Cameras can now detect flame, smoke and temperature change

There is a very high chance that cameras will become the future of fire alarm detection systems or a large part of it.

Recently I was asked to bid a fire alarm inspection for a factory that has cameras that are looking specifically for smoke and temperature change. We understand that this is the future in fact cameras may end up replacing much of what security systems have traditionally done in the past.

New analytic camera and camera systems not only can do cross line detection, facial recognition, vehicle and people detection they can do much more.

Peak Alarm is not currently set up to install or inspect these types of systems although we are evaluating these items for the future.

Items to be aware of:

Cameras and NVR recorder need to be on a UL listed Battery Backup System giving you at least 24 hours of backup power.

Cameras and NVR need to be UL listed for Fire Alarm Detection.

When you use cameras to watch for smoke or flames you need to have 24 hour UL listed battery backup on the cameras and the NVR headend equipment so if the power goes out for 24 hours the system will still function and the backups cannot simply be a UPS they have to be UL listed specifically for fire alarm as do the cameras and the recorders. When the cameras are tied to a network for communication the network also has to be on a 24 hour UL listed battery backup system.

Just because the cameras have the ability to detect smoke does not meet you can use them in place of a fire alarm unless they are UL listed for that purpose and the AHJ Fire Marshal will need to approve that method of detection.

When testing these cameras and the headend they need to be tested using an approved method of testing and currently on the facility I visited they use SMOKE as a testing method. I found video flame detection in the code as well as smoke using cameras although I did not find references in the current code for high temperature which this factory is also detecting with the cameras.

I found two items in the NFPA 72 (2019) code book – references as follows:

14.3.1 #8 Video image smoke and fire detectors to be tested quarterly – Verify no point requiring detection is obstructed or outside the detector’s field of view.

17.8.5 – Video Image flame detectors information in the code – video outputs need to be specifically for the purpose of fire alarm

3.3.316 Video Image Flame Detection VIFD definition

3.3.317 Video Image Smoke Detection VISD definition

17.7.7 Video Image Smoke Detection – Important section