aspirating smoke detection

VESDA - Aspirating Smoke Detection Solutions by…

Introduction to VESDA Aspirating Smoke Detection

& it’s Value in modern Data Center environments…

What is VESDA?

UL-268 / UL-268A Listed Smoke (& In-Duct Smoke) Detector (Initiating Device)

FM Approved

Approved for Open Area Primary Detection

and Class 1 Div. 2 Group A, B, C, D Hazardous Locations

ASD

ASSD

HSSD

USSD

SFD

EWFD

VEWFD

“Spot Type” Smoke Detector Equivalency

=

NFPA 72

Sampling points of an Air Sampling type detection system are

placed where conventional spot detection would be placed*

Advantages of VESDA

•Early Warning

•Ensuring business continuity

•Allowing controlled response to fire

•Reduced False Alarms / Troubles

•Mass Detection Technology reduces response to large particles (dust,

fog, etc…)

•Wide sensitivity range overlaps traditional photo-electric and ionization

spot detectorsspot detectors

•Active Detection provides reliable detection in atria with no effect from

building shift, line-of-sight obstruction.

•Ease of Maintenance

•Tested & Proven in Harsh Environments

•High Airflow

•High & Low Temp

•High Humidity

•Dirty

•EMI / Radiation

•Physically Unobtrusive

How does VESDA work?

Detection Chamber

Absolute Smoke Measurement Device

� High stability fixed calibration

� Wide detection range 0.00015 to 10%obsc/ft

� Alarm thresholds between 0.0015 and 6% obsc/ft

� Optical light-scattering detection principle

� Solid state laser light source

Filter Technology

High

efficiency

filter

(0.3

Dust

Filter

(0.3

microns)

Sample to

detectorTo clean

air manifold

Air inlet

Other ASD technologies available in the US

• United Technologies – AnaLaserII / CLASS / Orion

Laser-based particle counting

• Protec – CirrusPro• Protec – CirrusPro

Wilson Cloud-Chamber CCD

• Airsense – Stratos 2

Laser-based light scattering

Detection Challenges

Unsupervised Chamber/Screen

� If you were to place a bucket over a spot-type detector, will it detect smoke outside of the

bucket or report there is a problem? Not likely…

� As contaminant builds up on the detector chamber screen, smoke laden air, which already is

highly diluted, becomes further filtered or perhaps rejected from entering the detection

chamber labyrinth with no supervision that a problem exists.

Available Technologies…

• Wilson Cloud Chamber

– Utilizes Adiabatic Expansion to physically enlarge particles (with water) so they will obscure light from an LED before it reaches a photo-cell

• Laser Light Scattering

– Passes an air sample through a short wavelength laser beam and measures the amount of light scattered, reflected, and wavelength laser beam and measures the amount of light scattered, reflected, and refracted by particles

• Laser Particle Counting

– Counts the number of “flashes” caused by particles that are passed through a laser beam

• Laser Mass Detection (Particle Counting & Light Scattering)

– Combines both light scattering and particle counting technologies to compare both outputs to estimate the size of the particles passed through the laser beam. Only certain particle sizes count toward the alarm output.

Which technology should you specify?

• “Laser-based” technology is used in 6

different air-sampling and 1 point-type

smoke detection systems.

• CCD/Wilson Cloud Chamber and point-

in-a-box systems are not recognized for

providing a performance advantage, and providing a performance advantage, and

have been proven more difficult to

maintain.

– Fike and Chemetron discontinued

manufacturing their own Cloud

Chamber-based detectors in favor of

laser-based systems.

Considerations for ASD Vendor / Equals

• Does the manufacturer have on

office/warehouse in the US?

– Some ASD systems available are imported

by “master distributors”

• Are multiple channel partners available?

– VESDA is available from Vision Systems – VESDA is available from Vision Systems

direct partners as well as SimplexGrinnell,

Siemens (factory & independent offices),

Fike, and Ansul. AnaLaser is available

through Fenwal, Kidde (Orion), & Chemetron

(CLASS).

• Are technical support & spare parts available in

the US?

• Has the product been proven?

• Will the manufacturer / product survive to

support the end-user?

What are the unique advantages of VESDA

• “Mass Detection” technology that incorporates

both light scattering and particle counting

technology

• Clean-air optics wash

• Taking a sample of the sample

• Wide sensitivity range.• Wide sensitivity range.

• Advanced air-flow monitoring

• Intelligent interface into building FACP’s and

releasing panels.

• Advanced filter supervision

• Absolute vs. Relative (floating-adaptive)

Sensitivity

• Active detection vs. View/Pinnacle

Active Detection vs. Passive Detection

• Is less reliant on

thermal column lift

• Is less affected by

stratification

• Is less affected by

high air-flow or air-

currents

• Spacing does not

need to be de-rated

(per code)

• Earlier more Reliable

detection of a fire

Performance Comparison

• Spot Ionization 1.0 - 1.5 % per foot (Not suggested above 300 fpm per NFPA 72)

• Spot Photo-electric 2.5 - 3.5 % per foot (300 – 2000 fpm - UL)

• Spot Laser 0.03 – 1.0 % per foot (300 fpm max - UL)

• VESDA Laser-Based Detection – 0.0015 – 6.25 % per foot (4000 fpm – UL!!!)

