Smoke detectors from Hochiki Europe ensure UL 268 7th Edition compliance

The UL 268 7th Edition standard dictates fire detector performance for detector manufacturers and was due to come into effect in 2021, forcing designers and manufacturers of smoke and multi-criteria detectors to adhere to the stricter guidelines. This new standard only affects the manufacture of detectors. Older edition detectors are still available to specify, purchase and install by fire system installers while stocks exist.

Following various delays, the 7th edition of UL 268 is due to come into force in July. One of the most significant changes is the newly developed multi-spectrum smoke categorisation now required to detect smouldering and flaming fires fuelled specifically by polyurethane furniture foam, while at the same time, reducing nuisance alarms. As such, all manufacturers have had to develop a range of new products.  

Conventional fire detection systems are particularly suited to projects such as small retail units, simple structures like workshops and storage units as well as health clinics and small educational facilities.

Hochiki Europe’s conventional products are already renowned for their reliability in reducing false alarms. The new 7th Edition-compliant conventional detectors continue to evidence these benefits, with the range including the company’s first conventional multi-sensor detector. This multi-sensor optical smoke and heat detector (designated SOE-24H), and the conventional optical smoke detector (the SOE-24V model), are already being specified in a host of projects right across the Middle East.

Key features

Key features of Hochiki Europe’s 7th Edition conventional smoke and multi-sensor detectors are many and varied.

Redesigned smoke chamber

The cutting-edge detectors feature a newly designed smoke chamber for optimising airflow and smoke intake. The incorporation of multi-spectrum smoke categorisation technology ensures an enhanced response to both flaming and smouldering fires fuelled by traditional materials and polyurethane, ensuring that the technology meets the stringent requirements of UL 268 7th Edition standards.

Dual LED technology

Introduced is a “revolutionary” dual LED technology, incorporating red and blue internal emitters mounted at different angles. Hochiki’s approach enables the detectors to distinguish between smoke particle types more effectively, in turn ensuring precision in fire detection.

Advanced algorithms

Equipped with state-of-the-art algorithms, the new detectors can intelligently react to genuine fires on a faster timescale, while significantly reducing false alarms caused by common sources such as steam and cooking. This ensures a reliable and efficient detection process in diverse environments.

Automatic drift compensation and maintenance indication

Software within each detector continually monitors the optical elements and compensates for the gradual build-up of contaminants, shifting the baseline and fire threshold to maintain the correct sensitivity and provide an accurate response. The detectors also make use of a green/red bi-coloured LED for indication of status. In normal standby conditions, the LED flashes green on polling. When the detector automatically senses that its sensitivity has drifted outside of the UL-listed ‘sensitivity window’, the LED will flash red. When in alarm, the LED will latch on red.