What is the main function of a fire detection system?

The primary function of a fire detection system is to activate a warning device in the event of a fire within the powerplant. This is critical for ensuring the safety of personnel and minimizing damage to equipment and the facility. By promptly detecting smoke or heat and triggering alarms, the system provides an immediate alert to occupants and staff, allowing for timely evacuation and response efforts.

While extinguishing fires or providing smoke ventilation are important aspects of fire safety, they are typically the roles of fire suppression systems and smoke management systems rather than the fire detection system itself. Similarly, real-time monitoring of fire hazards may be part of a broader set of fire safety measures, but the essential purpose of a detection system centers on alerting people to the presence of fire, which is adequately captured by activating the warning device.