Thread: Avoiding Fire Alarm

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I am new to using the fog machine. I want to use it in my classroom but am afraid that I may set off fire alarms or sprinklers which is very wet and very bad on my equipment! Also can anyone tell me the best juice to create a fog or a FALLING SWIRLING SMOKE EFFECT for a 1950's street lamp staged effect... for my photo students?

Hi. This probably is better suited in the prop or general Halloween sections since its more of a general question, so don't be surprised if your post is moved. Regardless, yes foggers can set off particulate sensing fire alarms. I know because I saw someone (wasn't me!) at work accidently do this as he was getting a little wild with a fogger (being used for airflow tracking inside a machine). Our sprinklers are heat triggered so no water, but it did cause the building to be evacuated. Start outdoors or your garage to test it, then move inside once you get a feel for what you're system generates and for how long it lingers.

Many people like to use Froggys Fog Juice. It comes in different blends. I personally use Froggys Freezin Fog Juice as I have the fogger's output go through a fog chiller to get that ground hugging fog for a cemetery scene in our front yard. Here is one supplier of Froggy's Fog Juice, and compatible fogger machines to convert the fluid into fog, that I have used and recommend:
http://www.minionsweb.com/osStore/fo...d824c73136cc48

In general, the fast dissipating fog won't linger as long before it disappears (handy indoors), and the Freezin Fog Juice is supposedly better to use in combination with a fog chiller (do a forum search and you'll get several hits explaining how to make one) for ground hugging fog (that will eventually heat up and rise). Both can be made to lay closer to the ground if used with a fog chiller, otherwise they tend to rise. Either of these two products should be safe to breath for at least short periods. Read their claims, but I can attest to having stuck my face into the fog several times with no ill effects. It has no real odor either. Since you mentioned this being for a photography class, I often wear glasses and have never noted any residue from the fog on my glasses.

I am not familiar with the effect you're after. If you have links showing it being used, then people may be able to help you more. Also, how often do you plan on using this and how big of an area are you wanting to fog?

Have you determined if your detectors are smoke or heat activated?

I have a story on smoke detectors:
Last year prior to Halloween I moved. In a box I had packed away a smoke detector and I had left the battery in it. When Halloween rolled around I fired off the fog machines. About halfway through the event I heard beeping. Sure enough the fog had managed to get into a packed box taped shut. I could not believe it.
Apparently the fog will get everywhere.

In the haunt I do in Sausalito city hall each year, they have to turn off the smoke detectors while we use fog -- or at least the part that calls the fire department. I suggest you coordinate with your building engineers to shut off the alarms while you do your experiment.

As a Fire Alarm Designer/Installer, I have to first assure you that setting off the fire alarm system will NOT set off the sprinklers. This is a common misconception brought about as the result of bad movies. Just like the idea that all zombies shuffle slowly...
Secondly, your detector is most likely, with very few exceptions, a smoke detector. And fog machines will set them off, in fact we have a fog machine that we use to test detectors. One of our technicians borrows it every Halloween to scare the kiddies.
Lastly, I hate to piddle on your parade, but i have to highly recommend that you do NOT ask your engineering staff to disable your fire alarm panel in any way. First of all, its illegal in many municipalities, and secondly a school is already a rather high risk environment for fire. Believe me at schools, between fire bugs, accidents and just bad luck, it's not worth the risk. You don't want to be in the paper the next day. Or worse, show up in my NFPA journal on major fire incidents.
Again, sorry to be a downer, but I get to read about fire accidents and incidents all the time, it's hard not to take it seriously. Anyway, good luck with your experiment.