The technology has a good margin for growth given the large percentage of non-residential structures without automatic fire detection equipment (72% in the US and 68% in the UK). In 2005, fires are estimated to have generated $2 billion in expenses on non-residential structures in the U.S., many of which could have been prevented.
The VSD incorporates standard surveillance cameras with sophisticated image recognition and processing software to identify the characteristics that differentiate smoke and flame patterns. Detection software is being inserted into video surveillance devices, such as network cameras, which should reduce their cost.
The most modern systems combine flame detection with the remote monitoring function to enable continuous response. Until now, market demand has been hampered by a lack of general information and acceptance by a traditional sector, such as fire.
