VESDA ® - What Is It?
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The name VESDA ®, the abbreviation!
The name VESDA ® is an abbreviation for Very Early Smoke Detection Apparatus! The name VESDA ® has become a generic name for most air sampling applications. The name VESDA ® is a trade mark of Xtralis.
What is VESDA ®?
VESDA ® is a laser based smoke detector, which means it is a very good smoke detector! VESDA ® smoke detectors have been operating in specialist fire detection applications for over 20 years. VESDA ® is the most advanced aspirating smoke detection equipment in the fire industry. VESDA ® smoke detectors hold more certifications than any other aspirating smoke detectors in the world.
How does VESDA ® work?
A VESDA ® detector is much like a vacuum cleaner. It sucks air from the protected environment via purpose built aspirating pipe and fittings and samples the quality of air passing through the VESDA ® detection laser chamber.
Where do we use VESDA ® smoke detectors?
The aspirating smoke detection market has change over recent years. VESDA ® smoke detection was traditionally used for specialist smoke detection environments
VESDA ® smoke detection is now used more extensively in non specialist fire detection application and of course the traditional specialist market
VESDA ® detectors are normally used where high smoke sensitivity is required
VESDA ® detection works far more efficiently in area where there is high air flow, such as computer rooms, Telecoms etc!
Why do we use VESDA ®?
VESDA ® detection for warehouses
VESDA ® smoke detection is a suitable replacement for conventional smoke detection where accessibility is limited. For example, VESDA ® detection will be better suited to a warehouse with smoke detectors situated at high levels. Conventional smoke detectors can become faulty and access equipment will need to be deployed, this can be extremely disruptive to operation and it is also dangerous. VESDA ® smoke detection eliminates this issue as the aspirating pipe work will be located at high levels and the VESDA ® detector will be located at accessible levels. Aspirating pipe will replace the smoke detectors at high level, with holes in the aspirating pipe replacing the smoke detectors. VESDA ® smoke detectors have 18000 events log memory. Smoke levels can be tracked and identified against time and density. Commissioning VESDA ® should include measure smoke tests. There are different tests for different applications, these are measure with a set amount of smoke and readings from the VESDA ® detectors tell us how the system will perform in a real life situation!
VESDA ® detection for cold rooms
VESDA ® smoke detection is commonly used where temperatures are not suitable for other types of smoke detection. For example, a cold room operating temperatures ranging from 20’C to -20’C is an ideal environment for VESDA ® smoke detection. Cold temperatures will ice up the optical chambers of conventional smoke detectors rendering the system useless. VESDA ® detectors are located outside the cold environment, with aspirating pipe work located within the risk or outside the risk with capillary smoke sampling heads located within the risk! The cold air is then drawn to the VESDA ® smoke detector and is naturally heated before it arrives at the VESDA ® laser chamber. The condensation is collected at a condensate water trap and dry air arrives for sampling by the VESDA ® detector. In extreme cases air dryers may be needed, but in the most, are not required for the VESDA ® system!
VESDA ® detection for computer rooms
VESDA ® detection is ideal for area that have high airflow. Conventional smoke detectors struggle to activate with volumous air passing through their chambers. VESDA ® detectors draw smoke from the aspirating pipe and the holes in the pipe collectively capture the air and draw it back to the VESDA ® detector. Fire Suppression Limited have conducted test which conclusively prove that VESDA ® smoke detection is far more responsive than conventional smoke detectors. Measured tests again provide reports and samples of how the VESDA ® detectors will operate in a high airflow environment.
VESDA ® detection for Fire Suppression environments
VESDA ® detection with Fire Suppression is a fantastic combination. With ever increasing environmental responsibilities, it is essential that a fire suppression system should deploy unnecessarily. VESDA ® smoke detection use in conjunction with conventional smoke detection is a perfect match. Preferably VESDA ® detection samples the air across the return plenums of the air conditioning systems which provide primary smoke detection! An alert alarm can be raised and human intervention can prevent the gas from discharging! VESDA ® can also be used as a double knock system, which provides the most suitable fire detection model for any automatic fire suppression system!
VESDA ® smoke detection for Ceiling voids
With the recommendations of the BS5839 that stipulates that any ceiling void over 800mm in depth must be treated as the area below. With today’s modern architecture, many ceiling are solid ceiling with little access. VESDA ® smoke detection is ideal for this, as the aspirating pipe work will replace the conventional smoke detection, with the VESDA ® smoke detector in an accessible location.
VESDA ® smoke detection in lift shafts
VESDA ® smoke detection for lift shafts enhanced that smoke detection within what is a high sensitive area. It also makes maintenance safe as the engineer will not need to get into the lift shaft for maintenance purposes.
The VESDA ® detection range
VESDA ® detectors range from the VESDA ® LaserFocus range, through to the VESDA ® LaserCompact, VESDA ® LaserPlus to the VESDA ® LaserScanner.
