Fire detection for the food and beverage industry

Offices for admin, finances or marketing often store contractual and other paperwork which would kindle a developing fire. Computer equipment has the potential to overheat, spark or smolder. And, as these rooms are usually housed on a premises that is also used for food processing and other facilities, they are at risk of being impacted by further fire hazards in close proximity.

Solution:

Admin areas can be monitored using AVENAR 4000 series fire detectors networked with AVENAR fire alarm panels. The detectors swiftly pick up signs of fire so alerts can be responded to immediately. AVENAR is completely compatible with other new and legacy fire safety solutions which support quick installation, upgrades and maintenance.

Production areas are in continual operation to meet high demand for products, from ingredients to ready-made items. Conveyor belts, pick-and-place robotic arms and other mechanical and electrical equipment are at risk of overheating and smoldering. Any fire – or false alarm – would halt production and force plant evacuations. Fire detection in these spaces must be highly dependable.

Solution:

AVENAR 4000 detectors provide early detection for a range of fire risks in processing plants with multi-sensor detection. Therefore, besides heat and smoke detection, the values of potential gases present, including carbon monoxide, can be monitored simultaneously. This makes it highly reliable against false alarms.

Production plants housing combinations of machinery, equipment and devices frequently experience nuisance alarms caused by electromagnetic disturbance. Traditional fire detectors identify this disturbance as a fire risk, consequently raising alarms for an emergency response with process downtime and staff evacuations.

Solution:

AVENAR 4000 fire detectors comprise eSmog technology which continually monitors the disturbance values emitted from electrical and mechanical equipment. As the sources of these disturbances can also be identified by the eSmog feature, the risk of false alarms is much lower with fewer interruptions to production and processing work.

Powdered ingredients and residues of grains and other food items can generate dust buildup in facilities for food or beverage production. Clouds of this dust from flour, coffee and sugar, for instance, can fill the air and eventually settle on surfaces – including fire detectors. Fine dust particles could hinder the efficiency of a device’s sensors, risking signs of a fire going undetected.

Solution:

Linear heat detectors by Bosch can be configured to trigger alerts once a specified temperature is reached within a space or if there are sudden spikes in temperature. Dust accumulation does not interrupt detection functionality. Alternative options include AVIOTEC video-based detection in IP67 housing, smooth, discreet invisible detectors where hardly any dust can accumulate or aspirating smoke detectors with integrated filters.

Cold storage areas for food and beverages pose a unique challenge as flammable materials such as packaging tend to burn more easily if a fire develops under dry, icy conditions. Electrical points and some refrigerant chemicals pose additional fire hazards. Another challenge is that not all fire detection systems function well in below-zero temperatures.

Solution:

AVIOTEC flame and smoke detection camera is effective in temperatures as low as -20 degrees Celsius and the devices can be positioned to monitor an entire refrigeration space at all levels. Bosch aspirating smoke detectors can be configured to recognize smoke emissions and smoldering even in freezing conditions.

Food and beverage businesses make the most of the generous layout of warehouses and other storage areas with floor-to-ceiling shelving packed with raw materials or finished goods. But classic smoke detectors work by sensing smoke close to the detector, which is challenging if they are fitted to a high ceiling and a fire were to ignite at a much lower level. An alarm would be triggered far too late, resulting in a significant loss of business assets.

Solution:

Bosch beam detectors can be mounted at different levels to allow for different beam paths to spot signs of fire, including at higher levels compared to point detectors. AVIOTEC video-based fire detection can be installed at multiple levels and capture footage at optimal angles to ensure comprehensive monitoring. AVIOTEC also detects flames and smoke directly at their source within seconds for a superior level of fire safety.

Fine powders, such as drinking chocolate, instant coffee, spices and flavoring, and items which generate dust, including grains and sugar can potentially explode when moved through the air. Carbonated drinks in bottles or cans that contain flammable alcohol may also explode with accidental impact on a production line or in a storage unit. The precarious attributes of these items require a fast fire response on processing sites, but also explosion-proof fire detection devices.

Solution:

Bosch smoke, flame, and heat detectors, as well as call points with explosion-proof housing, work reliably even in these most challenging conditions, making them an ideal solution where explosive raw materials are present.

Storage of packaging materials, raw ingredients or products ready for delivery are often placed outside undercover due to costs and space constraints of indoor storage. But these items also require fire monitoring as well as additional security vigilance in case of intrusion, theft, arson or vandalism. Weather conditions add further fire hazards, particularly strong sunlight, lightning strikes or strong winds shifting flammable materials.

Solution:

AVIOTEC video-based flame and smoke detection can be set up and configured for optimal monitoring outside 24/7. Even overnight, built-in infrared lighting helps AVIOTEC to provide equally sophisticated fire detection as by day. The intelligent technology is highly robust against false alarms and the devices can be fitted at the same points as security cameras for an all-round safety solution outdoors.