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Fire system testing in low temperatures

Fire system testing in low temperatures

Posted in: Testing Product Support
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Detectors are sometimes installed in environments that experience low temperatures at certain times of the year, which can fall outside the operating ranges of our testers. This may require additional steps to ensure compliant testing.

Temperature-Related Limitations

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  1. Smoke Aerosol Canisters: Users may experience slow or no activation when canister temperatures drop below 10°C. This can be easily resolved by gently warming the canister before use to a temperature between 15°C and 25°C.
  2. Test Smoke Evaporation: At lower temperatures, test smoke from canisters or electronic testers can take longer to evaporate. This doesn't mean testing can't be carried out, but it may take longer. Lingering test smoke can cause re-activation of a smoke detector, prolonging the time spent per detector. This is particularly problematic when using aerosol canisters and testing conventional detectors. However, electronic testers like Solo 365 and XTR2 include a clear function that removes any lingering test smoke after a test, eliminating wasted time.
  3. Battery Performance: Battery packs in testers like Solo 365, Solo 460, and Scorpion may experience performance issues when too cold. At temperatures of +5°C or lower, the battery will drain much quicker and may cause the tester to malfunction. To limit the impact of cold, warm the battery before use. Sometimes, you may need to stop and rewarm the battery during testing to continue.
  4. Heat Detectors: When testing heat detectors in cold environments, the tester has to work extra hard to raise the ambient temperature inside the test cup to the activation level. The higher the activation temperature, the harder it is for the heat tester. High-temperature detectors installed in unheated areas may require rescheduling the testing to a warmer time.
  5. Scorpion System: The Scorpion system, used for fixed smoke tests for points and ASD systems, has two components affected by low temperatures: the battery and the head unit (which includes a fan and smoke fluid). The Scorpion head unit functions down to 0°C. Below this temperature, rescheduling the maintenance visit to a warmer day is necessary.

If you are a fire detection designer or specifier looking for a solution to enable safe, compliant ongoing maintenance of ASD systems or hard-to-access point-type smoke detectors, Scorpion is the local answer.

For installations in unheated areas, ensure maintenance is carried out when the ambient temperature is within the 0°C to 60°C range.

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