Video Image Fire Detection for Shipboard Use

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness of commercial video image fire detection systems for small, cluttered spaces as would be found on Navy ships. The primary goal was to establish an understanding of the performance sensitivity and limitations of the video image detection (VID) systems to various setup and environmental conditions that may occur onboard ship while exposed to a range of flaming and smoldering fire sources and potential nuisance alarm sources. The response of the VID systems was benchmarked against standard fire alarm systems using addressable ionization and photoelectric smoke detectors.