Patol Launches World’s First Optically Enhanced Long-Range Flame Detector from Optect
Patol, a leading manufacturer and supplier of specialist fire detection solutions, has, along with Optect, announced the launch of the new Patol Optect LR16 - the world’s first optically enhanced long-range flame detector which will deliver rapid and reliable fire detection across large, challenging environments.
The long-range flame detector has been developed by Patol in partnership with Optect, to address a growing challenge in fire protection: detecting fire early in environments where distance, airflow and limited visibility can affect the performance of traditional systems.
The LR16 is capable of detecting a single flame at 100 metres or a 6ft x 6ft fire at distances of up to one mile, with response times as fast as five seconds.
Rather than relying on smoke or visual imaging, the system detects the specific infrared wavelengths emitted by combustion. This enables it to maintain performance even in smoke-obscured, wind-affected or visually complex environments, where other detection approaches may struggle.
The technology is particularly suited to large, open or hard-to-reach areas such as car parks, transport infrastructure, industrial sites and perimeter protection zones, where placing detection close to the risk is not always practical.
By extending detection range, the Patol Optect LR16 allows engineers to achieve broader coverage with fewer devices, while still maintaining early warning capability.
In addition to long-range detection, the system is designed to identify small flames and developing fire conditions, including those caused by airborne embers or partially obscured ignition sources. This supports earlier intervention in scenarios where fire can spread quickly once established.
The new system is being officially launched at The Fire Safety Event at the NEC Birmingham (28–30 April), where it will be demonstrated to engineers, consultants and fire safety professionals working on increasingly complex and large-scale projects.
The LR16 has also been shortlisted in the Fire Safety Innovation of the Year category of this year's Fire & Security Matters Awards.
Commenting on the launch, Iain Cumner, Managing Director at Patol, said:
“In many of the environments we work in, the challenge isn’t whether fire detection is in place, it’s whether it can respond early enough when the risk isn’t close to the detector.
The Patol Optect LR16 changes that dynamic. It gives engineers the ability to detect flame at distances that simply weren’t achievable before, without relying on smoke behaviour or clear visibility.
As sites become larger and more complex, there’s a growing need for detection that can extend beyond traditional coverage areas, and that’s exactly what this technology has been developed to do.”
Further information can be found at www.patol.co.uk.
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