For many fire engineers, the functional testing of fire detectors is an essential task that has long been carried out using smoke aerosols from the Solo range. Now, with increasing focus on productivity and a greater range of detectors to test, there has been a shift towards an alternative test solution. That solution is Testifire.
So, what is Testifire? Simply put, Testifire is an all-in-one tool that combines the ability to test smoke and heat from one device – there is even a version suitable for testing carbon monoxide (CO) as well. As an all-in-one tester, Testifire has the ability to test multiple sensors in sequence – for example, smoke followed by heat. If required, it can also test simultaneously.
The all-in-one functionality is the stand-out feature of Testifire. With more multi-sensor and heat detectors now installed, the need to carry tools suitable for testing these devices has quickly become essential. Of course, this can be achieved using separate tools from the Solo range, but this means carrying multiple tools which means disruption around site as well as time wasted switching between tools. Testifire eliminates this problem, ensuring a solution is available for every detector, regardless of whether it detects smoke, heat, CO or even a combination of the three.
Productivity is boosted further through Testifire’s built-in clearing mode. When selected, the clearing mode directs air into the detector chamber immediately after a smoke test. This ensures any lingering smoke is blown away from the detector and the risk of detector re-alarm is reduced. For a typical engineer, use of the clearing mode in Testifire reduces nuisance re-alarms by 80% and in doing so contributes significantly to increased productivity with less time spent under each device.
These two factors help Testifire deliver up to 40% faster testing when compared to traditional aerosol smoke testing, this impressive statistic has led to a high number of fire-maintenance companies around the world making the switch to Testifire.
In addition to the above, another key difference of Testifire compared to the Solo range of testers is that Testifire has no reliance on pressurised aerosols. This not only allows for easier storage and transportation, it also ensures Testifire can deliver a smoke stimulus which is compatible with the widest range of detectors – something that smoke aerosols have been known to struggle with when used with some of the latest detector designs.
The smoke capsules also offer a greater test capacity, allowing significantly more tests to be gained from a capsule than from a traditional smoke aerosol can. This, plus the controlled release of smoke from Testifire, delivers a saving of approximately 13% compared to traditional smoke aerosols – this increases even further when switching from the Solo A10s, non-flammable aerosol.
As with the Solo range, there is plenty of choice when it comes to finding your ideal Testifire kit. The range is split into two core products, the Testifire 1000, which offers testing of smoke and heat, and the Testifire 2000 which adds the ability to test CO. Both the 1000 and 2000 can be bought as individual items, or alternatively they can be purchased in kit format which allows testing of detectors at heights up to 5, 6 and 9m – depending on your needs.
To support those looking to make the switch to Testifire, an online calculator is now live – generating a tailored calculation to the savings Testifire can deliver based on engineer numbers, current test solution and the number of detectors typically tested each day.
Testifire, along with further insight into all these benefits, will be available for demonstration at Intersec, Dubai – visit Detectortesters on Stand H37 – 4.
For more information, go to www.testifireswitch.com sales@detectortesters.com
