The fire detection and alarm system is a life safety system. Any problem that may arise in the fire alarm system may cost people’s lives. For this reason, the fire alarm systems are subjected to very challenging tests in both the production and certification stages. The system, which is certified by being subjected to the most challenging tests among all weak current systems, is the fire alarm system.
In our country, EN-54 fire detection and alarm systems standard, which has been accepted and implemented throughout Europe by the Turkish Standards Institute, and its sub-sections indicating the technical specifications and performance values of the materials have been accepted and published by being translated into our language.
Camera systems (CCTV) have been able to be partially included in the American NFPA standards, but have not yet been able to be included in EN-54 standards. However, they show very significant technological developments accordingly.
Camera systems are mainly used for verification purposes today. When an alarm is received from a fire detector, the camera that views the area is displayed on the screen automatically or manually and it is checked whether there is a fire at the scene. (For more information: How Are False Alarms Prevented Most Easily in the Fire Alarm Systems? »)
The software that analyzes camera images can detect whether there is flame or smoke in the images they receive and immediately give an alarm.
Video Content Analysis Systems (VCA: Video Content Analysis) »
A burning object usually generates smoke first. Such software can generate alarms while the fire is still in the smoke generating stage. In Turkey, such software runs in the observation stations of forests and in this way, forest fires can be responded to quickly.
Thermal Cameras are also used for fire detection. Cameras of this type are capable of detecting flames with very high accuracy. They are technically capable of generating alarms even if they observe flame in 1 pixel.
Thermal cameras can also be used as a thermometer. The camera can display the temperature values on the screen at more than one point in the field of view. When these temperature values increase or decrease more than allowed, it can accept alarms and warn the relevant departments.
Thermal Cameras: Low Light – Wide Area Security »
Today, the use of camera systems is gradually increasing. In this CCTV age, the possibility of using video images for multiple purposes provides us with many advantages. While the development of flame and smoke analysis technology adds great value to the video requirement, more importantly, it ensures that an important action is taken in fire protection. The CCTV technology will provide an advantage in many applications that cannot be effectively met by typical fire alarm systems.
