Heat Detectors

Heat Detectors for Kitchens, Garages and Dusty Areas

Heat detectors respond to temperature rather than smoke, which makes them the right choice in places where a smoke detector would nuisance-alarm: kitchens, garages, boiler rooms, laundries, attics, loading docks and dusty or fume-laden industrial spaces. If you are looking for a heat alarm for a commercial building, these detectors connect to a fire alarm control panel instead of sounding only locally.

Two mechanisms cover most applications. Fixed-temperature detectors trigger when the air at the detector reaches a set point, commonly 135°F or 190°F, with the higher rating used where ambient temperatures are normally elevated. Rate-of-rise detectors trigger on a rapid temperature climb even before the fixed point is reached. Many detectors combine both.

Choose the rating by the room's normal maximum temperature, not by the fire you expect. Spacing is reduced compared to smoke detectors, so plan for more devices per area. For a full comparison, read our guide to the types of heat detectors.

Popular heat detectors

• System Sensor 5601P - 135°F fixed temperature, rate-of-rise
• System Sensor 5604 - 194°F fixed temperature
• Simplex 4098-9733 - heat sensor
• Notifier FST-951 - fixed thermal sensor
• Fire-Lite H365 - addressable 135°F fixed thermal sensor
• Thermotech 302-ET-135 - all-weather heat detector, 135°F

Heat detector FAQ

Which temperature rating should I choose?

Base it on the room's normal maximum temperature. Use a higher rating, such as 190°F, where ambient temperatures are normally elevated.

Can a heat detector replace a smoke detector?

Not as a general rule. Heat detectors suit areas where smoke detectors would nuisance-alarm; confirm requirements with the local authority having jurisdiction.