A UV
detector can detect almost every fire, Hydrocarbon as
well as non-Hydrocarbon. An IR
detector based on 4,4 micron radiation (CO2 emission of a fire)
can only detect Hydrocarbonfires like burning Wood,
Paper, Gasoline or Natural Gas. Non-Hydrocarbons
like Hydrogen,
Magnesium or Sulfer burn without CO2
emissions and cannot be detected with a traditional IR or UV/IR
(AND) detector.
It means that when the distance from the detector
to the fire is doubled the fires needs to be four times larger. E.g.
a detector detects a 0,09 m2 (1 sqft) petrol fire at 15 meters
(45 ft). In order to see the fire at 30 meters (90 ft) the size of the fire
needs to be at least 0,36 m2 (4 sqft).
An inhibitor is a substance or vapour that
blinds the flame
sensor. E.g., a UV
detector will be blinded by oil or grease on the lens,
Hydrocarbon vapours like Xylene and Toluene, Chloride
based vapours etc. An IR
detector will be blinded by fog, water and ice or a salt layer on
the lens (salt takes up water). A multi
IR detector can be blinded or masked by black-body radiation
from hot machinery or direct sunlight.
The user looses faith and maybe a real fire
alarm is discarded out of disbelieve. A UV detectorfalse
alarms to the radiation of Arc Welding, Halogen lamps or
high pressure mercury lamps (without the protective glass), corona
en static arcs. An IR detector may false alarm to chopped
black body radiation and in some cases direct chopped sunlight.Multi IR sensors are less susceptible to black body radiation
or chopped sunlight but may get insensitive.