A loft is an upper storey attic space or storage area in a building, just under the roof. In British buildings, lofts are usually accessed via a hatch and using a ladder or semi-permanent stairway. In the UK lofts are typically used as storage but are sometimes converted to rooms.
What are the risks?
Loft and attic spaces present a variety of risks:
- Flammable Materials
When used for storage, these spaces can become cluttered with flammable materials such as clothing, cardboard and furniture. Roof structures are also commonly made from wooden frames, which can easily catch alight and cause a fire to spread rapidly. - Chimney stacks and flues
Chimneys and flues provide ventilation and transfer harmful gases and smoke from fireplaces, furnaces, boilers and kitchen appliances. Chimneys also transfer heat and can be prone to fire if they are not properly maintained or in poor condition. - Electrical Cabling
Many lofts and attic spaces have exposed electrical cabling that can become damaged over time. These cables could easily overheat and cause a fire to start.
A reliable fire detection system is essential to minimise damage to structures, property, and preserve life. However, loft and attic spaces present some unique challenges that can be difficult to overcome.
What are the challenges?
- Access
Access is one of the biggest issues with loft spaces. This not only makes it difficult to service fire detection equipment but also creates a barrier to emergency services. - Detection Time
As loft spaces are the highest point inside a building, fires can be difficult to notice and may have already taken strong hold before the heat and smoke is noticed in other parts of the building. Therefore, fast and accurate detection is paramount to evacuation and response time. - Dusty or Dirty Environments
Lofts and attics are rarely accessed or cleaned and can be dusty or dirty environments. Some detection types can struggle to differentiate between dust and smoke making them unreliable or prone to nuisance alarms.
What is the solution?
Linear heat detection (LHD) can overcome the challenges presented by loft and attic spaces to provide fast and reliable detection. Linear heat detection cable can be installed along beams, pipework or electrical cabling, ensuring that any fire is detected at the source. LHD is low-maintenance and does not require regular access, is not affected by dust or dirt and doesn’t require stable airflow to work efficiently.
FyreLine Linear Heat Detection
FyreLine is Eurofyre’s very own linear heat detection system. A FyreLine linear heat detection system can detect heat at any point along its heat sensing cable, and can provide an accurate location of fire.
FyreLine is cost-effective, easy to install and maintain and is available in two versions – analogue and digital:
FyrLine Digital Linear Heat Detection
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FyreLine Digital is a fixed temperature linear heat detection system. Once FyreLine Digital heat sensing cable reaches its rated temperature, a signal is sent to the fire alarm control panel.
FyreLine digital is available with four different temperature ratings; 68°C, 88°C, 105°C or 185°C.
FyreLine Analogue Linear Heat Detection
FyreLine Analogue heat sensing cable continually monitors for increases in temperature and can be configured to provide a pre-alarm as well as a full alarm condition, allowing potential fires to be investigated before action is taken. Once the cable reaches its predetermined temperature a signal is sent to the fire alarm control panel to raise the appropriate alert.
For more information about the FyreLine Linear Heat Detection system, or to discuss any of the other products that Eurofyre have to offer, please feel free to get in touch either by phone on +44 (0) 1329 835 024, by email to [email protected] or via the online enquiry form situated on our contact page.
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