Smoke Detector False Alarms

I fail to see the connection of the false smoke alarms, humidity and chemicals for stripping floor finish. Are these separate questions that forgot to put question marks?

I have some experience with fire alarms and one of the earliest dealt with lots and lots of false alarms in one office building. They had as much as 10 false alarms in a single day.

There are several different types of smoke detectors but one of the most sensitive (and most prone to false triggering) are ionization types. These have a small radioactive substance that ionizes the particles in the air and triggers an alarm if the concentration gets too high (as in a fire). Unfortunately, they are easily triggered by cigarette or cigar smoke, dust particles in the air, smoke exhaust from vehicles, or even just wind or air currents from the window or electric fan.

The false alarms went away when we replaced them with photo-electric types.

As for the other things, no comment. 'Don't know what you're asking.

Actually no it is a combination question. I manage facilities for a telecom. I had a contractor scrub and re-coat floor in a corridor that had limited air exchange. A smoke detector went into alarm that was located in the area. So now we are examining the entire process to determine if we need to change some of our practices or maybe it was just bad luck or a coincidence.

Thanks

Bob

hey, Vulcan has given u d correct response. Change them to Optical detectors. Meanwhile, some fire alarm panel gives room for first alarm stage(detection of fire at incipient stage) and 2nd alarm stage(d real fire anyway). This panel are used most importantly for Fire Suppression System(e.g. FM 200) for Server rooms/Eqpt rooms.

Wish u all d best.

U ca n get m for further details if necessary on diposalako@yahoo.com I am a security/communication engineer in Nigeria.

Regards

Freon products can trigger the smoke detectors.

Are you stripping the floor dry or wet? If dry, of course it'll set off the smoke detector. Also, what type of stripping machine are you using? If you are using a propane type it'll also set off the detector and this depends on the condition of your Stripping machine.

If none of these applies, your detector might be dirty and or your sensitivity needs to be adjusted. If all of the above do not apply, upgrade your detector.

I hope this will help solve your issue.

Thanks. It is a wet process so it appears that the cause is more realted to the maintenance then the process or chemicals that are being used.

You are between rock and hard place.

An ionization detector can be set off by the legitimate stuff, but also any solvents, like freon or propane or any other. These molecules, carrying electric charges with them produce enough current in the sensing chamber. Very high humidity, like opening the window on a muggy hot day will cause condensation on the surface and do the same. Or a water leak upstairs. Such an event blew all of my fire protection freon bottles, even with a sophisticated multizone protection.

Optical detectors are not sensitive to solvents, but they do not distinguish between smoke and plain dust. So, when the freon bottles of the first zone blew, the dust stirred up and set off the other zones too. There was no fire, just a very expensive recharge.

Lesson: Protect your sensors from water above, and anything else you can think, as Mr. Murphy will get you, given half a chance.

Hello ruro0302

Some ionisation type smoke detectors are sensitive to organic molecules.

What are you using for stripping the original coating off the floor?

If you are using organic strippers or solvents, they often set ionisation type smoke alarms off.

Kind Regards....