What is the primary purpose of including a heat detector in the exhaust system?

Including a heat detector in the exhaust system is essential primarily to automatically trigger the extinguishing system. This feature is crucial in environments where cooking is performed, as it ensures that the suppression system activates without human intervention in the event of a fire. The heat detector senses elevated temperatures that typically occur during a fire, thus providing a rapid response to potentially dangerous situations, helping to mitigate the risk of injury and property damage.

Automatic activation is vital in maintaining safety, especially when no personnel might be present to manually activate the system or when conditions can change rapidly, making it hard for individuals to react in time. The immediate response enabled by the heat detector helps ensure effective fire suppression as soon as a fire begins, reducing the severity of the incident and the potential for spreading. This automatic response is a critical component in the effective design of fire safety systems, particularly in commercial kitchens or facilities with hazardous processes.