A nose for smoke

A European research consortium has developed an electronic nose that is so sensitive it can distinguish between cigarette smoke and smoke from an office or factory fire. According to IST Results, the device will help to end the vast number of false alarms recorded by fire brigades each year.

The researchers developed a demonstrator of the new device and now hope to complete a viable commercial product by October 2006.

The Intelligent Modular, multi-Sensor (IMOS) and networked fire detection system was developed by a nine-member partnership from across Europe to tackle the critical problem of false alarms.

“Currently 90 per cent percent of regular fire alarms are false,” says Florence Daniault, co-ordinator of the IST-funded IMOS project. “Fire brigades must investigate every alarm logged and it causes enormous inefficiencies.”

The false alarm rate can rise to 99 per cent. “In cargo planes, for example, you may have humidity in the hold which condenses once the airline takes off. That condense registers as a particulate and sets off the alarm,” says Daniault.