WAREHOUSES
Warehouses and distribution centers are ideal for the SigniFire solution. The camera allows for the safety of the facilities against fires, the control of goods, intrusions and theft. SigniFire is generally placed at the loading docks, goods unloading areas, packaging areas, battery rooms, maintenance rooms or all risk areas. It allows for the continuous control of each risk.
Difficult environment
Large openings and high ceilings make warehouses a challenging environment for traditional fire detection.
- 30% of the non-residential structure fires are storage facilities.
- 23% of these fires are of a criminal nature.
- 60% of them occur between 18:00 and 6:00.
- 1% of the fires requires the intervention of a fire brigade. Cost ~ 590,000 Euros.
- 0.25% of the fires lead to a collapse of the roof. Cost ~ 6 million Euros.
Average annual risk charge: (0.01 x 590,000) + (0.0025 x 6,000,000) = 20,900 Euros
Why video detection of flame and smoke?
Video detection of flame and smoke has several advantages over traditional detection:
- Early detection:The cameras see the fire at its source and therefore manage to detect it. Earlier than conventional detectors. These require that the smoke reach their sensors.
- Immediate information on the situation:It is a network camera; the images can be viewed in real time in a remote monitoring center. Alarm verification is immediate and reliable.
- Less equipment to install:Each SigniFire camera covers a large area, which translates into a savings in sensors. The goal is one reduction of installation and maintenance costs.
How does SigniFire work?
The video analysis software uses artificial intelligence:
- Analysis of images of 640x480 pixels at a rate of 15 images per second.
- 4.5 million data points analyzed by the camera's Texas Instruments DSP processor.
- The software uses temporal patterns and DSP filters and compares the results with a neural network based on 15,000 fire simulation models.
- The alarms are routed via dry contacts and/or via Ethernet.
What fire protection systems have traditionally been used to protect warehouses?
- Sprinklers:Sprinklers are triggered by an increase in temperature. They are designed to save the building’s foundations and not its contents.
- Linear heat detector:Linear heat detectors can be used upstream of the sprinklers. They are triggered at an increase in temperature, not at an early stage.
- BEAM detector: The beams are placed at the ceiling level and can causing false positives. These are caused by obstruction of the beam (objects, thick dust...).
- “Spot” detector: They are usually placed high up to capture the ionization, which delays the detection of smoke.
- Suction system (ASD): ASD systems have one major disadvantage in dusty environments. The sensors are clogged, which impairs detection and increases the number of maintenance operations.
Applications
The SigniFire technology is suitable for the following environments:
• Storage areas
• Loading docks
• Packaging rooms
• Battery rooms
• Elevator maintenance rooms
• Aerosol chambers
