The Fireray 2000 EExd is a beam-type smoke detector from Fire Fighting Enterprises Ltd. It is the only beam detector in the world certified to ATEX 94/9/EC standard for use in Group 2 hazardous areas, and brings the benefits of wide-area smoke detection to environments with a risk of explosion. Oil rigs and refineries, petrochemical plants, power stations and storage depots can all be safely protected by beam detector systems more efficiently than traditional ‘point’ detectors.

Each F2000 EExd is comprised of three parts – an infrared transmitter and a receiver placed on opposing surfaces, and a low level control unit, all ATEX certified. Any smoke entering the beam path is detected by the loss of signal strength between the detector heads, so one product can cover an area of up to 1500m2: the beam is effectively 15m wide, and the heads can be up to 100m apart. By comparison, approximately 15 point detectors would be needed to cover the same area, which would greatly increase the costs of hardware, cabling, installation and maintenance.

As with other Fireray products, the F2000 EExd has a drift compensation feature to guard against gradual loss of signal caused by dust build-up on the detectors or building shift, reducing the incidence of false alarms. A recent example of the type of application that can benefit from this unique product is the Ho Ping Power Station in Taiwan, which uses around 20 Fireray 2000 EExd products to protect its 1320MW capacity output from fire risks.

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The Fireray 5000 auto-aligning beam-type smoke detector has recently been approved for sale in France, Belgium, Sweden and Canada. It was originally certified by the LPCB (UK) and UL (USA), enabling its use in installations around the world already.

The F5000 is a fire detection system that uses a beam of infra-red light to detect the presence of smoke. Installation is easier than it has ever been, with automatic beam alignment in a maximum of 18 minutes. Beam detection is especially useful for covering large, open areas such as warehouses, shopping malls and airports: one beam detector can protect an area that would need at least 14 traditional ‘point’ detectors to cover safely. The minimal installation footprint and required wiring means that these smoke detectors are also very unobtrusive, both visually and physically, making them suitable for spaces where aesthetics are important or wiring is difficult.

Technological innovation has led to an unprecedented ease of installation and maintenance with the new Fireray. Setup is aided by a guiding visible laser pointer and auto-alignment, and the beam can be fully controlled, adjusted and tested from the low-level control unit. Automatic Gain Compensation (AGC) counteracts the effects of dust build-up, and the Auto-Optimise feature keeps the beam pointing at the reflective prism even in the event of gradual building movement.

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