Detector Testers: Universal Solution Testifire XTR2

Oliver Doerle, Head of Customer Experience at Detectortesters

© Detectortesters

GIT SECURITY Mr. Doerle, you have brought a whole system to test all types of smoke and heat detectors to ­market. What is this exactly?

Oliver Doerle: Our new Testifire XTR2 test apparatus raises the functional testing of detectors to a whole new level. In recent years, there has been a concentration in the fire protection industry on compliance. These days, the steps we take have to be recorded better than ever so that those responsible for fire protection can prove that the standards have been complied with. Testifire XTR2 was developed to address this need and bring two core elements of fire system maintenance together – the functional testing of detectors and the documentation of the test results.

How does the device work?

Oliver Doerle: There are 21 individual sensors in the test cup of Testifire XTR2 that together recognize when the detector’s LED is illuminated. When illuminated, a pass status is recorded, if the detector fails to activate and no led is illuminated a fail status is recorded. Each result is recorded digitially with a date and time stamp.

There are three parts to the solution, firstly the hardware – the actual test apparatus – that enables functional tests with both smoke and heat and offers a range of new features compared to the previous Testifire range.

The DT Connect App is connected to the test device via Bluetooth to transmit the results of the tests. And last but not least, there is the DT Cloud Portal where all the test reports are stored and can be downloaded.

So the solution enables the automation and digitalization and increases the efficiency of these tests?

Oliver Doerle: It is very important for our customers to be able to test detectors quickly, and we have enabled exactly that with this hardware. We have optimized the generation of the smoke and heat stimuli. Of course, it is much more convenient to have an all-in-one test device for both rather than having to carry two separate test devices around with you. But the biggest change is that we have combined the testing and result collection for the first time in a networked solution – giving technicians, fire protection specialists and building owners a huge advantage.

Although some modern fire protection systems can create digital records, the reality on site can be much more complex because the technicians are faced with a mixture of addressable and conventional systems from various manufacturers. Before Testifire XTR2, in many cases a written note by the technician that the fire system had been tested or a simple printout from the fire panel was the best that was available.

The reporting capability of Testifire XTR2 changes all that by taking the results directly from the test device, recording them in the app, and then automatically converting the test reports for storage and availability in the cloud portal. Working this way accelerates not only the testing and reporting for the technician, but also avoids human errors – with the test data gathered directly from the test device.

And the best part is that this is a universal solution for all manufacturers of fire detectors, whether old or new. Even if technicians come across an old system, there is now the possibility to create a digital test report.

It’s not only technicians and fire protection companies that have to be able to prove compliance with the regulations to their customers. Heightened responsibility means that building owners and managers are now much more aware of what compliant testing looks like.

You already mentioned the app – can you manage the whole test process with this?  

Oliver Doerle: The DT Connect App is central to the solution and works together with the Testifire XTR2 test apparatus. At the start of the maintenance visit, the location is selected with the help of the geo-mapping function. Then the technician sets up the test sequence – first selecting the test to be carried out before starting to test all the detectors at that location.

After each detector has been tested, the result is passed immediately to the DT Connect App, which creates a digital record that the detector that has been tested. There are also other functions that help the fire technician: for example, the technician can add his own notes or observations to each test or even create complete system lists for their maintenance locations.

At the end of the maintenance visit, a report is automatically written after all the detectors have been checked that contains the details of each one, and puts those that have not passed at the top of the report – this enables problems to be quickly and easily identified. Before the report is produced, the technician can ask the responsible person on site for a signature for approval in the app as recognition of the work carried out.

Status messages provide exact information about the life of cartridges and batteries so that technicians will be advised when replacement cartridges or batteries will be required. You can also access product support information and helpful videos via the app.

Is an automatic comparison with the central fire panel made?

Oliver Doerle: Yes, the current version of the app provides the ability to compare data from the addressable central fire panel with that gathered by the DT Connect App. In the app, the technician can first of all record the fire panel time. This helps when calculating the estimated alarm time when making the comparison at the end of the test. Once the fire panel time has been obtained and the rest of the set up completed, the technician can begin his rounds and start testing. The test results can be compared with the fire panel as soon as the test has been completed. The time stamp of every test is checked and compared with the event database of the fire panel. If, at the end of the test, a corresponding event in the database of the fire panel agrees with the estimated alarm time of each test, then the test can be marked as compared. If there is no corresponding event, the entry will be marked as “No alarm“, which means that the detector did not send an alarm to the fire panel and there is a defect that has to be investigated.

Which customers find this solution ­particularly interesting?

Oliver Doerle: The profile of the companies that use our products is quite broad. There are many medium-sized companies, but smaller companies also use the solution to get a unique advantage. These firms in particular are faced with an investment challenge: they cannot simply invest in large IT systems, but with the Testifire XTR2 can get a solution that is immediately ready for use.

Mr. Doerle, let us talk a little about the Detectortesters company. This is a ­rapidly expanding company that is already represented in more than 140 countries.

Oliver Doerle: You are right: we have a long history in the fire industry. Our Solo and Testifire product ranges are considered as an industry standard when it comes to the functional testing of fire detectors. Our business has grown quickly over the last 35 years because the demand for these solutions came at the same time as an increased focus on compliance and the development of fire protection standards.

Our first European sales outside the UK were back in 1989. Since then, we have continually increased our sales by forming partnerships with leading fire distributors and global fire detector manufacturers. More recently, we have expanded our in country sales teams to increase business in particular regions.

We now sell in over 140 countries and are market leader in most of them. The variety of solutions and the compatibility that they have with all brands and models of fire detectors are two of the key factors of our success. Over the years, we have learnt that although there are commonalities in fire protection, the specific requirements can be very different. This has recently led to new developments, such as the first all-in-one test solution, special products to test air sampling systems and of course recently, the introduction of our first IoT solution that combines the testing of smoke and heat with the ability to collect and report the test results of each detector.

Around 100 employees work in our headquarters north of London with a broad spectrum of skills, from product development to manufacturing. This location also houses our famous test lab with literally hundreds of fire detectors. We use these to test compatibility when developing new solutions or to provide proof when testing particular fire detectors for a customer enquiry.

In 2019, the Sunday Times included us in their Export Track 100, and after we had already received a Queen’s Award in 2003 and 2014, we celebrated our third Queen’s Award in 2021 as recognition of our successful international trade. Earlier this year, we won the ‘Fire Safety Innovation of the Year’ award at the Fire Safety Matters Awards in Great Britain for our Testifire XTR2. In September 2021, the company was acquired by Private Equity. We were also able to structure a mergers and acquisitions strategy – the newest member is The Hose Monster Company based in Chicago, USA.

And you also exhibited recently at the Security event in Essen, one of the most important events for the safety industry …

Oliver Doerle: Security Essen has been an important event in our live event calendar for over twenty years. We are able to meet our strategic partners here as well as our end-users. We were happy to show the Testifire XTR2 at Security Essen after having presented it at a number of global events. The dates of the show were shortly after the release of our latest update for the product that brings a palette of new functions to better support compliance and productivity.

Next we are looking forward to introducing Testifire XTR2 to the Middle East when we attend Intersec in Dubai.