Preventive fire detection with semiconductor gas sensors

Abstract:
Conventional fire detectors are based on the detection of smoke particles. More often they don’t provide a preventive warning since they trigger only at a relatively late fire development stage. In contrast to conventional smoke detectors, gas sensors can detect gases released in early stages of a fire. Above all, the opportunity to recognize plastic smouldering gases offers a huge potential to improve the safety of electrical equipment and installations. At the ABB Corporate Research Centre in Germany the potential of low-cost semiconductor gas sensors to be used in an early fire warning system for industrial applications was evaluated. This article summarizes the findings and experiences.