We frequently specify, supply and install optical beam detectors to provide wide area smoke detection in situations where it is impractical, inappropriate or uneconomical to deploy traditional point-type detectors because of prohibitive installation, wiring and maintenance costs.
Optical beam smoke detectors also enable coverage of a large area, at minimal cost. They are also ideal for installations involving high ceilings, dusty and dirty environments, or areas that experience temperature extremes.
Effectively line type detectors, optical beam smoke detectors comprise a light source which normally operates at infra red frequencies, and a receiver. The two are either separated or housed within a single unit, in which case reflectors are used to reflect light from the transmitter back to the associated receiver.
They operate by detecting the obstruction of the light source created by the presence of smoke particles. Some optical beam detectors can also detect heat by means of the variation in the reflective index of light (shimmer effect) that occurs at turbulent interfaces between hot and cold air.