Pre-smoke detector and system for use in early detection of developing fires

Abstract

A pre-smoke detector and system for use in early detection of developing fires whereby vapors of marker chemicals generated during the melting and/or smoldering of common household materials are detected before detection by conventional smoke detectors. Vapors resulting from heating and resultant vaporization of substances are detected as well as vapors resulting from their breakdown, decomposition, or pyrolysis during the pre-combustion stage. Conventional smoke detectors focus on particle detection and are most effective after a developing fire has produced smoke. To minimize false alarms caused by common household odors, the pre-smoke detectors focus on detecting medium temperature pyrolysis products using sensor coatings that can be consistent with a 10-year operational lifetime and multiple orthogonal detection processes. Since virtually all marker chemicals of interest for pre-smoke detection are heavier than air, a system is described that appropriately integrates with smoke detector alarm systems present in most homes.