Aspirating Smoke Detection for Data Centres (Class A) Eurofyre

Data centres house critical IT infrastructure that stores, processes and manages digital information. They contain servers, network switches, power systems and cooling equipment arranged in rows or racks within controlled environments. Each component runs continuously, generating heat and drawing significant electrical load. Even minor faults can cause overheating or equipment failure.

Data centres are designed for uptime and continuity. Downtime leads to major financial loss, disrupted services and potential data corruption. Therefore, early fire detection is essential to prevent damage, limit downtime and protect both assets and personnel. Effective fire protection ensures operational continuity and compliance with industry standards.

Risks

Common fire risks in data centres include:

Electrical faults: Short circuits, overloaded circuits and component failures can create sparks or overheating that ignite nearby materials.
Overheating: High equipment density and restricted airflow can cause temperature rises in racks or under raised floors. Persistent heat can damage insulation and start fires.
Cable insulation failure: Ageing or damaged cabling can arc under load, generating localised heat that is difficult to detect early.
Cooling system faults: Loss of cooling or fan failure can lead to thermal runaway in servers and power supplies, increasing ignition risk.
Human error: Improper installation, poor maintenance or accidental obstruction of airflow can introduce unnecessary fire hazards.

Challenges

Designing effective fire detection for data centres involves several key challenges:

High airflow: Powerful cooling systems can disperse smoke before it reaches a conventional detector, delaying response times.
Equipment density: Tightly packed racks restrict airflow paths and limit detector placement, making uniform coverage difficult.
Early-stage detection: Most fires begin as overheating or smouldering components that produce minimal smoke, requiring highly sensitive detection.
Continuous operation: Fire systems must detect risk without causing false alarms that could trigger costly shutdowns or data loss.
Accessibility: Raised floors, ceiling voids and enclosed rack spaces are difficult to inspect or maintain, complicating sensor placement and servicing.

VESDA-E Aspirating Smoke Detection

VESDA-E is an advanced aspirating smoke detection (ASD) system designed for very early warning of fire in high-value environments such as data centres. It continuously draws air samples through a network of small pipes and analyses them using laser-based detection technology. This allows it to identify minute smoke particles long before they are visible or trigger a conventional detector.

The system uses active air sampling, ensuring constant monitoring even in areas with high airflow or limited access. It provides multi-level alarms for staged response, allowing investigation before suppression systems activate. Intelligent analytics and adaptive sensitivity enable reliable performance in both clean and contaminated air.

VESDA-E offers modular design, scalable coverage and simple network integration. It includes intuitive touch or remote interfaces for configuration and real-time status monitoring. The detectors feature high-efficiency aspirators, flow monitoring and built-in fault diagnostics. Connectivity options such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi and VESDAnet support integration with building management or fire alarm systems.

By combining precision detection with flexible configuration, VESDA-E delivers rapid, reliable fire warning while minimising false alarms. It provides the level of protection required for data centres classified as Class A, where downtime and data loss are unacceptable.

Class A

Class A ASD systems provide the highest sensitivity and earliest possible warning of fire. They are designed for critical environments such as data centres where even small amounts of smoke can indicate serious risk. Class A systems detect incipient fires in their earliest stages, allowing investigation and intervention before equipment or operations are affected. They meet strict performance standards for air sampling, detection speed and reliability.

Class B

Class B ASD systems offer early warning detection with slightly lower sensitivity than Class A. They are suited to areas where fire risk remains significant but not as critical, such as peripheral data hall spaces, power rooms or cable routes. Class B systems still provide fast and reliable smoke detection, ensuring prompt response while reducing the likelihood of nuisance alarms in less sensitive zones.

Class C

Class C ASD systems provide standard sensitivity detection for general areas where early warning is still beneficial but extreme sensitivity is unnecessary. They are typically used in support spaces such as offices, corridors or plant rooms within a facility. Class C systems balance dependable detection with reduced maintenance and lower installation cost while maintaining compliance with relevant fire safety standards.

VESDA-E VEP Aspirating Smoke Detector

VESDA-E VEP detectors deliver high-sensitivity aspirating smoke detection for critical environments. They use laser-based analysis and a powerful aspirator to detect the earliest signs of fire. Intelligent flow monitoring and adaptive calibration ensure accuracy in changing conditions. Each unit includes multi-level alarms, advanced diagnostics and simple network integration. VEP detectors provide fast, reliable warning with minimal maintenance, ideal for protecting Class A and B data centre areas.

VESDA-E VES Aspirating Smoke Detector

VESDA-E VES is an advanced aspirating smoke detector with built-in relay outputs for zoned fire response. It provides very early warning through continuous air sampling and laser-based analysis. The system supports up to four independently controlled alarm sectors, allowing precise shutdown or suppression actions. With adaptive flow control, network connectivity and simple configuration, the VES ensures fast, reliable protection in critical areas such as data halls and control rooms.

Approvals

VESDA-E systems are fully tested and approved to international fire detection standards, including EN54-20 for aspirating smoke detectors. These certifications confirm high sensitivity, reliability and compliance for use in life safety applications. The approvals ensure the systems meet stringent performance criteria required for critical environments such as Class A data centres.

Design Considerations

Control Panel Placement

VESDA-E panels can be installed in several ways to suit data hall layouts. A common approach is to mount a VES unit on a wall with sampling pipes routed above the server rows. This provides wide coverage and clear access for maintenance while drawing air from the hottest points near rack tops.

Alternatively, a single-pipe VEP unit can be fitted directly onto a server wall, with the pipe extending into the racks for focused detection within equipment enclosures.

Both configurations ensure fast smoke sampling, early warning and minimal disruption to airflow or cooling.

Pipe & Fittings Placement

ASD pipe and fittings form the air sampling network that delivers continuous airflow to the detector. They are made from durable, low-friction material that maintains consistent pressure and flow rates across long runs. Pipes can be routed above, below or within server racks to suit the room layout. Proper joint sealing and even hole spacing ensure accurate smoke transport and fast response times. High-quality fittings and secure fixings help maintain system integrity and long-term reliability.

Low Level Maintenance

Low-level maintenance is supported through the use of capillary pipes and accessible testing points.

Capillary pipes extend from the main ASD pipe network to low-level sampling points, allowing air to be drawn from critical areas without requiring access to high ceilings or confined rack spaces. Each sampling point is fitted with a precision orifice that ensures consistent airflow and smoke sensitivity across the system.

A dedicated testing point is installed at a convenient height, enabling functional testing and airflow verification without disturbing the main pipework. This allows maintenance teams to check detector performance quickly and safely from floor level, reducing service time and minimising disruption to operations.

Handpicked Solutions for Data Centres

Aspirating Smoke Detectors

VESDA-E VEP Aspirating Smoke Detector for Early Warning Fire Detection

VESDA VEP detectors use advanced Flair™ technology to give a very early warning of a potential fire while being smart enough to prevent false alarms. For ongoing accuracy and reliability, they are built with absolute calibration, protected internal optics, and an intelligent dust filter.

Aspirating Smoke Detection for Data Centres (Class A)