INCIPIENT FIRE DETECTOR

The embodiment of the incipient fire detector disclosed herein employs a particulate monitor for detecting particulates in the atmosphere. During an incipient fire condition, prior to ignition, a large mass of particulates less than five microns in size is generated by the combustible material which increases the concentration of such particulates in the atmosphere. The detector samples and responds to the rate of increase of such particulates to provide an alarm when such rate exceeds a predetermined rate indicative of a hazardous condition. The particle collector employed in the incipient fire detector is specially designed to collect particulates less than five microns in size and reject those above this size.