The ABCs of Fire Alarm Systems - Section II

By Anthony J. Shalna

2009Principal IMSA Representative to the Automatic Fire Alarm Association

President: Southeastern Signalmen of Massachusetts
Approvals Manager: Gamewell-FCI by Honeywell

In our first installment, we discussed basic fire alarm control panels that contain one or more initiating circuits and
notification appliance circuits. We will go into greater detail
about addressable panels in future installments, but now
want to discuss some of the devices that place the initiating
circuits in alarm.
INITIATING DEVICES
Initiating devices commonly used to activate the initiating
circuit of a fire alarm control panel are: heat detectors, smoke
detectors, water flow switches and manual (pull) stations.
In this installment, we will concern ourselves with heat detectors, which, like sprinkler heads are basically intended for
property protection rather than for life safety.
Heat detectors fall into two basic styles of protection: Line,
and Spot detection. Line detection protects areas over an
elongated path. Spot detection protects an area resembling
the area lit by a spotlight.
LINE DETECTION
Line heat detection is less common, but is invaluable for
protecting certain hazards. One of the most common line
detectors in use today consists of a twisted pair of wires
insulated with a thermal coating that has a specific melting
point. If excess heat is applied to the cable, the insulation
melts, the wires short circuit together, and the control panel
goes into alarm. The system is restored by cutting out the
damaged section of cable and splicing in a new section.
Figure 1 shows a typical line detection device.
Other types of line
detection make
use of eutectic
salts or similar
insulation that is
non-conductive
until it reaches
a specified temperature and then
conducts current
from one conductor to the other.
Unless major
damage occurs,
Figure 1
the insulation
again becomes non-conductive when the temperature drops,
thus making this type of detection essentially self-restoring.
Some older systems use copper tubing installed throughout
the area, filled with air or gas under pressure. Diaphragm
arrangements then respond to increases in pressure caused
by heat, and close contacts, creating an alarm.
Line detection is best suited to servicing conveyor belts,
escalators, raceways, wire troughs, tunnels, grain elevators,
silos, etc. Weatherproof versions of line detection cable are

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also available. This line can be stapled

under piers or wharfs, allowing outdoor weatherproof protection where
no other sensors would function properly.
SPOT DETECTION
Spot detectors cover a finite area that varies according to the
rated sensitivity of the detector and the distance (height) of
the detector from the floor.
The most commonly used types of spot heat detectors are:
Fixed Temperature, Rate of Rise, and Rate Anticipation
detectors.
Electronic (thermistor/microprocessor) detectors have been
introduced fairly recently and may be used only with compatible control panels, usually addressable panels. With
the exception of the electronic versions, heat detectors are
mechanical in nature, and contain contacts that close when
the detector is in alarm, making them compatible with any
conventional control panel.
FIXED TEMPERATURE DETECTORS
The fixed temperature detector goes into alarm ideally when
the ambient temperature reaches a certain setpoint. The most
commonly used fixed temperature detectors operate on two
different principles: fusible alloy and bimetallic strip.
FUSIBLE ALLOY FIXED TEMPERATURE DETECTORS
The fusible alloy unit uses an alloy physically resembling solder, but with a much lower melting point. The most common
temperature melting points are in the vicinity of 135o F and
190-200o F, depending on the manufacturer. The alloy holds
a spring type mechanism in place. This mechanism holds
a spring in an extended position keeping a set of contacts
open. When the alloy reaches its melting point, the spring is
released, allowing the contacts to close, placing the detector
in alarm. The detector is usually non-resettable, and either
the detector or fusible unit must be replaced after actuation.
Figure 2 shows a popular fixed temperature detector with
replaceable element.

Figure 2
BIMETALLIC STRIP FIXED TEMPERATURE DETECTORS
The bimetallic strip unit contains a strip of metal, plated on
each side with a different metal, each of which has a different
Continued on page 38

