Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPMGasochromic sensors: Optical gas sensors for application in fire detectors
Every year, more than 400 people in Germany lose their lives in fire. Although the installation of fire detectors has become mandatory almost nationwide, the damage caused by fire run into billions. Today, smoke detectors prevail in fire detection systems. The detect fume particulates by scattered light measurement. Smoke, however, is produced rather late in the course of a fire or might not be produced at all in a smoldering fire.
Fire detectors of a new generation aim at sounding the alarm at an early stage, this avoiding damage to persons and property. Within the context of the joint project »Gas-o-Chrom«, faster and more reliable measurement technology for fire detection will be developed. This includes simulation of fire gas propagation and the conception of novel gasochromic sensors for a selective detection of the fire gases carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ammonia (NH3).
Project finance
»Gas-o-Chrom« is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research BMBF.
Project partners
- Siemens AG, München
- MAZeT GmbH, Jena
- Thieme GmbH & Co. KG, Teningen
- Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics, Ernst-Mach-Institut EMI, Freiburg
- HTCO GmbH, Freiburg
Associated partners
- Hekatron Vertriebs GmbH, Sulzburg
- VdS Schadenverhütung GmbH, Köln
- Fire Brigade, Freiburg
- Perthes-Heim, Bonn