Flame Detection System

Flame Detector Systems for Industrial Sites in the UAE

A flame detector is an optical fire detector that identifies a fire from the ultraviolet (UV) or infrared (IR) radiation its flame emits. Because it sees the flame directly, it does not wait for smoke or heat to travel to it. That lets a flame detector raise an alarm within seconds across fuel tank farms, open process areas and high-roofed warehouses, where smoke and heat detectors respond late or not at all.

AZAR Fire Safety Systems supplies and installs Crowcon flame detectors in the UAE. We specify the FGard IR3 multi-spectrum infrared detector for outdoor hydrocarbon hazards and the FGard UV/IR detector for indoor and semi-enclosed areas. Our Dubai team covers the full scope: hazard and coverage assessment, detector selection, installation, commissioning with a flame simulator, and scheduled maintenance.

Detector technologies: multi-spectrum infrared (IR3) and combined UV/IR
Fires detected: hydrocarbon fuel and gas fires, including petrol, diesel, methane and propane
Typical sites: oil and gas facilities, fuel storage and loading, power plants, chemical processing, warehouses holding flammables
Services: site review, system design, supply, installation, commissioning, testing and maintenance
Location: Ras Al Khor Industrial Area 2, Dubai, serving projects across the UAE

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When Your Site Needs a Flame Detector

Smoke and heat detectors wait for combustion products to travel to them. That works in offices and corridors, but not everywhere. A flame detector is the better fit when:

The space is open or has a high roof, so smoke spreads out before it reaches a detector
The hazard is outdoors, where wind carries smoke and heat away
Fuel or gas can ignite and spread within seconds
The area is large, and one detector’s field of view can cover what would take many point detectors

Flame detection is not a replacement for smoke detection in occupied rooms. For long, narrow risks such as cable trays, conveyors or tunnels, a linear heat detection system is often the better tool. We recommend the mix after a site review.

How a Flame Detector Sensor Works

Every flame detector sensor looks for radiation in specific wavelengths. The technology decides which fires it sees, how far it sees them and what might fool it.

Multi-Spectrum Infrared (IR3)

IR3 detectors read three infrared bands and alarm only when the pattern matches a real flame. This makes them highly resistant to sunlight, hot surfaces and reflections, and suits outdoor plant, fuel areas and long sight lines. They are designed for hydrocarbon fires such as petrol, diesel, methane and propane.

Combined UV/IR

UV/IR detectors pair an ultraviolet sensor with an infrared sensor and alarm only when both agree. The cross-check cuts nuisance alarms that a single sensor would raise, such as a UV-only unit reacting to a welding arc.

Single-Sensor UV or IR

UV-only detectors respond fastest but can be triggered by sunlight, arc welding and lightning, so they suit controlled indoor areas. Single IR detectors ignore sunlight better but can react to hot machinery or steam.

Crowcon Flame Detectors We Supply

Model	Technology	Published performance	Typical use
Crowcon FGard IR3	Multi-spectrum IR, explosion-proof	Up to 60 m range; under 5 s typical response to a 0.1 m² fire at 60 m; heated optics prevent condensation	Outdoor process areas, tank farms, fuel loading, large open hazards
Crowcon FGard UV/IR	One UV sensor + one IR sensor	Up to 39 m; 100° horizontal × 80° vertical field of view	Indoor and semi-enclosed hazards, plant rooms, warehouses with flammables
Crowcon FGard SIM	Flame simulator (test tool)	Functional test from 3–8 m without removing the detector	Commissioning and routine testing

Figures are manufacturer-published. We provide the current Crowcon datasheet for your project on request.

Choosing the Right Flame Detector for UAE Conditions

The right detector depends on your site, not just the fuel. These are the questions we work through with you:

Fuel type: hydrocarbon fires suit IR3; other fuels need a technology check before selection
Sunlight and reflections: strong sun, glare off tanks and pipework favour IR3 over UV
Heat: confirm the detector’s rated operating temperature against your site’s peak
Dust and sand: lens contamination reduces range, so placement and cleaning access matter
Humidity and condensation: coastal and morning condensation favour detectors with heated optics
Hazardous area zone: the detector’s certification must match your area classification
Field of view: obstructions, distance and mounting height decide how many detectors you need
System interface: alarm and fault outputs must connect to your fire alarm panel, shutdown or suppression logic

Where We Install Flame Detection

Oil and gas facilities and fuel storage or handling areas
Power plants and energy facilities
Chemical processing areas
Factories and industrial plants
Factories and industrial plants
Factories and industrial plants

Where a flame detector needs to trigger a suppression release, detection and discharge logic should be designed together. AZAR also supplies CO2, foam deluge and clean agent suppression systems, so both sides are handled by one team.

From Site Survey to Ongoing Maintenance

Frequently Asked Questions

How is a flame detector different from a smoke or heat detector?

A smoke or heat detector reacts only once combustion products physically reach it. A flame detector reacts to the light from the flame itself, so it can alarm from a distance across an open area. Many sites need both: flame detection for the fuel or process hazard, smoke detection for occupied rooms.

How many flame detectors does my site need?

It depends on the size of the hazard, the detector’s range and field of view, and what blocks its line of sight. Tanks, pipe racks and structures create shadows a single detector cannot see past. We map coverage during the site review so each hazard is seen by the required number of detectors.

Can flame detectors work outdoors in UAE heat and sunlight?

Yes, if the technology is chosen for it. Multi-spectrum IR detectors are designed to reject sunlight and hot-surface radiation, and heated optics keep the window clear of condensation. We check each detector’s rated temperature range against your site conditions before selection.

Will dust or sand affect a flame detector sensor?

Yes. Dirt or oil film on the window reduces how far the sensor can see. Detectors with automatic window checks will report a dirty lens as a fault, but placement for safe cleaning access and a regular inspection schedule are still essential.

Can a flame detector trigger a fire suppression system?

Yes. Its alarm output can be wired into a control panel that releases suppression, shuts down equipment or closes fuel valves. The release logic, such as how many detectors must confirm a fire, is set at design stage. AZAR designs detection and suppression together for this reason.

Do you maintain flame detectors you did not install?

Please contact us with the make and model. We provide after-sales service, calibration and spare parts support for fire safety equipment, and will confirm what we can support for your existing system.

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Get the Right Flame Detector Specified for Your Site

Tell us about your facility, the fuels on site and any drawings you have. Our team will advise on detector technology, coverage and integration with your fire alarm or suppression system, then send a written proposal.

Request a Flame Detection Survey

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+971 52 157 2715