VESDA for Transport Eurofyre

There are many modes of transport used around the world today. These include air, land (rail or road), water, cable, pipeline and space and can be divided into infrastructure, vehicles and operations. Transport involves the movement of humans, animals or goods from one location to another and is essential for trade.

Transport infrastructure consists of fixed installations such as roads, railways, airways, waterways, canals and pipelines and terminals such as airports, railway stations, bus stations, warehouses, trucking terminals, refuelling depots and seaports. These terminals are used for both interchange of passengers and cargo, and for maintenance.

Transport terminals can include facilities for passengers, such as rest rooms, waiting areas, restaurants and bars, or can be equipped purley for handling freight with specific loading and unloading equipment and storage facilities. Either way, Transport terminals are responsible for the lives and goods that pass through them and, therefore, must have suitable measures in place to protect them from fire.

What are the Risks?

When designing a suitable fire detection and alarm solution for transport terminals there are a number of risks to consider. These include:

Passengers, Staff and Visitors: High volumes of people passing through transport facilities can make keeping areas free of clutter a challenge. There is also an increased risk of fire caused by carelessness of occupants.
Poor Housekeeping: If combustible materials, such as general waste, public bins or packaging are not cleared away or stored correctly they can cause fire to spread more quickly. This can also block fire escapes and hinder evacuation.
Dust: Dust and dirt can be very flammable and cause a fire to spread very quickly if areas are not kept clean. This is particularly relevant in storage facilities or areas where cargo is held.
Machinery and Equipment: Transport facilities of all types can contain an abundance of mechanical and electrical equipment. Whether it is used to transport passengers around the facility or move cargo, if not maintained properly this equipment can overheat, develop electrical faults or hotspots and set nearby materials alight.

What are the Challenges?

There are also a number of challenges when it comes to choosing the most suitable type of fire detection system:

Cooling and Heating Systems: Cooling and heating systems used in transport facilities can cause unpredictable airflow which makes it difficult for traditional detectors to detect smoke.
Open Spaces: Large open spaces can also suffer from unpredictable airflows. Doors opening and closing, varying levels of pedestrian traffic and movement from machinery can all cause the air in these spaces to behave erratically.
Limited Access: Fire detection systems in transport facilities can be difficult to access for maintenance, testing and replacement. Therefore, a low maintenance fire detection system would be the preferred option.
Installation Time: Fire alarm installation can be time consuming and disruptive. The longer the system takes to install, the more downtime the facility will suffer, leading to disruption to important transport links.

The Solution

Aspirating smoke detection (ASD) can deliver the perfect solution for protecting transport facilities from fire. It is cost-effective, reliable, discrete and easy-to-install.

ASD uses powerful aspirators to draw air, via a network of sampling pipes, from the protected area and into the detector’s sampling chamber. This means that it is unaffected by unpredictable airflows, can detect fires extremely quickly (often before smoke is visible to the human eye) and detection units can be installed outside of the protected area for easy access. It is unaffected by dust and can be used in even the dirtiest of environments.

The VESDA-E range of Aspirating Smoke Detectors delivers the most advanced smoke detection systems on the market. Due to Xtralis’ continuous research and development, ASD is no longer a specialist and niche technology, it is an essential part of the fire detection industry.

The detectors in the VESDA range that are most commonly used in transport applications include:

VESDA-E VEP Aspirating Smoke Detection

VESDA-E VEP detectors are built using Flair^TM detection, a revolutionary detection chamber developed by Xtralis to deliver extremely early warning of fire, improved rejection of nuisance alarms, higher stability and increased longevity.

VESDA-E VES Aspirating Smoke Detection

VESDA-E VES provides all the features of the VEP. Additionally, it includes a valve mechanism that enables addressability across 4 pipes/sectors. This makes it possible for a single zone to be divided into four separate sub-zones, enabling the user to locate the source of smoke. Once the first zone has reached the alarm level, the detector continues to sample from all zones to monitor fire growth.

VESDA-E VEU Aspirating Smoke Detection

VESDA-E VEU detectors have an ultra-wide sensitivity range, and provision for more sampling holes, to deliver increased coverage in high-airflow applications. Longer linear pipe runs and extended branched pipe network configurations provide an excellent solution for transport facilities with higher ceilings; providing an increased coverage by up to 80% whilst allowing convenient detector mounting for ease of service and maintenance.

VESDA VLI Aspirating Smoke Detection

VESDA VLI detectors are industry first early warning aspirating smoke detectors that are designed to protect industrial applications and harsh environments of up to 2000m² (20,000 sq. ft.). VLI detectors combine a fail-safe intelligent filter with an advanced clean-air barrier for optics protection allowing the use of absolute detection and a long detection chamber life without the need for recalibration.

Why Choose Eurofyre?

Xtralis Gold Partner: Eurofyre has ‘Gold Channel Partner’ status with Xtralis – the market leader in aspirating smoke detection. This recognition displays our level of commitment, including excellent customer service and competitive pricing.
Complete System Supplier: Eurofyre is a complete system supplier and has been a major Xtralis technical wholesaler since 2007. This means we can offer expert advice and supply all aspects of fire detection including aspirating smoke detection systems, conventional and addressable fire alarm control panels and linear heat detection.
Pipework Design: Eurofyre can also provide assistance with aspirating pipe network design to ensure optimum network performance and installation quality.
Demonstration and Training: We have a sophisticated training facility where we offer demonstrations and expert training on a range of systems, including VESDA-E aspirating smoke detection systems.
After-Sales Support: Eurofyre prides itself on providing after-sales care and support that is second to none. We offer both on-site and telephone assistance to help you ensure that your system is fully operational and working at its best.

For more information about VESDA aspirating smoke detection, or to discuss any of the other products that Eurofyre have to offer, please feel free to get in touch either by phone on +44 (0) 1329 835 024, by email to [email protected] or via the online enquiry form situated on our contact page.

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