Hochiki Europe says it has developed a number of technologies that can prevent false fire alarms. Its optical smoke sensors feature its High Performance Chamber Technology, which minimises the differences in sensitivity experienced in flaming and smouldering fires.
The result is ‘a high performance optical chamber equally responsive to all smoke types’. Hochiki added: “Variable sensitivity products are available that are controllable via a time clock. In most cases an alarm is less likely to go off between 8.00 pm and 5.00 am, than between 8.00 am and 5.00 pm; an adjustment in sensitivity may thus be desirable. “Careful consideration should also be given to siting; manual call points should not be positioned where malicious damage can occur, and with automatic smoke detectors generating more false alarms than any other type, these must be suitably located. Equally, when an area’s use changes, the type of detector sited there must be reviewed and, if necessary, changed.” Guidance on maintaining a system, and on reducing false alarms, can be found in BS 5839 Part 1. Hochiki Europe has produced both a guide to BS 5839 Part 1, and a CPD presentation entitled ‘False Alarm Management
