Three reasons cold storage challenges traditional fire detection
Equipment performance. Many conventional detectors have operating-temperature limits that make them unsuitable for deep-freeze environments. At -20°C, -30°C or below, equipment operating-temperature limits become a significant design consideration. Thermal transitions — moving equipment or personnel between a refrigerated zone and an ambient loading area — can introduce condensation and icing that may contribute to false alarms, faults or impaired performance.
Smoke behaviour. Cold, dense air can suppress the thermal buoyancy that normally carries smoke toward ceiling-mounted detectors. A fire at floor level in a deep-freeze environment may produce smoke that initially moves laterally rather than upward — potentially delaying smoke reaching ceiling-mounted point detectors.
Maintenance access. Cold storage environments require specialist maintenance procedures. Detection equipment requiring frequent access for cleaning, testing or replacement adds operational and cost complexity that compounds over the life of the system.
What Ciqurix provides for cold storage
Ciqurix ZeroFP is rated for operation in temperatures down to -40°C. It is designed for cold storage, deep-freeze warehouses and refrigerated logistics facilities where environmental temperature is a limiting factor for traditional detection approaches.
Rather than detecting smoke, Ciqurix video flame detection identifies the physical characteristics of a flame directly — colour, brightness, shape, flicker and movement. In cold environments where smoke behaviour can be unpredictable, this detection principle does not depend on smoke rising to the detector.
Ciqurix CORE is designed for use as primary fire detection within a BS 5839-1 compliant system. ZeroFP extends the system’s specified operating temperature down to -40°C, allowing detectors to operate within refrigerated and deep-freeze environments.
Applications
Ciqurix is used in cold storage warehouses, deep-freeze logistics facilities, refrigerated distribution centres, food production environments, cold chain operations and other facilities where low operating temperatures create challenges for traditional fire detection technology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum operating temperature of Ciqurix equipment?
Ciqurix ZeroFP is designed to operate in temperatures down to -40°C.
Does cold temperature affect how video flame detection works?
No. Video flame detection identifies the physical characteristics of a flame rather than relying on smoke particles reaching a detector. It does not rely on smoke rising to and entering a detector, making the detection principle well suited to cold environments where smoke movement can be less predictable.
Can Ciqurix be used as primary fire detection in a cold store?
Ciqurix CORE is designed for use as primary fire detection within a BS 5839-1 compliant system. Whether it is appropriate as the primary or sole detection technology depends on the specific facility, risk assessment and system design. Our team can advise on the right approach for your project.
Is Ciqurix approved for cold storage fire detection?
Ciqurix XFP is LPCB approved to LPS 1976 for Video Flame Detection. For cold storage applications, ZeroFP uses the same XFP detection technology in a temperature-controlled enclosure, extending its specified operating temperature down to -40°C. ZeroFP is designed for use within BS 5839-1 compliant fire detection systems.
