Flame detectors for spray-painting hangar

Brian Myall, fire safety officer for Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group, the company which manages the airport, explains: “Because of the explosive nature of the paint used in the hangar, explosion-proof flame detectors were necessary. Our chosen installer specified Talentum UV/IR2 flame detectors and we are impressed by their performance and reliability so far.”

In addition to the hazardous area of the hangar, a Fireray 5000 beam smoke detector is installed at ceiling level for general smoke detection. 

Flame detectors are suitable for this type of installation as they detect almost all types of flickering flames. This is especially important in this application, where flames can originate from the paint and many other sources, including plastics, composites and even metals. By using infrared (IR) sensing, they can also identify flames through dust, steam or smoke and are immune to the effects of wind or draughts.

The Talentum UV/IR2 also gives a high level of immunity to false flame sources, with internal self-test sources that check the detector’s operation when remotely instructed. The maximum ambient temperature is normally 55 or 85°C for the higher temperature specification detectors.

Beam smoke detectors can be used up to 40m. Wall-mounted, they transmit a beam of invisible infrared light across the building space to be protected and a receiver detects and measures the light and can recognise smoke interference anywhere along the beam path.

All types of aircraft, both civilian and military are painted at the site, which is capable of accommodating planes as large as a Boeing 747.

The FFE units were installed by EFire of Norfolk.

Commenting on the installation, FFE’s MD Mark Osborne, said: “This is yet another example of the wide range of applications where our products can be used. We are delighted to have been selected to protect Cambridge International Airport in this way.”