Each of the different detectors offered by VES has a specific target with respect to its capabilities. Within each detector the installer has the capability to assign a mode of operation, or accept the default mode when the device is brought onto the system.
Understanding the target capability of your detector and properly setting the programming mode, maximizes the detection capabilities of your system design.
Detectors are offered in different categories; Heat, Optical Smoke, Ionization Smoke, Combination and CO. Each of these detectors can be programmed in one of 5 modes designed for the installation environment.
The optimum use for each detector category can be summarized as follows:
- Optical Smoke Detector
- The Discovery optical smoke detector is suitable for slow burning or smoldering fires and should be positioned where these are most likely to occur.
- Ionization Smoke Detector
- Ionization detectors use a low activity radioactive foil to detect fires by irradiating the air in the smoke chambers and causing a current flow. If smoke enters the chamber, the current flow is reduced leading to an alarm. Ionization is a good general purpose detector that responds well to fast burning, flaming fires.
- Heat Detector
- The Discovery heat detector, distinguishable by the low airflow resistant case, uses a single thermistor to sense the air temperature around the detector. This type of detector is particularly useful where the environment is dirty or smoky under normal conditions.
- Multi-Sensor Detector
- The Discovery multi-sensor detector combines optical smoke and thermistor temperature sensors whose outputs can be reported individually. It is therefore possible, as a panel enabled feature, to check separately the rise in temperature and the level of smoke for improved false alarm management.
- Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detector
- The Discovery CO fire detector is good at detecting deep-seated fires. See the chart below for information on typical applications. Please note CO detectors do not detect smoke particles or heat and are not universal replacements for smoke detectors.
- Currently there is No UL listed SLC powered CO detector offered by VES, there are non-listed devices available by special request. VES expect to have a listed unit available before end of 2011.
Typical application usages, with recommended mode settings are shown below. Keep in mind mode 1 will provide a higher sensitivity to fire than mode 5.
When you install Heat, Smoke and Multi-Mode detectors, our software (either Discovery on-line or Loop Explorer) automatically sets the default mode of detection. Based upon the application, you can adjust these modes on individual detectors or multiple modes on individual detectors based upon time and day.
Our Apollo Heat Detector: (Mode 3 is set by default)
Sensitivity |
Actual Operation |
Mode 1 |
135°F FT & ROR |
Mode 2 |
150°F FT & ROR |
Mode 3 |
150°F FT |
Mode 4 |
200°F FT & ROR |
Mode 5 |
200°F FT |
Our Apollo Ionization Smoke Detector: (Mode 3 is set by default)
Sensitivity |
Pre-alarm @ 45 counts (%/ft.)
|
Alarm @ 55 counts
(%/ft.)
|
30 Second Alarm
Delay
|
Mode 1 |
0.5 |
0.7 |
No |
Mode 2 |
0.5 |
0.7 |
Yes |
Mode 3 |
0.7 |
1.0 |
No |
Mode 4 |
0.7 |
1.0 |
Yes |
Mode 5 |
1.0 |
1.5 |
No |
Our Apollo Multi-Mode Detector: (Mode 3 is set by default)
|
Pre-alarm @ 45
counts (%/ft.)
|
Alarm @ 55 counts
(%/ft.)
|
Heat Classification @ 55 counts |
20 second Alarm Delay |
Mode 1 |
0.9 |
1.3 |
140°F ROR |
Yes |
Mode 2 |
1.3 |
1.9 |
140°F ROR |
Yes |
Mode 3 |
1.7 |
2.6 |
140°F ROR |
Yes |
Mode 4 |
2.2 |
3.3 |
140°F ROR |
Yes |
Mode 5 |
N/A |
N/A |
135°F FT & ROR |
N/A |
Our Apollo Optical Smoke Detector: (Mode 3 is set by default)
Sensitivity |
Pre-alarm @ 45 counts (%/ft.) |
Alarm @ 55 counts
(%/ft.) |
30 Second Alarm
Delay |
Mode 1 |
1.1 |
1.7 |
No |
Mode 2 |
1.1 |
1.7 |
Yes |
Mode 3 |
1.5 |
2.3 |
No |
Mode 4 |
1.5 |
2.3 |
Yes |
Mode 5 |
2.0 |
3.0 |
No |
