An introduction to stove guard technology
Here you’ll find information on what a stove guard is, how it works, and its key role in preventing kitchen fires, emphasising the role of stove guards like Airis Sense as protection against such hazards.
Unicook can give tailored advice regarding stove guards and also offers a free CPD presentation on how BS EN 50615 mitigates risk and improves fire design:
What is a stove guard?
In its most basic form, a stove guard, sometimes called a “cooker cut-off device”, utilises a heat sensor to cut the power to the cooker to prevent a fire. This intelligent, wireless heat sensor monitors the temperature of an electric hob and detects when the temperature is too high, automatically cutting off the power to ensure cooker top safety. Depending on the brand, it may sense heat, or a combination of heat, cooking fumes (smoke & steam) and human presence.
With 50% of fires starting in the kitchen, stove guards can play a significant role in a fire design for all types of accommodation. They ensure that residents can cook normally but also remain safe. They’re especially valuable for keeping elderly and vulnerable people safe from cooking fires.
Click on image to enlarge
How do stove guards work?
Stove guards comprise two parts: a sensor and a power control unit. The sensor is mounted on the wall above the stove, on the cooker hood, or on the ceiling. The power controller is typically installed behind the cooker or behind the oven underneath a hob.
The stove guard sensor monitors the hob and sends a radio command to instruct the power controller to turn off the electricity if a dangerous situation is detected. Stove guards are carefully engineered to minimise false alarms while also preventing unnecessary disturbances during day-to-day cooking. All stove guards reduce smoke alarm activations and unnecessary calls to the fire service.
Why is Airis Sense stove guard the best choice?
Airis features a powerful processor that monitors several sensing devices, including an intelligent heat sensor, taking into account steam, smoke, surface temperatures and human presence. These sensing elements play an essential role in monitoring the rising temperature, serving as an indication of a developing fire hazard in the kitchen. Airis stove guard was developed with AI-powered data analysis to ensure it only cuts out when needed and doesn’t interrupt normal, safe cooking.
Tamper-proof
Airis Sense is designed to prevent tampering. This is important for situations such as student accommodation and for people with dementia. Users can’t remove the batteries or change the settings, and the power controller has no controls.
Two-way radio comms
With two-way radio communications, if the sensor isn’t working for any reason, Airis is able to prevent cooking immediately. This cannot be bypassed by turning the power on and off at the wall switch. The Airis Sense power control unit sends information about the electrical power being used via the radio signal to the sensor which is passed to the algorithms as they assess the risk.
Multiple sensing devices
Airis has several sensing devices to better understand the cooking situation. It uses all the data combined to determine signs of risk.
Cooking fume monitoring
The Airis Sense monitors cooking fumes (smoke and steam) with algorithms built with artificial intelligence to detect the presence of smoke and steam with infrared analysis. This helps Airis Sense cut the power before a lot of smoke is produced.
35A single relay
Airis Sense stove guard uses a single 35A relay to switch the power on and off to the stove.
Advanced analysis
Airis features complex multi-wavelength analysis. This patented technique provides an accurate reading regardless of the surface material and finish of cooking pans. Without this, reading of pans with shiny surfaces (for example) is far less accurate.
Fail-safe
Airis has extensive built-in error detection. Press the OK button on the front of the sensor and Airis Sense will tell you if it has detected a problem (and what that problem is).
Smart technology
If you need to change settings or you want to set-up access to Safera Cloud, the Safera app is there to make it easy.
Electrical wiring
See image below showing the wiring of the Airis power controller:
Click on image to enlarge
Additional features available
Stove guards can be connected to telecare systems. See the table below for further details:
The PCU (power control unit) has two no-volt outputs which are ideal for connection to any telecare wireless device.
| Output 1 | Output 2 | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| OFF | OFF | Nothing to report |
| OFF | ON | Normal cooking detected |
| ON | OFF | Alarm. Airis has cut the power to prevent fire or smoke |
| ON | ON | Fault detected |
Airis can also connect to building management systems (BMS) to record certain conditions (see below) or report when one of the four optional leak sensors has detected water.
Airis also has optional management/carer functions with central recording and real-time notifications via SMS or email. Here are some examples of situations that Airis can assist with:
Building management:
- Water leak detected
- High or low kitchen temperature (energy monitoring)
- Excessive humidity alert
- Component failure alert
- Battery failure alert
Vulnerable person monitoring:
- The resident has not cooked for themselves
- The resident has cooked at an unusual time
- The resident has left their cooking unattended and Airis has cut the power
- Airis has intervened more than a specified number of times
Are stove guards a viable alternative to suppression systems?
Unlike suppression hoods and sprinkler systems, stove guards work proactively to prevent fires, not just react to them. Given that cooking fires account for approximately 50% of domestic fires, stove guards can potentially prevent 50% of sprinkler system activations, and 100% of suppression hood activations. In fact, they can even act before a smoke alarm. Specifically designed for domestic kitchens, stove guards are compatible with standard kitchen stoves, making them highly effective in preventing fires in typical home cooking environments.
Stove guards are lower in cost and easier to install in existing and new kitchens when compared to suppression systems. There are also no maintenance or re-filling requirements, and no clean-up is required if they activate.
Stove guards are often specified in studio apartments where a cooker/stove fire would impede access to the fire exit.
Further reading and information
If you need more information, or if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.