By Casey Bennett, Director of Fire Technologies
The industrial sector covers a wide range of industries that fall under the umbrella term of “manufacturing.” These facilities can include automotive factories, oil refineries, food processing plants and more.
These facilities all operate in unique industries with their own needs, and their own hazards.
Industrial campuses are filled with technology from the machinery used to manufacture individual components, to mixing and refining equipment, but there are some systems all these facilities have in common.
While there is variance between the specific systems that are required by the International Building Code (IBC), NFPA standards and local codes, these manufacturing facilities all rely on fire and life safety systems to stay operational and keep their workers safe.
Devices like smoke detectors and fire alarms are found in all types of buildings, but due to the unique hazards associated to manufacturing environments, there are specialized systems that may be required.
As a trusted partner in fire and life safety with over 60 years of experience in the industry, Tech Electronics has the experience and knowledge to determine which systems may be required, and how to implement them to keep your facility running.
Fire Detection
The systems required in these facilities can go far beyond the traditional alarms, detectors and horn strobes that make up the systems installed in more common environments like offices and homes.
Industrial fire alarm systems are built across a network, all connected to a fire alarm control panel that operates as the brains of the system. A single panel can monitor hundreds of devices at once, divided into zones that tell the panel when, and where a fire was detected.
Depending on the application, an industrial facility could need traditional smoke detectors, beam detectors, duct detectors, or all four to adequately monitor the space.
In sensitive areas, Very Early Smoke Detection Apparatus (VESDA) detectors may be installed. These detectors use aspirating smoke detection to constantly pull air into the detection chamber and can detect smoke obscuration as low as .005% per meter.
Smoke is not the only indicator of a fire that can be monitored, and traditional and rate-of-rise heat detectors may also be installed.
All these devices are programmed and connected to the fire alarm control panel. Modern panels like the Inspire Series by Honeywell can be connected to the cloud and configured to alert facility staff and first responders of fires.
With Connected Life Safety Services, facility managers can monitor their entire facility at a glance. The platform can display each individual device, its location, and its status.
These panels can also be paired with Self-Testing Detectors, which house a self-contained apparatus that introduces smoke into the detection chamber for code-mandated inspections.
All these solutions come together to produce a comprehensive life safety solution that keeps your facility operational and code-compliant, and most importantly, keeps your people safe.
For more information on how Tech Electronics can implement these systems at your facility, schedule a consultation today.
