All sites need testing - the requirements are laid down by national and international codes and standards but Scorpion’s applicability varies from site to site. Simplistically, there are two good reasons for using Scorpion to test point smoke detectors.
1. Access restrictions
This is a wide heading that covers:
Physically difficult to access (e.g. at great heights, behind cable trays, at top of elevator / lift shafts)
Inappropriate to access (e.g. meeting rooms in use, classified or secure areas)
Physically 'hidden' (e.g. in voids or ducts)
Disruptive to access (e.g. in public areas such as receptions or the public areas of airports, railway or underground stations)
Detectors that cannot be accessed (or perhaps even seen) are often those most relied upon to function. In many cases they have, until now, either been shamefully (and illegally) overlooked and untested or the costs of their maintenance has greatly affected lifetime cost and even system design.
2. Possibilities for semi-automated testing
On ‘standard’ sites:
Where there is more than one Scorpion connected on a circuit, Scorpions can either be individually selected and tested or an ‘autotest’ automated test sequence can be initiated. With compatible fire panels, ‘autotest’ will sequentially and automatically test up to 32 Scorpions on each circuit with real smoke stimulus delivered directly and individually to the detector or sampling point while the test engineer can be engaged in other activities.
Scorpion changes everything
