MILWAUKEE
– (September 15, 2020) – The latest updates to UL 268,
Standard for Safety of Smoke Detectors for Fire Alarm Systems, call
for significant improvements to smoke detection technology. Set to take effect
in June 2021, the new UL 268 7th edition standard requires smoke
sensors, detectors and smoke alarms to pass more than 215 new or revised
performance tests, including three new challenging tests: a cooking nuisance
alarm test, a flaming polyurethane foam test and a smoldering polyurethane
test. To satisfy these requirements, Johnson
Controls has introduced advanced smoke sensors built upon the established
performance of its flagship TrueAlarm technology.
The UL 7th
edition polyurethane tests better represent the type of smoke and flames
produced in modern building fires due to the increased use of synthetic
furnishing materials that can ignite and burn faster than other materials. The
cooking test was added after research showed people frequently disable smoke
alarms due to nuisance alarms caused by cooking and shower steam.
The new TrueAlarm
sensors provide earlier detection, better fire type recognition and fewer
nuisance alarms. They use sophisticated algorithms to analyze particles and
determine whether they are generated by an actual fire rather than smoke or
steam from cooking. Sensor alarm points can be programmed for timed,
multi-stage operation per sensor. A lower percentage alert can cause a warning
prompt to investigate the issue while a higher programmed percentage will initiate
an alarm.
“The design of our new
sensors is based on decades of fire detection experience and demonstrates our
commitment to creating the most innovative and reliable products in the
industry,” said Peter Ryan, senior commercialization manager, Global Fire
Detection Products, Johnson Controls. “These re-designed smoke sensors reduce
the number of nuisance alarms while providing early notification, when needed,
to help building occupants evacuate quickly and safely during a fire event.”
The ability of the
redesigned TrueAlarm sensors to intelligently differentiate between high-risk
fires and burning food or steam is especially important for commercial spaces
such as hotels, dormitories, hospitals and other facilities that are prone to
nuisance alarms. The new 7th edition compliant TrueAlarm
sensors are available for the Simplex product line.
For more information,
please visit https://www.johnsoncontrols.com/fire-detection/sensors-and-initiating-devices.
About
Johnson Controls
At Johnson Controls, we transform the environments where people live,
work, learn and play. From optimizing building performance to improving safety
and enhancing comfort, we drive the outcomes that matter most. We deliver our
promise in industries such as healthcare, education, data centers and
manufacturing. With a global team of 105,000 experts in more than 150 countries
and over 130 years of innovation, we are the power behind our customers’
mission. Our leading portfolio of building technology and solutions includes
some of the most trusted names in the industry, such as Tyco®, York®, Metasys®,
Ruskin®, Titus®, Frick®, Penn®, Sabroe®, Simplex®, Ansul® and Grinnell®. For
more information, visit www.johnsoncontrols.com
or follow us @johnsoncontrols on Twitter.