What do heat detectors respond to?

Heat detectors are specifically designed to respond to abnormal high temperatures. These devices measure the temperature of the environment and trigger an alarm when the temperature rises above a predetermined threshold, indicating a potential fire condition.

Unlike smoke detectors that react to the presence of smoke particles in the air, heat detectors work on the principle that certain temperature levels correlate with the onset of combustion. This feature makes heat detectors particularly effective in environments where smoke detection could lead to false alarms, such as kitchens or areas with high dust or steam levels.

In contrast, responses to low humidity levels, radiant heat from flames, and smoke particles are not the operational basis for heat detectors. Low humidity is not a criterion relevant to fire detection, radiant heat might be indicative of a fire but doesn't trigger heat detectors directly, and smoke is specifically detected by smoke detectors rather than heat detectors. Thus, focusing on abnormal high temperatures accurately represents the primary function of heat detectors.