Point detector for fire alarm system
A point detector ( 1 ) for a fire alarm system. The point detector ( 1 ) includes a fan ( 2 ) configured to aspirate air from a surrounding environment; and an inlet ( 3 ) in flow communication with the fan ( 2 ); the inlet ( 3 ) is configured to split the incoming flow into multiple streams ( 4 ); and each stream ( 4 ) of the multiple streams ( 4 ) is configured to be in flow communication with a respective sensing device ( 6 ).
1. A point detector ( 1 ) for a fire alarm system, the point detector ( 1 ) comprising:
a fan ( 2 ) configured to aspirate air from a surrounding environment;
an inlet ( 3 ) in flow communication with the fan ( 2 ); and
a smoke detector ( 6 a ), a heat detector ( 6 b ) and a carbon monoxide detector ( 6 c );
wherein the inlet ( 3 ) is configured to split the incoming flow into multiple streams ( 4 );
wherein the smoke detector ( 6 a ) is for sensing smoke in a first stream ( 4 a ) of the multiple streams ( 4 );
wherein the heat detector ( 6 b ) is for sensing heat in a second stream ( 4 b ) of the multiple streams ( 4 );
wherein the carbon monoxide detector ( 6 c ) is for sensing carbon monoxide in a third stream ( 4 c ) of the multiple streams ( 4 ); and
wherein the point detector ( 1 ) is configured to generate an alarm when at least two of smoke, heat, and carbon monoxide are detected by the smoke detector ( 6 a ), the heat detector ( 6 b ), and the carbon monoxide detector ( 6 c ), respectively.
2. A point detector ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , comprising an early-warning smoke detector ( 5 ).
3. A point detector ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the early-warning smoke detector ( 5 ) is configured to be more sensitive to smoke than the smoke detector ( 6 a ).
4. A point detector ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the point detector ( 1 ) is configured to use the fan ( 2 ) to aspirate air from a surrounding environment in response to the early-warning smoke detector ( 5 ) detecting smoke.
5. A point detector ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the point detector ( 1 ) is configured to increase the speed of the fan ( 2 ) in response to the early-warning smoke detector ( 5 ) detecting smoke.
6. A point detector ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 2 , comprising a controller configured to control the speed of the fan ( 2 ) in response to the early-warning smoke detector ( 5 ) detecting smoke.
7. A point detector ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the point detector ( 1 ) is configured to simultaneously operate at least two of the smoke detector ( 6 a ), the heat detector ( 6 b ), and the carbon monoxide detector ( 6 c ).
8. A point detector ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , comprising a processor;
wherein the processor is configured to control the operational function of the point detector ( 1 ).
9. A method of operating a point detector ( 1 ) including a fan ( 2 ) configured to aspirate air from a surrounding environment; an inlet ( 3 ) in flow communication with the fan ( 2 ); and a smoke detector ( 6 a ), a heat detector ( 6 b ) and a carbon monoxide detector ( 6 c ), the method comprising:
aspirating air from a surrounding environment using the fan ( 2 );
splitting an incoming flow at the inlet ( 3 ) into multiple streams ( 4 ), wherein the inlet ( 3 ) is in flow communication with the fan ( 2 );
using the smoke detector ( 6 a ) for sensing smoke in a first stream ( 4 a ) of the multiple streams ( 4 );
using the heat detector ( 6 b ) for sensing heat in a second stream ( 4 b ) of the multiple streams ( 4 );
using the carbon monoxide detector ( 6 c ) for sensing carbon monoxide in a third stream ( 4 c ) of the multiple streams ( 4 );
determining, using each of the smoke detector ( 6 a ), the heat detector ( 6 b ), and the carbon monoxide detector ( 6 c ) in flow communication with the first stream ( 4 a ), the second stream ( 4 b ) and the third stream ( 4 c ) respectively, a property of the flow; and
generating an alarm when at least two of smoke, heat, and carbon monoxide are detected by the smoke detector ( 6 a ), the heat detector ( 6 b ), and the carbon monoxide detector ( 6 c ) respectively.
10. A method as claimed in claim 9 , comprising:
detecting smoke using an early-warning smoke detector ( 5 ).
11. A method as claimed in claim 10 , comprising:
aspirating air from the surrounding environment using the fan ( 2 ) in response to the early-warning smoke detector ( 5 ) detecting smoke.
12. A method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the early-warning smoke detector ( 5 ) is configured to be more sensitive to smoke than the smoke detector ( 6 a ).
13. A method as claimed in claim 11 , comprising:
increasing a speed of the fan ( 2 ) in response to the early-warning smoke detector ( 5 ) detecting smoke.