Hochiki IFD-E - Manual (Page 3)

Hochiki Europe (UK) Ltd 3
2-3-0-808/ISS3/OCT11
Application for Flame Detectors
Flame detectors are used when detection is required to be:
 Unaffected by convection currents, draughts or wind
 Tolerant of fumes, vapours, dust and mist
 Responsive to a flame more than 25m away
 Fast reacting
The detector is capable of detecting the optical radiation emitted by burning material even non-
carbonaceous materials. e.g. Hydrogen
Numerous other potential fire sources can be detected such as:
Liquids Solids Gases
● Aviation Fuels (kerosene) ● Coal ● Butane
● Ethanol ● Cotton ● Fluorine
● Methylated Spirits ● Grain & Feeds ● Hydrogen
● n-Heptane ● Paper ● Natural Gas
● Paraffin ● Refuse ● Off Gas
● Petrol (gasoline) ● Wood ● Propane
Typical applications examples are:
● Agriculture ● Coal handling plant ● Pharmaceutical
● Aircraft hangars ● Engine rooms ● Power plants
● Atria ● Generator rooms ● Textiles
● Automotive industry ● Metal fabrication ● Transformer stations
- spray booths ● Paper manufacture ● Waste handling
- parts manufacture ● Petrochemical ● Woodworking
Applications and Locations to Avoid:
● ambient temperatures above 55°C ● large IR sources – heaters, burners, flares
● close proximity to RF sources ● obstructions to field of view
● exposure to severe rain and ice ● sunlight falling directly on the detector optics
● large amounts of flickering reflections ● spot lighting directly on the detector optics
Quantities Required and Positioning of Detectors
The number of detectors required and their position depends on:
 the anticipated size of the flame
 the distance of the flame from the detector
 the angle of view of the flame detector
The flame detector is designed to have a class 1 performance as defined in BS EN54-10:2002 on the
high sensitivity setting. That is the ability to detect an n-heptane (yellow) fire of 0.1m² or methylated spirit
(clear) fire of 0.25m² at a distance of up to 25m within 30 seconds.
The detector can be set to have to a lower sensitivity setting equivalent to class 3 performance. Class 3
performance is defined as detecting the same size fires as for class 1 but at a distance of only 12m.