Strange Rate of Rise Fire Detector!

[Midland Retty]

Hi folks

Could anyone help me out with the following query?

Have any of you come across a RoR heat detector installed in a UK fire alarm system similar to the one pictured on the following website link http://www.hochikiamerica.com/product.php?view_prod=60&prod_section=4&prod_cat=3 (sorry couldnt download the image directly here)

If so can you advise if they were ever code compliant? In 12 years fire safety career I've never seen one like this before. Fire alarm engineer tells me they are an old design but were compliant back in the day!

I know similar detectors to this are sold in American markets, but I assume these particular type of RoR detectors are / were not suitable and did not accord to British or European standards. Thanks as always for your help!

[John Dragon]

Hochiki did a very similar one in this country, there are still a few out there.
Most can be set off by rubbing the detector until friction warms it up!
Funilly enough, I have seen two today!

[lancsfirepro]

Can see the headlines now "Man sectioned for fondling fire alarm system." 

[John Dragon]

I knew it was a bad idea even as I was typing it!

[nearlythere]

I knew it was a bad idea even as I was typing it!

Don't knock it until you've tried it.

[jokar]

Was that 2 detectors or 2 people?

[Midland Retty]

Hochiki did a very similar one in this country, there are still a few out there.
Most can be set off by rubbing the detector until friction warms it up!
Funilly enough, I have seen two today!

lol Cheers John

Do you happen to know if they were code compliant back in the day - have spoke to three "major" well known fire alarm companies who erm'd and ahhh'd about them and said most likely that they were imported and probably wouldn't comply with the BS?

Further info Ive sinced gleaned seemns to point to Nittal who sold something similar in the UK a few years back

Any thoughts / comments.....and do I really have to go round rubbing them ?

[John Dragon]

Quite a few similar Nittan ones still about, I have no idea if either were compliant or not.
If they work, does it matter if they complied or not?

Watch out if you are rubbing them, it can create blisters!

[Big A]

Quite a few similar Nittan ones still about, I have no idea if either were compliant or not.
If they work, does it matter if they complied or not?

Watch out if you are rubbing them, it can create blisters!

and quite possible a spell in a mental health facility.

[Midland Retty]

If they work, does it matter if they complied or not?

Thanks for that John - Spoke to Nittan who confirm that they aren't code compliant and never were, but as you say if they work there is no merit in asking RP to change, as it would be unecessary expense, and in this particular property failure of that detector would not put anyone at significant risk.

[colin todd]

It looks very much to me like a slimline version of the old Hochiki device that worked on pneumatic principle for R0R and bimetallic for fixed temp. As I recall, it was compliant to the BS.

[Midland Retty]

It looks very much to me like a slimline version of the old Hochiki device that worked on pneumatic principle for R0R and bimetallic for fixed temp. As I recall, it was compliant to the BS.

Much obliged Colin, and to everyone else who responded.