Desu Systems CEO Ronald Verkroost explores the advancements in flame and gas detection technology and how industries are adjusting to emerging fire hazards
Desu Systems is celebrating its 20th anniversary. What were its founding principles, and how has its mission evolved?
Having been in the international fire industry since 1989, we saw companies prioritising internal politics and financials over customer needs. Desu Systems was founded to challenge that norm by improving customer experience with faster service and better support.
Our mission has remained the same for two decades: putting customers first and making the world safer with the best available technologies. This commitment drives our continuous growth and innovation. We have built long-term relationships with customers by listening to their needs and staying ahead of safety advancements.
Ronald Verkroost, CEO of Desu Systems
What are the most significant advancements in fire and gas detection, and how has Desu Systems adapted?
Flame detection has moved towards QuadSense detectors, which detect fires at greater distances with near-zero false alarms. Gas detection has advanced with optical and thermal imaging cameras that detect, visualise, and quantify emissions.
We have embraced these innovations, ensuring our portfolio includes the most advanced solutions for our customers. Continuous investment in R&D has allowed us to introduce new technologies that improve detection speed, accuracy, and resilience in extreme environments.
Have industries changed their fire safety approaches in response to new risks or regulations?
Yes, there’s increasing demand for flame detection over heat and smoke detectors. A single flame detector covers up to 6,000 m², reducing installation costs and complexity.
New industries like hydrogen production, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and green energy plants present unique fire risks. Hydrogen is colourless, odourless, and has an almost invisible flame, making traditional detection ineffective. Battery storage facilities face thermal runaway risks, where overheating cells can cause rapid fire propagation.
We have expanded our portfolio to address these challenges with optical flame detection, thermal imaging, and gas detection solutions that identify fires at the earliest stage, even where conventional methods struggle. By working closely with industries facing new hazards, we ensure they remain compliant and protected.
How do optical flame and gas detection technologies work, and why are they suited to hazardous environments?
Flame detection has evolved from UV and IR detectors to UV/IR, IR3, and now IR4 (QuadSense) technology. These improvements enhance range, reliability, and immunity to false alarms.
Early UV detectors were highly sensitive to external stimuli, causing false alarms. IR3 and IR4 sensors overcame these limitations, offering longer detection distances and remaining unaffected by environmental factors like grease buildup, sunlight, or weather.
These advancements make modern flame detectors essential in industrial and outdoor applications where fast, reliable fire detection is critical. Additionally, these technologies help reduce costly false alarms, minimising downtime and operational disruptions.
What factors determine gas detection effectiveness, and how do you ensure accuracy?
Accuracy depends on proper placement, detection range, and adaptability to environmental factors like temperature, air pressure, humidity, and wind. Different technologies serve different applications:
- Point gas detectors need direct exposure to the gas and cover a small radius, so they are often arranged in grids.
- Open-path gas detectors monitor gas presence over distances up to 200 meters, ideal for perimeter protection.
- Acoustic gas detectors identify ultrasonic sound from gas leaks up to 25 meters away but are less effective for low-pressure leaks.
- Optical gas imaging (OGI) cameras use infrared absorption to visualise gas leaks in real-time from over 250 meters, providing immediate risk assessment.
Integrating multiple technologies ensures comprehensive coverage tailored to each environment. Our approach prioritises accuracy, reducing the risk of undetected leaks and ensuring regulatory compliance.
What challenges do your products face in extreme environments, and how do you overcome them?
Extreme environments like hydrogen fuelling stations and refineries present challenges such as high humidity, extreme temperatures, and airborne dust. Our detection technologies are designed to withstand these conditions.
All our equipment is ATEX-certified for hazardous areas (Zone 1 and Zone 2) and has high IP ratings (66-68) to protect against dust and water ingress. Our devices operate reliably in temperatures from extreme heat to sub-zero conditions, ensuring continuous monitoring.
By engineering robust solutions tailored to the specific gases present, we maintain reliable detection even in the most demanding settings. We also work closely with clients to customise solutions for their unique operational environments.
How are new European methane emission regulations influencing gas detection approaches?
Traditional detection methods, like point gas detectors, open-path detectors, and acoustic sensors, are insufficient for meeting new European methane emission regulations. Industries now require advanced solutions for continuous, precise, and verifiable gas leak data.
Our optical gas imaging cameras provide real-time visualisation of methane leaks, showing exact locations, gas concentration, and movement over time. Unlike traditional methods that require gas to pass through a sensor, OGI enables proactive, long-distance monitoring.
This advancement not only ensures compliance with OGMP 2.0 standards but also helps companies reduce environmental impact, enhance efficiency, and improve emissions control. Companies implementing this technology benefit from faster leak detection and reduced maintenance costs.
How does the K-Star Automatic Degreasing System improve fire safety in commercial kitchens?
Grease buildup in exhaust hoods and ventilation systems creates fire risks in commercial kitchens. Traditional manual cleaning is time-consuming, labour-intensive, and often ineffective in reaching all areas.
The K-Star Automatic Degreasing System continuously maintains clean exhaust ducts using food-safe enzymes and bacteria to break down grease. Spray nozzles distribute the solution at pre-programmed intervals, preventing accumulation.
Unlike manual cleaning, which only addresses visible areas, K-Star reaches hard-to-access sections where grease accumulates unnoticed. This system, adopted by major fast-food chains, enhances fire safety, improves hygiene, reduces maintenance costs, and extends equipment lifespan. It also ensures compliance with fire safety regulations and reduces the risk of sudden, costly shutdowns.
What are the challenges of fire suppression in armoured vehicles, and how do they differ from industrial settings?
Fire suppression in armoured vehicles differs significantly from industrial systems. In military applications, detection must be nearly instantaneous to protect personnel in high-risk situations.
When an armoured vehicle is impacted, the fire detection system has only 400 milliseconds to detect and suppress the fire before it spreads. This rapid response is critical for crew survival.
Our systems meet MIL-SPEC standards, ensuring reliability under extreme battlefield conditions, including shock, vibration, and extreme temperatures. These solutions have been deployed in hundreds of thousands of armoured vehicles worldwide, proving their effectiveness in real-world combat scenarios. By leveraging experience in high-risk industries, we continuously refine our technology for improved military and defense applications.
What trends will shape fire and gas detection technology in the next decade?
The industry has been slow to adopt new technology due to regulatory constraints and approval costs. However, automation, AI, and real-time monitoring are driving significant changes.
- AI-powered detection improves hazard identification and predictive maintenance.
- Thermal imaging is expanding beyond gas detection to flame detection for faster response times.
- Wireless technology offers more flexible installation and reduces infrastructure costs.
- Integrated safety solutions are merging multiple detection functions into single devices.
Our AI-powered thermal imaging cameras already integrate gas detection, flame detection, level detection, liquid spill monitoring, and intelligent thermography. These self-learning systems differentiate between hazards, offering one of the most advanced solutions available.
The future of fire and gas detection lies in smarter, connected systems, and we are committed to leading that transformation. As regulations tighten and industries demand more efficiency, the need for high-precision, automated safety solutions will only grow.
