Smoke Alarm User Manual

Installation, Operation and Maintenance Manual
Issue 1 Page 6-3
February 2001
Figure 6.1 Magnehelic Test Set-Up
6.6 Gross Smoke Test
The Detector does not require calibration when installed. However, to insure the entire system is
operational, a gross smoke test should be performed prior to final commissioning.
To perform the gross smoke test, it is sufficient to simply introduce smoke into the last sampling hole of
each branch. This can be smoke from a punk, cotton wick, or the commercially available smoke
simulating aerosols. Refer to the supplier for a recommended satisfactory aerosol simulated smoke
medium. Care should be taken so that excessive simulated smoke is not sprayed into the sampling ports.
Introduce only enough smoke or aerosol to cause a full scale defection on the LaserNET software.
CAUTION
Oil based canisters used to test point detectors are not suitable for testing aspirating systems. The
particulate is heavy and tends to drop out in the pipe, never actually reaching the detector. Also the oily
residue that they leave behind can affect the detector.
6.6.1 Burning Wire Tests
The burning wire test is considered the most representative test of incipient fire hazard detection in a
telecommunications or computer room environment.
There are several types of burning wire test which have been developed specifically for testing HSSD
systems. All tests involve the heating of a PVC insulated cable. Smoke is produced from the overheated
PVC insulation is by evaporation and condensation of the plasticiser. At low temperatures (<210
o
C) very
small particles are generated from the PVC insulation.
As the wire becomes hotter, hydrochloric acid (HCL) gas is also emitted, although production of
significant quantities of HCL from overheated PVC insulation is delayed until after removal of the
plasticiser.