For those with a knowledge of fire alarms from 40 yrs ago...

[AnthonyB]

Does anyone recall the fire alarm systems from AFA in the 60's?

If so, do they know what type of AFD their "Lifesaver" detection was?

As the system has bi-metallic strip detection labelled as "Automatic" seperately on the panel I'm guessing the Lifesaver is an early smoke detection system but I could be wrong

[Giovanni]

Anthony,
Before my time I'm afraid but I would have thought that a bi-metallic strip would be more likely to be a heat detector. When heated the two different metals expand at a different rate causing the strip to bend making a contact in the circuit.
I also could be wrong!
Gio :rolleyes:

[AnthonyB]

No, I know bi-metallic strips are heat detectors!

THe panel has two rows of indicators - one labelled "automatic" which because of the location I have looked and identified as bi-metallic strip heat detectors, the other is labelled as "Lifesaver" detection, but as I didn't get chance to go head spotting in the areas where it is fitted could see if it was a form of early Smoke AFD or even beam AFD (it covered warehouse areas)

[Guest]

"lifesaver" detectors also known as "goldtops"  are heat detectors

[AnthonyB]

Ah - I know the ones you mean - connection made, thanks for the help!

[colin todd]

the lifesaver is not the gold top. The gold top was the chubb equivalent. Lifesaver was an early afa heat dectector with a bimetallic in it. If you remember the afa D801 it looked exactly the same but it was the more modern solid state version using thermistors.
.

[AnthonyB]

Aha - but at the end of the day it's a form of heat AFD.

Case solved - thanks again