RiskXtraDecember2018

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RISKXtra
CCTV Cameras and Fire Detection:
Moving Towards Integrated Solutions
Video fire/smoke
detection is a safety
solution based on the
computer analysis of
images provided by
standard CCTV
cameras linked to a
self-contained
processing system
capable of recognising
smoke and flame
patterns within the
video image. Here,
Risk Xtra interviews
the Fire Industry
Association’s CEO Ian
Moore on the subject,
duly focusing on its
invention, subsequent
development through
time and the future of
detection using
surveillance cameras
Ian Moore: CEO of the Fire
Industry Association
Risk Xtra: Looking back to when you first
brought video smoke detection solutions to
market all those years ago, what was the fire
safety situation at that time? What was the
initial ‘driver’ that really underpinned the
desire to converge security equipment with
fire safety products?
Ian Moore: The mid-to-late 1990s was an era
that witnessed the explosion of digital signal
processing, and specifically towards image
processing. There were numerous algorithms
around to detect motion within the scene of
view of a given CCTV camera which rapidly
became a de facto offering as an intrusion ‘bolton’
through DVRs and/or smart cameras, etc.
By today’s standards the method employed
was quite crude, using as it did a percentage
contrast change pixel by pixel. There were even
a few basic detection algorithms looking at the
motion patterns of smoke, but none that were
much more than conceptual or laboratory-run
research projects.
The only fire safety situation back then that
allowed new technology to be used was the
acceptance of engineered solutions for areas
that couldn’t be suitably covered by
prescriptive traditional means such as smoke
detectors and beam detectors, etc. For their
part, designers would rarely ‘stick their neck
out’ on new and uncertified products.
In the world of integrated fire and security
systems, this was the first product that sat
firmly in the middle, using the equipment
backbone of a CCTV security system for the
purposes of fire detection.
Risk Xtra: Winding the clock forward to the
present, what are the newest developments
in the realm of video fire detection?
Ian Moore: Technological advances in computer
processing power and memory have given us
more opportunities to increase the performance
and uses of pretty much the same technology.
Faster processing allows us to make many more
calculations with the same data, while higher
frame rate analysis and enhanced resolutions
of camera images give us more accurate data.
IP networks and smart cameras (ie on-board
processing) allowing decisions to be made at
the camera – which is certainly different from
the initial days of using video ‘grabber’ boards
in a PC and a DOS operating platform – boosts
system design options.
There’s often more than smoke emitted from
a fire (or a potential fire). Systems that
implement a range of detection for pinpointing
smoke, flames, visible heat (through infrared),
audible and gases (through spectral analysis),
etc will yield a wider range of detection as well
as the potential to detect fires earlier and thus
reduce false alarms.
A self-learning algorithm could assist in
building up a history of what to expect at
certain times of the day (in terms of lighting
angles/intensity, how busy is the scene and
different processes, etc). That said, how this fits
into the standards landscape right now is
difficult to see.
There are a number of quality companies
around the world working on this technology.
Some of them have been investing heavily in its
development for nearly 15 years. I hope that
they continue to have the vision – if you’ll
pardon the pun – of what video detection can
be in the future once the performance
standards have been agreed and video can then
be an accepted mainstream form of detection.
Risk Xtra: What are the main challenges to
be faced when integrating video-based fire
detection into a security, building
management or alarm system?
Ian Moore: Much of it is about mindset (ie ‘fire
is fire’ and ‘security is security’). Rightly, there
are fears around the corruption of signals, and
especially so over IP networks. Although these
can be secured, the reticence remains.
Another big reason is product/system
approvals which, in many cases, don’t allow
usage in combined systems. Even though the
technology has been around for over 20 years
now, it’s still considered to be in its infancy.
Risk Xtra: What are the benefits of videobased
fire detection in comparison with
regular fire detectors?
Ian Moore: Without wanting to give a sales
pitch, there are plain facts to state. For one
thing, there’s faster detection as the camera is
usually looking at the source of the fire and not
waiting for emissions to reach a detector. Also,
you can use an existing CCTV system. As such,
costs can be reduced (plus there’ll be limited or
zero interruption to the site during installation).
Visual verification of alarms is another core
benefit. With an ever-increasing requirement for
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