– Widest Range of any UL or FM approved smoke detector!

• One detector fits most Applications• One detector fits most Applications

– field adjustable sensitivity

– 4 programmable levels of alarm

– Staged outputs

– Suppression / Pre-action Interface Friendly

Total control provided by ASD….

VESDA has a pedigree of providing the earliest warning,

but it can also be applied in lieu of traditional smoke

detectors with reduced threat of false alarm…

ASAT Calculator

Traditional Suppression Activation Method• Standard spot detectors operating in double knock mode

• FAQ: what is the equivalent VESDA Fire2 alarm threshold???

Suppression activation when 2

or more spots detect smoke

Return Return

Air Grille

Floor Void

Floor

ASAT Validation Testing

• ASAT Calculation is based

on FDS modeling

• Full scale 3rd party testing

have been completed to

validate & develop the

ASAT toolASAT tool

• FM testing/validation for

Approval is underway

Full scale datacenter testing

Data Center Cooling / effects on smoke detection…

Data Center Cooling / Evolution

NC Data Center

Return Air to Fan Gallery

46,625 CFM Vertical Fan x 10

5’ Wire Burn Results (above floor)

Where is ASD be applied?

• Areas currently specified w/ ASD

– CRAC / AHU Returns

VLP, VLC, or VLF with one pipe per CRAC

– Ceiling / In-Room

VLS

– Under-Floor– Under-Floor

VLS

• Areas to consider ASD

– Under-Floor

– Beam Pockets

– Main AHU Supply Ducts

– In-Cabinet

Typical Design – Data Center

Sampling

Hole Spacing

~200 sq.ft.

Transport

Time Shall

NOT Exceed

120 Seconds

How does VEWFD & EWFD differ from SFD?

• Per NFPA 76 …

– 200 sq.ft. required spacing in room and sub-floor (VEWFD)

400 sq.ft. (EWFD)

– 4 sq.ft. spacing at return air registers

– 0.2% (Alert) & 1.0% (Alarm) Minimum Sensitivity (VEWFD)– 0.2% (Alert) & 1.0% (Alarm) Minimum Sensitivity (VEWFD)

1.5% (Alarm) Minimum Sensitivity (EWFD)

– 60 second maximum transport times (VEWFD)

90 second (EWFD) / 120 second (SFD)

– Normal NFPA 72 requirements for Standard Fire Detection

(SFD)

“Standard Fire Detection” spacing

“Early Warning Fire Detection” spacing

“Very Early Warning Fire Detection” spacing

All spacings overlay

Product Details…

VESDA LaserPLUS (VLP)• 20,000 sq.ft. per detector

• 4 pipe inlets = 1 zone

• 25 Holes per Pipe = 100 Holes Total

• > 650’ Piping

• 0.0015 – 6.25 % Obscuration per Foot

• Four Levels of Alarm (Alert / Action / Fire1 / Fire 2)

• VESDAnet ready

• Modular Design• Modular Design

VESDA LaserSCANNER (VLS)• 20,000 sq.ft. per detector

• 4 pipe inlets = 4 sectors (Pipe Addressability)

• 25 Holes per Pipe = 100 Holes Total

• > 650’ Piping


• Different Alarm Thresholds per Sector


• VESDAnet ready

• Modular Design

Product Details…

VESDA LaserCOMPACT (VLC)• 8,000 sq.ft. per detector

• 1 pipe inlet = 1 zone

• 40 Holes per Pipe / Detector

• Up to 262’ Piping


• Three Levels of Alarm (Alert / Action / Fire1…. + Fire 2 on Precision VLC)

• VESDAnet / Relay-only / Precision Protocol / TrueALARM Protocol available

• VLX (Explosion Proof LaserCOMPACT) Available

VESDA LaserFOCUS (VLF)• 2,500 or 5,000 sq.ft. per detector

• 1 pipe inlet = 1 Zone

• 6 or 12 Holes per VLF-250 / 8 or 24 Holes per VLF-500

• Up to 82’ Piping - VLF-250 / Up to 164’ Piping - VLF-500


• Also listed as a Pre-Engineered System


• VESDAnet compatible

• Ultrasonic Airflow Sensing

•Simplified Programming / Installation / Commissioning / Maintenance

FACP / Releasing Panel / BMS Interface

VESDAnet RS-485 Communications Loop

Intelligent interface to PROACTIV / Siemens MXL-IQ / Simplex Grinnell 4100U / Fike

Cheetah XI & CyberCAT / Form-C 2A 30V Dry Contacts UL listed with all other panels

VSC and VSM4 Monitoring

Real-time smoke trend

• Thanks for you time. Contact us anytime

we may be of assistance!

aspirating smoke detection

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