Whether caused by a technical defect, negligence on the part of an employee or arson, the causes of fires are varied - and expensive. The Bundesverband Brandschutz-Fachbetriebe e.V. (Federal Association of Fire Protection Companies) estimates that in Germany alone, several billion euros of economic assets are destroyed by fire every year.

In order to ensure comprehensive fire protection, a number of factors need to be taken into account: from structural protection measures and the avoidance of ignition sources to staff training - and of course the use of fire alarm systems. However, many companies rely on traditional smoke detection systems. These are not useless, but modern fire alarm systems are more suitable for effectively protecting human life and preventing production losses. Conventional smoke detectors quickly reach their limits in draughty interiors with high ceilings - and this applies to many production halls. They only report the outbreak of a fire when the smoke has already risen to the ceiling and the fire is already very large. Conventional point or light beam smoke detectors also often trigger false alarms in difficult environments with chemicals, dust or vapors. There are new, better fire protection solutions, especially for industrial environments, which complement existing systems and make them safer.

One of these technologies is video-based smoke detection, as developed by Moog Pieper from Schwerte in North Rhine-Westphalia. Cameras are used to detect fires while they are still smoldering. A standard network camera is connected directly to the fire alarm control panel. Analysis software is installed on the camera, which continuously scans the surroundings for sources of fire. The learning algorithm checks rooms for smoke and changes, but also knows to ignore people, clouds of dust and other irregularities in the image.

Thermal cameras for hardship cases

Every second counts: Where smoke detectors would go off too late, video-based smoke detection is used. It detects the source of a fire earlier. (Image: Moog Pieper)

Fires are not undesirable per se in every production environment: in the glass and cement industry or in waste incineration plants, for example, a fire is unavoidable. Nevertheless, even in these environments, fires are serious dangers. In such extreme environments, thermal cameras that send alarms at low temperature differences are a good choice. The cameras are very robust and are also heat-resistant when installed in water-cooled housings. In principle, thermal cameras are also suitable for other production facilities. However, they are comparatively expensive as they rely on software that has to be adapted to the respective location and conditions. And there is another point to consider: Thermal cameras are only suitable for areas with a clear field of vision. Thermal cameras reach their limits when there are obstacles such as machine parts or pillars.

Fire protection in Industry 4.0

Every company has protection goals, but not always the budget to equip itself with a comprehensive solution. Nevertheless, there is a wide range of affordable options between the "luxury version" and traditional fire alarm technology. The current development towards a networked factory will also provide exciting impetus for fire protection. Through the dual use of cameras, fire protection can be integrated into the normal process control system. Camera safety systems equipped with several applications not only warn in the event of a fire, but also, for example, if there is a motionless person in the production plant as a result of an accident.

One aspect that should not be ignored, especially with regard to Industry 4.0, is access security. Process monitoring systems should never be set up in the same network as company data. The usual security precautions such as firewalls and access control are also important here. Special attention should also be paid to the choice of camera: Standard applications are sometimes installed on Asian cameras, which independently establish contact with servers in their home country and are therefore a potential gateway for industrial espionage. ee