Frequently Asked Questions

What is artificial smoke?

The "smoke effect" produced by our generators is actually a fog or aerosol, comprising of millions of tiny liquid spheres. The refraction and diffraction of light through these particles creates a "smoke effect".

Is smoke produced by your systems toxic?

Not at all. It is well within the health & safety guidelines specified for exposure limits. There is no need to wear masks or breathing apparatus in normal use.

What type of smoke generator would you suggest for my application?

Every application for smoke is different. Please contact and we'll be happy to advise you on the most suitable type of smoke generator for your needs.

Will your smoke machines set off smoke alarms?

Yes! But not heat alarms -- so check which type of alarm your building uses to be sure. Many people use our machines to test smoke detectors in new buildings, or to realistically create artificial smoke with thermal buoyancy (our Phantom machine).

Do your smoke systems leave a residue?

No - the smaller the particle size of the smoke, the lower its settling velocity (the rate at which a particle will fall, due to gravity). A smoke particle of unit density, 0.2 micron in diameter, will fall at 8mm per hour, compared to a 2 micron particle, which falls at 468mm per hour. In essence this means that the smaller the particle of smoke you produce, the less chance there is that deposition of smoke particles will occur as there is far less mass in each particle.

Why is particle size so important?

Most smoke systems available today are derivates of machines used in the entertainment industry, where smoke concentrations are generally not required to be very high (i.e. the smoke is not very dense). In entertainment terms the smoke is generally used to enhance the lighting effects.

Generally, bigger smoke particles will settle in still air more quickly than smaller ones. A typical 0.2 micron diameter particle will settle at around 8mm/hr, compared to 468mm/hr for an industry typical 2 micron diameter particle.

In terms of chemical usage, one also uses dramatically less chemical to achieve the same smoke concentration / visibility using smaller particles than larger ones, with corresponding benefits in terms of running costs and relative safety.

How is the artificial smoke produced?

Inside our smoke machines the smoke chemical is heated above its boiling point and turned into vapour. When that vapour exits the heat exchanger and hits the colder atmospheric air, it expands and cools rapidly, condensing to produce the aerosol particle.

How do you produce such a small particle size?

The vast majority of conventional smoke systems use cast alloy or aluminium platen style heat exchanger technology. These are effective, but generally produce a particle size in the range 1 - 5 micron. This type of heat exchanger has a low production cost.

Our own mains powered smoke systems use heat exchanger blocks with much greater density, machined to tolerances as low as 0.001" / 0.025mm. Our heat exchangers are guaranteed for "Life". The exceptionally tight tolerances that we machine to ensure a consistent particle size time after time, an order of magnitude smaller than most conventional systems.

How safe is artificial smoke?

We have a comprehensive technical library, including independent reports analytical laboratories, research organisations and authorities (such as the Health and Safety Executive) to demonstrate that the smokes produced by our systems represent the safest in their class. If you have a specific query relating to the suitability of artificial smoke for your application, please give our technical department a call.

Is smoke effective outdoors?

Oil based smokes, such as the Phantom are dramatically more effective in external applications than water based systems. However, it is entirely dependent on environmental conditions. If the wind speed is high, the smoke effect is blown away quickly. In these conditions, if a trail of smoke is required, water based smoke is particularly unsuitable, as it evaporates rapidly. Oil based smokes will leave a highly visible and persistent trail in all but the worst conditions.