What is a Thermoptek smoke alarm?

Thermoptek is a type of smoke alarm sensor technology found within FireAngel’s Pro Connected range of mains and battery powered thermally enhanced optical smoke alarms, the technology of choice for many UK Fire and Rescue services.

Thermoptek technology provides a much faster alert to danger in comparison to non-Thermoptek alarms, giving residents more time to escape from a property should a fire occur.

Raising the alarm on all types of fire

All optical smoke alarms sold in the UK need to comply to the European standard BS EN 14604 and must pass five live fire tests which measure how an alarm performs in different types of smoke.

This includes test with white, billowy smoke, often seen as a result of sofa fires and also includes dense black smoke, often seen when burning tyres.

Standard optical smoke alarms detect a fire by sending out a beam of light, using a receiver to monitor the beam. Any smoke will flow into an optical chamber within the alarm, causing the beam of light to hit the smoke and scatter the light rays.

These rays are then picked up by the receiver – enabling the detection between clean air and smoke.

Traditionally, optical alarms perform well at detecting slow, smouldering fires and less so with detecting black smoke from fast flaming fires.

However, a secondary product of a fast-flaming fire is heat. This is where Thermoptek multi-sensor technology provides enhanced detection.

What is a Thermoptek smoke alarm?

Combining optical sensing with thermal enhancement, Thermoptek technology uses two separate sensing elements to constantly monitor for two different by-products of fires: smoke and temperature increases.

If a rapid rate of temperature rise is detected the sensitivity of the smoke alarm is increased. This provides a quicker response time to all fire types; fast-flaming and slow-burning fires.

British Standard BS 5839-6:2019 also recommends the installation of multi-sensor smoke alarm technology throughout a home.

Three benefits to using Thermoptek multi-sensor alarm technology

1. It provides a faster reaction time to all types of fires

Traditionally ionisation alarms were used to detect all types of fire (although often prone to false alarms due to sensitivity), however they are currently being phased out in the industry due to their environmental impact.

Thermoptek technology enables optical alarms to react just as well as ionisation alarms in all instances.

2. A stable, toast-proof alarm

An optical alarm that doesn’t feature Thermoptek multi-sensing technology could be made more sensitive to try and better detect dense black smoke.

However, this means the alarm would be overly sensitive and react to burnt toast or a steamy shower. Thermoptek technology provides a stable, reliable and quicker reacting alarm.

3. It provides a richer, greater set of data for the FRS

Alarms that use Thermoptek technology enable FireAngel to continue to support the UK’s Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) with their forensic analysis of alarms that have been involved in a fire incident.

Devices with multi-sensor technology can log whether they have gone into a ‘Thermoptek’ sensing state – meaning whether they’ve enhanced their sensitivity by detecting temperature rise – and can inform the FRS of the ferocity of the fire.

Where should you install a Thermoptek multi-sensor smoke alarm?

All FireAngel multi-sensor alarms include a sealed for life battery and low profile aesthetic design. Designed for easy installation, Pro Connected Thermoptek alarms are suitable for use in hallways, landings, bedrooms, living rooms and dining rooms.

With the Pro Connected app, experience complete control and peace of mind protection. Use the app to test and silence alarms without having to reach a ceiling mounted test button.

With unlimited property allocations, you can set up an alarm network in the homes of your parents, a vulnerable family member, your child’s university accommodation or in your holiday home and receive notifications for all of them.

Found within our Pro Connected app is FireAngel Predict®, a unique algorithm with patented application, that uses real-time data to access the risk of a future fire event. Predict® gives potential fire risk level for the homes you list – invaluable for those caring for vulnerable family members.

FireAngel Pro Connected range, featuring Thermoptek technology, also includes:

• Interlinking alarms with locate feature – Silence all but the initiating alarm in a network by pressing the test button
• Noise identification – When interlinked, each unit will sound a different sound pattern depending on the triggering alarm whether smoke, heat or carbon monoxide
• Low energy usage – Alarms typically use less than 10% of the average 230V AC smoke alarm
• Sleep Easy feature – silence low battery chirp for 8 hours, allowing occupant to delay replacement until daylight hours
• Smart silence – Allows the alarm to be silenced for up to 10 minutes in the event of a known false alarm. During this time if additional smoke is detected then the alarm will sound

FireAngel Thermoptek Multi-Sensing is at the forefront of cutting-edge fire safety technology and is recommended by British Standards. Discover our Pro Connected range of alarms today.