FFE Ltd has been a cornerstone in the fire protection industry for over forty years, establishing a strong reputation through innovation and collaboration. Allen Brier, FFE Applications Engineering Consultant, highlights their advanced beam detection technology in this article.
At the core of FFE Ltd’s products are advanced fire detection solutions. Brier states: “FFE manufactures Projected Beam Smoke Detectors, Flame Detectors, vibration switches, and aircraft fire extinguishers.” These products deliver comprehensive fire detection and prevention measures across diverse industries.
FFE Ltd is dedicated to providing high-quality, user-friendly, and reliable fire detection technology. Brier explains: “FFE provides high quality fire detection technology that is extremely easy to use and doesn’t cause nuisances.” This user-centric approach ensures the products meet customers’ practical needs effectively.
Product development at FFE is heavily influenced by customer feedback. Brier notes: “The main complaint from customers were quality, ease-of-use, and immunity to false alarms.” Addressing these concerns has allowed FFE to refine their products, maintaining high performance and reliability. This commitment to listening to customer feedback is central to FFE’s product development strategy. Brier emphasizes: “This has been ffe’s guiding principle in product development.” By prioritizing quality, ease of use, and minimizing false alarms, FFE ensures their products are effective, convenient, and reliable.
Fireray Beam-Smoke Detectors utilize advanced technology for accuracy and reliability. Brier explains: “Fireray Beam Smoke detectors work by measuring the signal strength reduction of an IR signal as a result of obscuration from smoke.” This method detects smoke by analyzing the reduction in infrared signal strength caused by smoke particles interrupting the beam.
A standout feature of the Fireray system is its ability to differentiate between various obstructions and interferences. Brier highlights: “The detectors are equipped with software to discern the difference between a blockage, actual smoke, and dust buildup.” This advanced software minimizes false alarms by accurately identifying smoke, enhancing reliability and accuracy.
False alarms are a significant issue in fire detection systems, causing unnecessary panic and disruption. The Fireray system effectively addresses this challenge. “The detectors will not produce false alarms or troubles when conditions do not call for it,” Brier notes. By distinguishing between actual smoke and other interferences, the Fireray system maintains high reliability.
Projected beam smoke detectors come in two main types: End-to-End and Reflective. Brier states: “Projected beam smoke detectors come in two varieties: End-to-End and Reflective.” Each type is designed for specific challenges and environments to ensure optimal performance.
End-to-End detectors feature separate transmitter and receiver units, ideal for environments with numerous obstacles or reflective surfaces. Brier elaborates: “End-to-End detectors feature separate transmitter and receiver, ideal for extremely challenging applications where there is a lot of obstruction and/or reflective surfaces.”
Reflective detectors combine the transmitter and receiver into a single unit using a prism reflector placed opposite the detector. Brier highlights: “Reflective detectors house both transmitter and receiver in one unit, using a prism reflector opposite of the detector.” This design simplifies installation and maintenance, requiring only single-end wiring and alignment, making it practical for many standard applications.
Reflective detectors offer easy installation due to single-end wiring and alignment. Brier notes: “Their installation is simpler due to single-end wiring and alignment,” reducing complexity and setup time. Fireray beam detectors are ideal for large spaces like airports and warehouses, replacing multiple spot detectors efficiently. “Fireray is ideal for large open spaces like airports and warehouses, replacing multiple spot detectors,” says Brier.
A significant advantage of the Fireray system is its auto-alignment feature, which reduces installation time and labor. Brier emphasizes: “Fireray auto-aligns and saves integrators valuable time and labor.” In historic buildings, preserving architectural aesthetics is crucial, and Fireray detectors can be discreetly installed to maintain visual appeal. Brier notes: “In historic buildings, it can be discreetly placed to maintain aesthetics, especially when ceiling installations aren’t feasible.”
