- Author
-
Smith, R. L.
- Title
- Performance Parameters of Fire Detection Systems.
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
- Journal
-
Fire Technology,
Vol. 30,
No. 3,
326-337,
Third Quarter 1994
- Report
-
NISTIR 5439
June 1994
14 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Keywords
-
fire detection systems
|
fire research
|
probability
- Abstract
- This report is a formal, functional analysis of fire detection systems' requirements. The performance parameters of fire detection systems are given as conditional probabilities. These parameters are identified by the objective analysis of the functions of a fire detection system. It is demonstrated that using the false alarm rate to specify the malfunctioning of a threshold detection system is inadequate. The principal function of fire detection systems is identified as the notification of anti-fire agents of the probability of an unwanted fire. The evaluation of the information provided by a detector system is central to its worth.