Three Australians have been awarded the DiNenno Prize for their work in fire safety.
David Packham, John Petersen and Dr Martin Cole were recognised for their work on the Very Early Smoke Detection Apparatus (VESDA) which allows for smoke detection over a very large, dynamic range, allowing it to be used for both high and standard sensitivity alarm points typically seen in spot smoke detectors.
The DiNenno Prize is awarded by the US-based National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). It includes a diploma, a medal as well as US$50,000.
In the late 1970s, Packham conducted fire tests at the CSIRO and learned that most fires start slowly, with a long period of overheating and smouldering before erupting into flame. However, they also discovered that no existing fire technology could detect this incipient fire stage. The only instrument capable of detecting these fires early enough to prevent major damage or loss of life, was an air pollution monitor.
They started work on an instrument connected to existing HVAC ducting, which brought smoky air to the monitor. Unlike the off-on alarm output from a conventional smoke detector, CSIRO concluded that their instrument could produce staged levels of alert or alarm, to suit any given fire zone, according to the increasing risk as the incipient fire grew.
Eventually security electronics firm IEI, founded by Cole, took on the challenge of developing and commercialising the idea and introduced their first version of VESDA to overseas markets in 1983.
Cole, a former Engineers Australia National President, said the early products used xenon lamps to identify the smoke particles before switching to lasers in the 1990s to create a more compact product but they realised some detection capability was lost along the way.
"In hindsight, laser light had been previously developed for dust detection, and could not properly resolve the smaller smoke particles produced in flaming fires," he said.
"Xenon lamps had produced both infra-red and blue light, and the blue light had been responsible for detecting the full spread of smoke particle sizes. After conducting a thorough analysis of the optical physics involved, a new approach was invented using powerful LED’s, both infra-red and blue. This invention detects the broad range of smoke particle sizes, while actively rejecting the source of false alarms – dust and steam."
The judges said VESDA has proven to be an adaptable technology that is ideal for effective detection in unique applications. Its installation in telecommunication facilities, telephone exchanges, data centers, high technology manufacturing, industrial control rooms and other related facilities has had a significant impact on asset protection and business continuity. It has also been successfully tested and used in road tunnels and zoo enclosures.
[From 2nd left: Martin Cole, John Petersen and David Packham with their awards.]