What thermal camera is right for this application?

How does alarming integrate into other systems?

Will the system still work in highly contaminated [dusty] areas?

Although warehouses and storage areas are typically equipped with fire alarms and fire-fighting systems, these systems only initiate when a fire already exists. Thermal imaging helps to detect hot spots before a fire occurs so that the necessary measures can be taken.

Many types of material are exothermic without exposure to an external stimulus. The internal temperature of the material can increase to the point where it begins to burn spontaneously. The resulting fire and intense heat can ignite nearby material. If not caught in time, an entire warehouse or storage area and the product contained in it can be destroyed.

In this post, we address some of the commonly asked questions about thermal monitoring to prevent fires in your process.

Common applications: Bulk storage, Landfill monitoring, Coal belt monitoring, Industrial laundry, OSB production, Planer rooms, Wood processing, Paper production

➡️ How does the alarming feature integrate into other systems?

ViperVision software supports communication standards for connection to the plant control system including OPC, Modbus, Allen-Bradley, or Siemens systems, as well as physical I/Os such as relays and analog outputs. It can send a discrete signal into your system through external I/O devices or the camera’s built-in I/O.

➡️ Will the system still work in highly contaminated areas?

The thermal cameras we use are designed for industrial settings and have an IP66 rating. We often install these cameras in our ViperVenom camera enclosures which provide additional environmental protection. Options such as a front air knife or air intensifier are added for extremely dusty environments in order to keep the front window clean and free of contamination.

➡️ What thermal camera is right for this application?

To verify a thermal camera will achieve accurate measurement in a setting, several factors must be considered, such as spot size ratio, distance to the target area, camera field of view (FOV), camera resolution, and camera sensitivity. Viper engineers have extensive experience and training to make the best recommendations. One that we commonly integrate into Viper Early Fire Detection systems is the FLIR A50/A70.

➡️ How is ViperVision software licensed? 

We offer a perpetual license or annual renewal, as well as the option to incorporate the entire system into a HaaS (Hardware as a Service) contract. Benefits of annual renewal and HaaS include software updates since the last renewal date. Review software packages here.

➡️ What does the Viper Early Fire Detection system cost?

The system is built for your specific needs (i.e. number of cameras required to monitor the area or process, additional camera protection, etc.). A starting point for a typical system is $7k-$10k. This is a good time to mention the HaaS option. The 3-year renewable contract includes annual on-site maintenance, critical spares in consignment, and ViperVision software upgrades.

➡️ Can I get more details?

Yes, we have a recorded webinar! Here’s a link to watch the recording on YouTube. You can also download a datasheet. We have one for general Early Fire Detection and another specific to Early Fire Detection in the wood products industry. You can also contact us!