How do Apollo fire detectors work?

Ionisation (ionization) smoke detector

The sensing part of the detector consists of two chambers - an open, outer chamber and a
semi-sealed reference chamber within. Mounted in the reference chamber is a low activity
radioactive foil of Americium 241 which enables current to flow between the inner and outer
chambers when the detector is powered up. As smoke enters the detector, particles become
attached to the ions, causing a reduction in current flow in the outer chamber and hence an
increase in voltage measured at the junction between the two chambers. The voltage
increase is monitored by the electronic circuitry which triggers the detector into the alarm
state at a preset threshold. An externally visible red LED lights up when the detector changes
to alarm state.
Ionisation smoke detectors are good general-purpose detectors which respond well to fast-
burning (flaming) fires and are widely used for property protection.

Integrating ionisation smoke detector
Available in the Series 60 and Series 65 ranges, this type of detector works on the same
principles as the ionisation smoke detector, but has modified signal processing circuitry which
allows an alarm threshold to be present for up to 20 seconds without initiating an alarm.

This type of detector is suitable for use in areas where transient high levels of smoke may be
expected.
Integrating effect in analogue addressable systems
In XP95 systems, the integrating effect can be mimicked in both ionisation and optical smoke
detectors by adjusting the control equipment software to cause an appropriate delay.
Discovery smoke detectors should be set to Mode 2 or Mode 4 to achieve this effect. Click
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here to find out more.
Optical (photo-electric) smoke detector
Optical smoke detectors incorporate a pulsing infra-red LED located in a chamber within the
housing of the detector. The chamber is designed to exclude light from any external source.
At an angle to the LED is a photo-diode which normally does not register the column of light
emitted by the LED. In the event of smoke from a fire entering the chamber, the light pulse
from the LED will be scattered and hence registered by the photo-diode. If the photo-diode
"sees" smoke on the two following pulses, the detector changes into alarm state and the
indicator LED lights up. The detector housing is identical to that of the ionisation detector but
has an indicator LED which is clear in quiescent state but produces red light in alarm.

Optical smoke detectors respond particularly well to slow-burning (smouldering) fires. They
are widely used for life protection.



Heat detector
Most conventional heat detectors (all Series 60 and Series 65 & AlarmSense A1R, BR and CR)
operate by using a matched pair of thermistors to sense heat. One thermistor is exposed to
the ambient temperature, the other is sealed. In normal conditions the two thermistors
register similar temperatures, but, on the development of a fire, the temperature recorded by
the exposed thermistor will increase rapidly, resulting in an imbalance of the thermistors,
causing the detector to change into alarm state. Rate-of-rise detectors are designed to detect
a fire as the temperature increases, but they also have a fixed upper limit at which the
detector will go into alarm if the rate of temperature increase has been too slow to trigger the
detector earlier.

The Series 65 and AlarmSense CS (static response) heat detectors have only one thermistor.
They change to the alarm state at a preset temperature.

Externally, the heat detectors are distinguishable from the smoke detectors by having wide
openings to the surrounding atmosphere to allow good movement of air around the external
thermistor.


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A heat detector may be more appropriate than a smoke detector where the environment is
dirty or smoky under normal conditions. It must be recognised, however, that any heat
detector will respond only when a fire is well established and generating a high heat output.

Multisensor detector
Available in the XP95 and Discovery ranges, this type of detector is basically an optical smoke
detector - so it will respond well to smouldering fires. The addition of a heat sensing element
allows the multi-sensor to give a response to fast burning (flaming) fires which is comparable
to that of an ionisation detector.

Multisensor detectors are general purpose detectors which respond well to a wide range of
fires.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) detector
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas produced by combustion and a CO fire detector is
used to indicate the outbreak of a fire by sensing the level of CO in the air. The detector has
an electrochemical cell which senses CO, but not smoke or other combustion products. The
cells do not require much power, so the detector can be made electrically compatible with
ordinary smoke and heat detectors. Apollo manufacturers a CO detector as part of the
Discovery range.

CO detectors are particuarly good at detecting deep-seated, smouldering fires.

To find out more, visit the CO Detectors page.
Beam detector
A beam detector is designed to protect large, open spaces and is made up of three main
parts: the transmitter, which projects a beam of infra-red light; the receiver which registers
the light and produces an electrical signal; and the interface, which processes the signal and
generates alarm or fault signals. When a fire develops, smoke particles obstruct the beam of
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light and, once a pre-set threshold has been exceeded, the detector will go into alarm.

To find out more, visit the XP95 Beam Detector page.
Flame detector
A flame detector is designed to detect either ultraviolet (UV) or infra-red (IR) radiation
emitted by a fire. The XP95 Dual IR flame detector is sensitive to low-frequency, flickering
infra-red radiation. This means that the detector can operate even if the lens is contaminated
by a layer of oil, dust, water vapour or ice.

Flame detectors are effective in protecting areas where flaming fires may be expected.

To find out more, visit the XP95 Dual IR Flame Detector page.
Relative performance of Apollo detectors in test fire
For definitions of terms used within the fire detection industry, visit the Glossary.

Type of detector
Type of combustion

Ionisation

Optical

Multisensor

Heat

CO
Overheating/thermal poor
very
good
very good very poor
very
poor
Smouldering/glowing moderate/good good good very poor excel
Flaming very good good good poor poor
Flaming with high
heat output
very good good very good moderate/good mode
Flaming - clean
burning
poor
very
poor
moderate/good moderate/good
very
poor

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