False alarms can disrupt busy environments, but Fireray beam detectors are highly immune to such issues. Brier explains: “Fireray beam detectors are highly immune to false alarms,” ensuring activation only in genuine smoke presence.
Fireray’s versatility extends beyond replacing spot detectors. Brier points out: “Fireray beam detectors can substitute numerous spot detectors, sprinkler heads, and even Aspirated Smoke Detection (ASD).” Fireray detectors can replace up to twenty-six spot detectors in large areas and six to seven in smaller spaces, leading to cost savings. “Fireray detectors can replace up to twenty-six spot detectors in vast areas, and in smaller spaces, the Fireray One can substitute just 6–7 spot detectors, leading to cost savings,” Brier says.
Fireray’s innovative technology cuts down on installation time and labor. Brier explains: “The newer technology allows integrators to cut down more than 30 minutes of labor for each beam detector.”
Supporting Fireray’s efficiency and cost-effectiveness, a study by the NFPA Research Foundation highlights beam detectors’ advantages over traditional spot detectors. Brier notes: “A study by the NFPA Research Foundation found Fireray beam detectors could replace up to thirty-nine spot detectors, offering equivalent coverage and quicker smoke detection.”
Fireray’s design includes Low-Level Controllers, allowing ground-level testing and eliminating the need for expensive lifts or machinery. Brier points out: “Low-Level Controllers enable ground-level testing, eliminating the need for costly lifts or machinery for access.”
Direct sunlight can interfere with beam smoke detectors, causing false alarms. Fireray counters this with Light Cancellation Technology. Brier states: “Fireray offers models with Light Cancellation Technology to prevent alarms caused by direct sunlight on the lens.”
Aligning beam detectors often requires multiple people, but Fireray simplifies this with Auto-Alignment on reflective beam detectors. Brier notes: “Fireray’s reflective beam detectors feature Auto-Alignment, enabling a single individual to achieve alignment in just 2–5 minutes.”
Building shifts can affect beam detector alignment. Fireray’s reflective beam detectors have Building Movement Tracking to maintain alignment. Brier explains: “With Building Movement Tracking, Fireray’s reflective beam detectors ensure consistent alignment despite factors like new installations, building temperature-induced flex, groundwater table shifts, or snow loads.”
Interference between multiple beam detectors is a concern in large settings. Fireray One addresses this with Dynamic Beam Phasing technology. Brier states: “Fireray One uses Dynamic Beam Phasing technology, allowing multiple beams to overlap without causing interference.”
Dust on detector lenses can trigger false alarms. Fireray detectors use Dust Contamination Compensation to combat this. Brier notes: “This ensures consistent signal strength even with lens dust accumulation. Once a threshold is crossed, a trouble signal is generated.”
In hazardous locations, traditional detectors can be expensive and difficult to install. Fireray offers beam detectors for Class I Division 1 Zone 1 and ATEX Category 2 areas. Brier states: “Fireray offers the only beam detector suitable for these hazardous areas, providing significant cost savings over traditional HAZLOC spot or flame detectors.”
FFE Ltd supports Fireray users with comprehensive guidance. Brier emphasizes: “Fireray’s application engineers assist in selecting the appropriate beam type, quantity, and placement for maximum value. They can even analyze your AutoCAD or PDF drawings to determine optimal beam locations.”
The FFE Ltd sales team ensures quick delivery and facilitates purchases through a broad OEM and distributor network. Brier states: “FFE’s sales team ensures swift product delivery and facilitates purchases via its wide-ranging OEM and distributor network.”
Technical support is crucial to FFE’s service. Brier notes: “Dedicated tech support is available to address installation or operational issues. Equipped with various tools, they guarantee responses within 24 hours, often in mere minutes.” FFE Ltd also ensures high product quality, meeting rigorous standards. Brier adds: “FFE products are crafted to rigorous quality and inspection benchmarks, backed by a 5-year warranty on all beam detectors.”
Note: This article was adapted from an article published in International Fire and Safety Journal.
