Nittan smoke detectors overcome false alarms at UAE due to steam
With so many false alarms in student accommodation at the University of East Anglia being caused by steam escaping from bathrooms and activating smoke alarms — around 20 a week — the university has replaced its smoke detectors with Nittan’s Evolution EV-DP dual-wavelength photo-electric smoke detectors. 4500 Nittan devices, including more than 2500 EV-DP smoke detectors, have been installed by Global Fire Services in the 24 accommodation buildings across the 320 acre UAE campus.
Each alarm event has to be checked and verified by security personnel before the fire and rescue service will attend. Reducing false alarms is not only convenient but also has significant cost and time benefits.
12 months after the new detectors has been installed, there had been no false alarms due to steam — according to Steve Edwards of the university’s estates and building division.
Greg Smith, director of Global Fire Services explains that the original plan was to move existing detectors further from the bathrooms. This approach would provide the same level of protection but would incur the costs of moving the devices and cables, as well as redecorating. As the existing alarms were coming to the end of their lives, he recommended swapping to Nittans smoke detectors, which easily cope with steam.
An initial on-site demonstration in a student room to compare the existing alarms with the Nittan devices involved deliberately building up steam in the room. The Nittan alarm stayed silent — but reacted immediately when a small amount of smoke was introduced.
