FireVu Flame Detection Algorithm



The FireVu solution was first developed in response to a requirement for next-generation fire detection in a voluminous power generation facility. Since then, FireVu has been refined and perfected to deliver the ultimate protection to all market sectors.

The current generation of FireVu detectors employ our latest technology advances and include our patented flame detection technology (UK: GB2535409, Europe: EP3080788, and US: US9530074B2).


The FireVu 500 uses intelligent flame and smoke algorithms to analyse the camera image in order to quickly and reliably detect fire.

The latest update has increased both the robustness of the algorithm and the detection range. The detector will react to the presence of even a small fire* in the specified field of view in under 30 seconds. These times apply to the most challenging of environments and in the majority of cases detection is even faster. The FireVu 500 has three pre-defined detection footprints, the largest of which has a range of up to 100m for flame-only detection. There are other offerings with ranges of 50m and 25m which have a wider field of view.

*TF5 pan fire – an industry standard accepted test fire, consisting of 500ml of N Heptane solution contained in a 330mm x 330mm x 50mm deep square pan

FireVu Demonstration Footage



BRE Independant Fire Detection and Suppression Research Test Facility


Testing was conducted at the BRE Watford independent test facility looking down a 100 metre concrete slab allowing numerous tests to be conducted at various distances from the detector.

Tests were performed using the mid-range 35m detector viewing a TF5 N Heptane test fire. After a full day of tests no false alarms were received as a result of sun-light, people movement or any other activity.

FireVu500 30 Metre N Heptane Test

For the first tests, the FireVu detector was placed 30 metres from the N Heptane test fire. The video demonstrates an alarm response was received in less than 20 seconds in an outdoor environment.

FireVu500 95 Metre N Heptane Test

For this test it was decided to position the fire at the maximum distance available on the concrete slab and observe if a response could be achieved. This placed the detector over 95 metres away – nearly 3 times further than the recommended detection range for this field of view. As can be seen in the video not only did the FireVu detector respond to the presence of the flame from 4 seconds, (visible by the presence of the Cyan boxes), but a FULL alarm response was achieved after approximately 60 seconds.


In-House Testing


Tests were performed using the mid-range 35m detector viewing a TF5 N Heptane test fire, conducted on-site by NetVu looking across open ground from an externally mounted FireVudetector.

The test fire was Placed 20m from the detector and the footage shows that it took less than 5 seconds from ignition of the fuel to a full alarm state. This shows a clear and definitive detection of the true flame whilst ignoring other stimuli such as the high-visibility protective clothing worn by the operative lighting the fire and any direct sun light or reflections.
This detector has been deployed as shown for several months and during that period not a single false alarm has been generated despite the regular presence of personnel, farming equipment, sun light and all types of weather and yet all fire tests have resulted in a quick and definitive detection.

This test was performed using the mid-range 35metre detection FireVu 500 viewing a TF5 N Heptane test fire.

The test was conducted in-house by NetVu looking across an operational farming field from a permanently external mounted FireVu 500 detector. Placed 20 metres from the detector it can be seen that from ignition of the N Heptane to a full alarm state took less than 5 seconds, showing a clear and definitive detection of the true flame whilst ignoring other stimuli such as the high-visibility protective clothing worn by the operative lighting the fire and any direct sun light or reflections.

This detector has been deployed as shown for several months and during that period not a single false alarm has been generated despite the regular presence of personnel, farming equipment, sun light and all types of weather and yet all fire tests have resulted in a quick and definitive detection.

Tried and Tested



The videos viewable here are just a sample of the tests which have been conducted with the FireVu 500. They were all recorded by the camera itself and so represent the real footage that would be seen by an operator or end user.

Visually the FireVu 500 viewing software provides two levels of flame detection, the first being a Cyan box which is rendered around pixels that the FireVu 500′s intelligent algorithm has selected as a potential flame presence. A full alarm state is triggered when all the required criteria to be certain a flame is present are met and results in the second level of detection and a magenta coloured box.

FireVu is a complete solution which can be used in a wide array of challenging environments for a variety of applications, unlike some other detection methods:

Aspirating smoke detectors and beam detectors can only be used indoors and struggle with large voluminous areas as they rely on smoke reaching the beam or pipes. Historically they have issues with dusty, dirty environments triggering false alarms or going into a trouble/fault state as filters become blocked, resulting in frequent extra maintenance
Thermal imaging cameras are often prohibitively expensive and unless accompanied by an additional CCTV image provide little or no situational awareness, preventing the end user or system operator from being able to identify the true nature of the risk and adopt the most appropriate course of action.
Triple IR detectors have a limited range, the greatest of which is listed at 65m. A complete lack of any visual ouput means that any alarm received cannot be verified, with end users or fire authorities unable to assess the situation prior to attendance. Field experience has shown that this technology is susceptible to false triggers as a result of direct sunlight, either if used externally or from nearby entrances when deployed internally.

FireVu solves this situational awareness issue through full visual verification, courtesy of the real-time video stream:

Draws attention to exactly what triggered the alarm and where in the field of view it is through the use of coloured boxes.
Lets you immediately know the size and scale of the fire so appropriate action can be taken. From allowing someone to tackle it with a fire extinguisher to immediately evacuating the building.
Provides footage of the incident which will allow for post-event analysis to help determine the cause of the fire. This means processes can be improved and the site made safer in order to ensure there’s no repeat incident.

FireVu Information Sheet