--- title: What is a Heat Detector? description: Find out what a Heat Detector is and its role in your business. image: https://blog.dga.com/hubfs/Heat%20Detector%20Banner-1.jpg --- [![cropped-DGA-Security-Logo-nsr-1-1](https://blog.dga.com/hubfs/Assets/logo/cropped-DGA-Security-Logo-nsr-1-1.png)](https://www.dga.com/) Search For: - [Contact](https://www.dga.com/contact/) - [Login](https://connect.dga.com/) - [Careers](https://www.dga.com/careers/) [Get A Free Consultation](https://www.dga.com/free-consultation/) - [Business Security](https://www.dga.com/business-security/) - [Intrusion Alarms](https://www.dga.com/business-security/intrusion-alarms/) - [Video Surveillance](https://www.dga.com/business-security/video-surveillance/) - [Access Control](https://www.dga.com/business-security/access-control/) - [Security System Monitoring](https://www.dga.com/business-security/alarm-monitoring/) - [Environmental Monitoring](https://www.dga.com/business-security/environmental-monitoring/) - [Elevator Emergency Communication](https://www.dga.com/business-security/elevator-emergency-communication/) - [Fire Systems](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/) - [Design and Installation](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/design-installation/) - [Testing and Inspection](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/testing-and-inspection/) - [Fire Alarm System Monitoring](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/alarm-monitoring/) - [Contractor Support](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/contractor-support/) - [Industries](https://www.dga.com/industries/) - [Art Galleries](https://www.dga.com/industries/art-gallery-security/) - [Banking and Financial](https://www.dga.com/industries/bank-security/) - [Cannabis](https://www.dga.com/industries/cannabis-security/) - [Hotels](https://www.dga.com/industries/hotel-security/) - [Jewelry](https://www.dga.com/industries/jewelry-security/) - [Nonprofits](https://www.dga.com/industries/nonprofit-security/) - [Offices](https://www.dga.com/industries/office-security/) - [Property Management](https://www.dga.com/industries/property-security/) - [Religious Institutions](https://www.dga.com/industries/religious-institution-security/) - [Restaurants](https://www.dga.com/industries/restaurant-security/) - [Retail](https://www.dga.com/industries/retail-security/) - [Tools](https://www.dga.com/tools) - [DGA Blog](https://blog.dga.com) Search For: [Business Security](https://www.dga.com/business-security/) Business Security [Intrusion Alarms](https://www.dga.com/business-security/intrusion-alarms/) [Video Surveillance](https://www.dga.com/business-security/video-surveillance/) [Access Control](https://www.dga.com/business-security/access-control/) [Security System Monitoring](https://www.dga.com/business-security/alarm-monitoring/) [Environmental Monitoring](https://www.dga.com/business-security/environmental-monitoring/) [Elevator Emergency Communication](https://www.dga.com/business-security/elevator-emergency-communication/) [Fire Systems](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/) Fire Systems [Design and Installation](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/design-installation/) [Testing and Inspection](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/testing-and-inspection/) [Fire Alarm System Monitoring](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/alarm-monitoring/) [Contractor Support](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/contractor-support/) [Industries](https://www.dga.com/industries/) Industries [Art Galleries](https://www.dga.com/industries/art-gallery-security/) [Banking and Financial](https://www.dga.com/industries/bank-security/) [Cannabis](https://www.dga.com/industries/cannabis-security/) [Hotels](https://www.dga.com/industries/hotel-security/) [Jewelry](https://www.dga.com/industries/jewelry-security/) [Nonprofits](https://www.dga.com/industries/nonprofit-security/) [Offices](https://www.dga.com/industries/office-security/) [Property Management](https://www.dga.com/industries/property-security/) [Religious Institutions](https://www.dga.com/industries/religious-institution-security/) [Restaurants](https://www.dga.com/industries/restaurant-security/) [Retail](https://www.dga.com/industries/retail-security/) [Tools](https://www.dga.com/tools) [DGA Blog](https://blog.dga.com) [Contact](https://www.dga.com/contact/) [Login](https://connect.dga.com/) [Careers](https://www.dga.com/careers/) Get A Free Consultation - Categories [Subscribe](https://info.dga.com/blog-subscriptions) - [Access Control](https://blog.dga.com/tag/access-control) - [Fire Systems](https://blog.dga.com/tag/fire-systems) - [Intrusion Alarms](https://blog.dga.com/tag/intrusion-alarms) - [Video Surveillance](https://blog.dga.com/tag/video-surveillance) - [Security Terms](https://blog.dga.com/tag/security-terms) [«  View All Posts](https://blog.dga.com) [Fire Systems](https://blog.dga.com/topic/fire-systems) | [Security Terms](https://blog.dga.com/topic/security-terms) # What is a Heat Detector? - Share This Article - - - - [mailto:?body=https://blog.dga.com/what-is-heat-detector](mailto:?body=https://blog.dga.com/what-is-heat-detector) August 21st, 2025 | 1 min. read ![What is a Heat Detector?](https://blog.dga.com/hubfs/Heat%20Detector%20Banner-1.jpg) ![Blog Feature](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/298890/blog-files/blog--cards-feature.png) [Subscribe](https://info.dga.com/blog-subscriptions) ![Isabel Leckie](https://blog.dga.com/hubfs/Isabel%20Leckie.jpg "Isabel Leckie") [Isabel Leckie](https://blog.dga.com/author/isabel-leckie) Isabel is a Marketing Specialist at DGA. A heat detector is a fire safety device designed to sense changes in temperature rather than detecting smoke. These devices activate an alarm when they detect a rapid increase in temperature or when the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold. Unlike smoke detectors, heat detectors are not as sensitive to small particles in the air and therefore take longer to reach an alarm threshold. This makes them particularly suited for environments where smoke detectors might trigger false alarms, such as kitchens, garages, or manufacturing facilities where smoke, dust, or steam are common. There are two main types of heat detectors: - **Fixed Temperature Detectors:** These trigger an alarm when the surrounding temperature rises above a specific set point (e.g., 135°F). - **Rate-of-Rise Detectors:** These activate when they detect a sudden and significant increase in temperature, even if it hasn't reached a fixed threshold. Heat detectors are often used as a complement to smoke detectors, enhancing fire detection systems by providing additional coverage in areas where smoke might not be the first indicator of a fire. While they may not respond as quickly as smoke detectors in some scenarios, their durability and reliability make them a critical component of a well-rounded fire safety strategy. 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