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Cold Weather Testing: What You Need to Know as Temperatures Drop

Cold Weather Testing: What You Need to Know as Temperatures Drop

Posted in: Testing Product Support Training

As we say goodbye to the last of the UK sunshine and colder days begin to settle in, it’s a good time to revisit some important guidance around fire detector testing in low-temperature environments. DetectorTesters manufactures a range of universal testers for smoke, heat, carbon monoxide (CO), or combinations of these sensors—but when the temperature drops, a few extra steps may be needed to ensure safe and compliant testing. 

Cold Environments and Tester Limitations

Detectors are sometimes installed in areas that experience low ambient temperatures—such as warehouses, unheated buildings, or outdoor enclosures. These conditions can fall outside the operating ranges of our testers and may affect performance. Here’s what you need to know:

Smoke Aerosol Canisters

Issue:

When canister temperatures drop below 10°C, users may experience slow activation—or no activation at all.

Solution:

Gently warm the canister before use so it reaches a temperature between 15°C and 25°C. This simple step restores proper function and ensures a compliant test.

Performance_and_Temperature.png

Lingering Test Smoke

Issue:

In cold conditions, test smoke from aerosol or electronic testers evaporates more slowly. This can lead to nuisance re-activations and longer time spent per detector—especially when using aerosol canisters with conventional detectors.

Solution:

Electronic testers like Solo 365, Testifire, XTR2 include a clear function that actively removes lingering smoke after a test. This eliminates wasted time and improves efficiency.

Battery Performance in the Cold

Issue:

Battery packs in testers such as Solo 365, Solo 460, Scorpion, Testifire and XTR2 may drain faster or fail to operate when temperatures fall to around +5°C or lower.

Solution:

Warm the battery before use. In very cold conditions, you may need to pause testing and rewarm the battery to continue. Always check the product’s operating temperature range for guidance.

Heat Detector Testing

Issue:

In cold environments, heat testers must work harder to raise the temperature inside the test cup to trigger activation—especially for high-temperature detectors.

Solution:

If detectors are installed in unheated areas, consider rescheduling testing to a warmer time of day or season. This ensures the tester can reach the required activation temperature efficiently.

EDIT___RMP_DT_03233_DT_2702231931.jpg

Scorpion System Considerations

Issue:

Scorpion systems (used for fixed-point and ASD smoke detector testing) have two components affected by cold:

  • The battery, as mentioned above.
  • The head unit, which includes a fan and smoke fluid, and functions down to 0°C.

Solution:

If temperatures fall below 0°C, the head unit may not operate reliably. In such cases, reschedule the maintenance visit for a warmer day.

Design Tip:

If you're a fire detection designer or specifier, Scorpion offers a reliable solution for hard-to-access detectors and ASD systems. For installations in unheated areas, simply include instructions in the fire safety logbook to carry out maintenance when ambient temperatures are between 0°C and 60°C.

Final Thoughts

Issue:

Cold weather doesn’t have to mean compromised testing. With a few simple adjustments—warming components, using electronic testers with clear functions, and planning around ambient conditions—you can maintain safe, efficient, and compliant fire detector testing all year round.

 

If you have questions or need support, our technical team is here to help.

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