IMSA Journal

The ABCs of Fire Alarm Systems - Section II . . . Continued from page 36

coefficient of expansion. This means that, when heat is applied, the metals expand at different rates, causing the strip
to bend, or warp. When the strip bends enough, it touches
a contact, completing the circuit. Bimetallic strip detectors
are mostly used in household applications, since their listed
area of coverage is usually insufficient to meet Code requirements for larger buildings. Advantages and disadvantages
of the various types of heat detectors will be summarized
at the end of the article.
RATE OF RISE HEAT DETECTORS
Another type of widely used heat detector is the Rate of Rise
detector. This detector contains a chamber with a calibrated
vent hole and diaphragm at the top. An actuator strip is
located above the diaphragm, just below a set of contacts.
When the air outside the detector rises in temperature, the air
inside the chamber likewise gets warmer, and as we all know,
it expands. If the air expands gradually, it escapes through the
calibrated vent. If the air heats rapidly and expands too fast to
be vented, pressure is exerted on the diaphragm, causing it to
bulge, pushing the contacts closed and placing the detector in
alarm. The rate of temperature rise required to place a detector
in alarm is 15o F in one minute, or equivalent, such as five degrees in 20 seconds. Therefore, this detector does not depend
upon high temperatures to go into alarm, but senses a rapid
rise in temperature. The rate of rise detector is self-restoring,
since the diaphragm returns to normal as the ambient air cools.
The ROR detector often has a fixed temperature feature as a
back-up in the event high temperatures are reached, while
the temperature rises too slowly to activate the rate of rise
feature. This detector is referred to as a combination Fixed
Temperature and Rate of Rise detector. Figures 3A and 3B
show typical rate-of-rise/fixed temperature detectors. Figure
3A shows a high profile detector while Figure 3B shows a low
profile version developed for use in finished interiors. Both
operate identically.

Figure 3A

Figure 3B
RATE ANTICIPATION DETECTORS
The fixed temperature detector depends upon heat absorption to activate it, and in some instances, a rapidly increasing
temperature could conceivably reach a hundred or more
degrees higher than the setpoint of the detector before the

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fusible alloy could absorb enough heat to melt it. This is

referred to as thermal lag.
The rate anticipation detector was designed to eliminate thermal lag. The rate anticipation detector is cylindrical (cigar
shaped), sealed, and contains a pair of bowed struts each
containing a contact. In normal operation, the struts are
bowed away from each other, separating the contacts. The
cylindrical case is made from a special alloy with a coefficient
of expansion that allows it to expand rapidly. When the ambient temperature rises, the detector case expands, (actually
stretching or elongating) until the internal struts are likewise
stretched, causing their contacts to close, placing the detector
in alarm. This detector has very little thermal lag, and will
go into alarm as soon as the ambient temperature reaches the
setpoint of the detector regardless of the rate of rise. Since
this detector is sealed, it is a simple matter to weatherproof
or make it explosion proof. See Figure 4.

Figure 4 shows a typical rate compensation heat detector

ELECTRONIC HEAT DETECTORS
The electronic detector depends upon thermistors or similar
components that change value when exposed to heat. This
detector requires operating voltage in order to measure the
change in value, and must also be listed by a Nationally
Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) as being compatible
with the particular control panel initiating circuit, since it
does not contain dry contacts, but alters the characteristics
of the circuit, placing it into alarm. This will be discussed
in greater detail in a future installment.
APPLICATIONS
The rate of rise detector (ROR) responds to rapid increases
in temperature. Therefore, these detectors can be used in
any normal ambient and are rated for greater spacing than
the fixed temperature detectors. They are especially suited
for cooler ambients where they can detect a developing fire
long before a fixed temperature unit can actuate. These detectors commonly incorporate a fixed temperature element
for reliability and are referred to as combination FT/ROR
detectors.
Continued on page 39

IMSA Journal

The ABCs of Fire Alarm

Systems - Section II . . .
Continued from page 38
The fixed temperature detector (FT) alarms
when the ambient temperature reaches a
certain setpoint, commonly 135 or 200o F,
and ignores any fluctuations or sudden
increases in temperature. Therefore, the
fixed temperature detector is best suited
for applications where rapid fluctuations
in temperature can be encountered, such
as attics, boiler rooms, kitchens, bathrooms
and loading platforms with forced hot air
heaters. The 200o F version should always be employed in attics, boiler rooms,
garages or kitchens. The most common
fixed temperature detectors are usually
destroyed upon activation and must be
replaced after the alarm.
The rate anticipation detector outperforms
the fixed temperature detector since it will
alarm faster than the FT detector in the
event of a rapid temperature increase up
to the setpoint. It is costlier than the FT detector, but is also self-restoring, so doesnt
require replacement after actuation. This
is a great advantage in installations where
staging or scaffolding would be required
to replace the detector.
ROR and FT detectors are available in
weatherproof and explosion proof versions, but require fairly costly housings
for these versions. The rate anticipation
detector, being sealed, lends itself to
weatherproof or explosion proof applications at a moderate cost.
The rated spacings of these detectors
vary. The ROR detector mounted on
low ceilings can be spaced up to 50 feet
on centers, depending on its listing,
while the fusible element FT detector is
typically rated at only 15 feet on centers.
The bimetallic strip is rated for even less.
Electronic/thermistor detectors may be
rated for greater spacings. For spacing
information, refer to NFPA Standard 72,
National Fire Alarm Code. This publication contains all types of information
regarding installation, layout and spacing
of detectors on all types of ceilings and
elevations. Most state codes are now
based on this standard.
Now that we have a basic understanding of the devices that place a fire alarm
control panel into alarm, our next installment will concern itself with addressable
(microprocessor based) fire alarm control
panels.

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