Evaluation of smoke detector response estimation methods: Optical density, temperature rise, and velocity at alarm

This work examines the optical density, temperature rise, and velocity conditions adjacent to smoke detectors at the time of alarm to provide guidance on estimating smoke detector response. Variables that affect the values of these measurements at the time of alarm are also discussed. Significant variations in the optical density, temperature rise, and velocity magnitude at the time of alarm are observed. Plots of the cumulative percentages of detector alarms are presented for optical density, temperature rise, and velocity at alarm values. These plots facilitate the consideration of uncertainty in smoke detector response estimates by allowing a range of alarm thresholds to be determined.