Opgal Optronic Industries, a leading global provider of innovative thermal imaging and near infrared illumination solutions for security and safety applications, has added long-range fire detection and fire risk assessment capabilities to certain models of its EyeSec line of high-performance, uncooled thermal cameras. With this integrated option, Opgal is the only camera manufacturer that delivers an application-specific embedded fire detection video algorithm that can sense a fire and provide an automatic safety and security notification of the event.
Available with a wide variety of lens options and an easy to integrate interface, the EyeSec fire detection and fire risk assessment solutions offer unique value to customers. Facilities with flammable materials, transportation tunnels, combustible storage areas, and perimeter sites located near flammable forests and greenery are all sensitive to fire danger. These sites can now deploy an economical automated fire detection and alert tool that provides an additional layer of site safety integrated into a security and surveillance system.
"We are very impressed with EyeSec's fire detection capabilities", said an official from Bazan Oil Refineries, Israel. "The camera delivers a clear and noticeable signal when fire is identified. We are planning to install a number of these cameras in one of our new sites, which will be monitoring the entire area for possible fires."
Fire detection
With its flame detection capability enabled, the camera can detect a 75 cm x 75 cm fire as far away as 840 meters within 5 seconds, with detection ranges increasing for larger-sized fires up to 6 m x 6 m and distances up to 6.5 km, day or night.
"We see many applications for a fire-detecting security camera", says Brandon Cowley of C3 Shared Services, South Africa. "It can be of use with our mining industry as well as to secure residential parks, where there are also safety concerns as the monitored areas are vast and include varied and flammable vegetation."
Fire risk assessment
Setting up a temperature threshold, the camera scans the area of interest and alerts when any object in its field of view reaches this critical temperature; for example, when factory machinery reaches dangerous temperatures.
"Opgal EyeSec's fire risk assessment capability addresses a whole new market that so far had no suitable solution", says Luca Carraro, Chief Financial Officer, CELTE SRL, Italy. "We see a real market need for a security camera capable of identifying and alerting when objects are about to malfunction due to overheating or at risk of catching fire. The combination of security and safety enables customers to address both concerns using one unified solution and one management system. "
The unique fire-detection capability of the EyeSec cameras takes advantage of Opgal’s specialised signal and image-processing features, which observe a video scene for specific flame and temperature patterns.
In both fire detection and fire risk assessment, much attention was given to operator alerts. Upon determining that a fire or risk exists, the camera adds a visual alarm overlay to the outgoing video signal, and generates an alert using a standard dry contact relay and/or through serial or IP communication. Users can define up to five areas of non-interest, where fires or risk are ignored.
“EyeSec cameras are known for their high-quality thermal video, produced through our proprietary signal and image processing,” said Yair M. Sakov, Vice President Security Business Unit, Opgal. “With fire detection and fire risk assessment as a value added, integrated analytics option, this versatile camera family not only supports security applications but also adds a valuable safety aspect to our customer's deployments.”
