Re: Smoke Detection in a large enclosed venue

[Jim Davis <alarminex@xxxxxxx>]

On Monday, November 9, 2020 at 10:03:08 AM UTC-5, ABLE1 wrote:
> Hey guys,
>
> This is a I don't know question and looking for a answer
> thingie.  This is not for a project or job just curious.
>
> My brother, (who only guesses an answer since he doesn't
> really know one way or the other).  Mentioned to me the
> other day that he heard that some large group was playing
> at a venue and because of there FOG MACHINE it tripped off
> the FIRE ALARM.  He then said that they must have replaced
> the smoke detectors to units that can only see smoke and
> not FOG.  Well I said to him that they more than likely
> turned off the smokes while the FOG was there and then
> turned them back on later because the smoke detectors
> can't tell the difference between smoke, dust, spiders and FOG.
>
> What this did was made me think what a Alarm Company would do
> in the case to actually meet code compliance??
>
> Beam Detectors can maybe be adjusted somehow or to maybe off.
>
> Heat Detectors can surely work and not be effected but for
> heat only.  Not a good thing and really not code.
>
> Ionization Smokes maybe not sure............ doubt it.
>
> Turn off, and station multiple human bodies for a fire watch
> during the event to yank on a Pull Station if there is a
> real fire event observed.
>
> Get a variance with the jurisdiction to allow something other
> than smoke detectors during an event that uses FOG Machines.
>
> Anybody know or been involved is something like this??
>
> Again just curious.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Les

I"ve never used them but beyond photoelectric and Ionization there are also flame detectors. Usually used in large areas.