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.
You can read more about other types of fire alarm initiating devices here.
