Radiant Energy - Sensing Fire Detection Systems

The Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC), Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB), Florida, is seeking information from manufacturers or qualified vendors of radiant energy-sensing (“optical”) fire detection systems for use in its aircraft hangar facilities that have been proven to demonstrate superior resistance to false detection from stray or remote radiant energy sources other than from a fire within the hangar. Radiant energy-sensing fire detectors are subject to respond to the multiple radiant energy sources on current civilian and military aircraft. Such sources are routinely operated while aircraft and aircraft systems are serviced and during pre-flight system checks. There are documented cases where such radiant energy sources have caused inappropriate responses in radiant energy-sensing detectors and controls from as much as one quarter of a mile distance from a hangar, resulting in unwanted discharge of a supplementary foam suppression system. As a result, new guidelines are being proposed for NFPA 409, Standard on Aircraft Hangars, to include qualification testing for radiant energy-sensing fire detectors and related control equipment.

Division 21 -	Fire Suppression.
Division 28 -	Electronic Safety and Security, Fire Detection and Alarm.