are used they
MUST be interconnected to the Smoke Alarms installed
3.1.2 Technology Available
Brooks Australia offers a full range of detection technologies.
Ionisation Smoke detection
Photoelectric Smoke detection
Heat detection
3.1.3 Photoelectric model
Photoelectric Smoke Alarms respond to a sufficiently wide
range of fires to be of general use, but are particularly
responsive to smouldering fires and the dense smoke given
off by foam filled furnishings or overheated PVC wiring. They
are much less prone to nuisance alarms from cooking, and
furthermore, contain no radioactive material. However, all
photoelectric Smoke Alarms are prone to nuisance alarms
caused by dust or insect contamination.
Mesh screens are effective in reducing insect ingress, but it
is impossible to make the alarms dust proof, since they would
then be effectively smoke proof! For this reason, it is essential
that photoelectric Smoke Alarms are always kept clean. This
type, with consideration to the above, should be installed
within bedrooms and living areas adjacent to kitchens.
Operating Principle
Light scattering - transmitter produces pulses of light which are detected by a receiver
when smoke enters the sensing chamber.
Advantages

No radioactive material

No legal requirements for disposal

Particularly responsive to smouldering fires and dense smoke given off from foam
filled furnishings, bed linen or over-heated PVC wiring

Less prone to false alarms due to fumes from cooking or gas/oil heaters

Ideally suited adjacent to kitchens and bedrooms

Suitable for general use
Disadvantages

More expensive to produce

Prone to false alarms due to dust build up or steam - must be kept clean
Brooks models: EIB166e, EIB146RC and discontinued EIPFSPTLH.
Figure 1 EIB166e