Early smoke detection by aspiration is now one of the fastest and most reliable types of detection on the market, with technological advances enabling it to evolve from a niche, specialized solution to a core component in the fire alarm industry.
Fire prevention is always a top priority, and a fire detection system is essential for issuing real-time alerts and protecting people, property, and production processes, both indoors and outdoors.
Early Smoke Detection by Aspiration (ASD)
Broadly speaking, an early smoke detection by aspiration (ASD) system is built around a central unit that uses powerful fans to draw air samples from the protected area and send them to a detection chamber via a network of sampling pipes.
The air is typically filtered through a series of filters to remove any contaminants before entering the detection chamber and being processed. Once the smoke reaches the detection chamber, highly sensitive and precise detection elements, along with a series of complex algorithms, analyze the sampled air to detect smoke particles.
Due to its ability to actively monitor air samples, the system can detect the presence of smoke even before it becomes visible to the human eye. Additionally, its ability to differentiate between smoke and potential contaminants makes it one of the most reliable types of detection available.
Very Early Smoke Detection Apparatus
The VESDA system from Xtralis (a member of Honeywell) — whose name is an acronym for Very Early Smoke Detection Apparatus — assists in fire emergencies by detecting the earliest signs of smoke to keep people and property safe from fire.
VESDA early smoke detection systems provide the fastest possible warning of an imminent fire. VESDA detectors provide users with the critical time needed to investigate an alarm and initiate an appropriate response to prevent injury, property damage, or operational disruption.
For decades, the VESDA range of aspirating smoke detectors (ASD) from Xtralis (a Honeywell member) has been recognized worldwide. The new VESDA-E range surpasses previous VESDA detectors with many improved features, including increased sensitivity (up to 15 times greater than previous models); flexibility for deployment in a wide variety of applications; multi-port addressability; unparalleled connectivity and expansion options; upgradeability. All these features combine to make VESDA-E the best choice for early warning of smoke and fire threats. The sensitivity, flexibility, reliability, programmability, and expandability of VESDA-E offer superior performance and protection while reducing the total cost of ownership (TCO).
Equipment
VESDA VLI is the first industry’s early warning smoke detection by aspiration (ASD) system designed to protect industrial applications and harsh environments of up to 2000 m². The VLI detector combines an intelligent safety filter (patent pending) with an advanced clean air barrier for optical protection, allowing absolute detection and long life of the detection chamber without the need for recalibration.
Applications: Manufacturing and processing facilities, petrochemical plants, mines/tunnels, silos, power plants, warehouses, water treatment plants, slaughterhouses, laundries, cold storage warehouses, textile, equipment, and machinery factories, etc.
Certifications: UL, ULC, FM, ActiveFire, CE, LPCB, NF, SIL 2, VdS, EN 54-20
Xtralis VESDA VLF is an ideal smoke detection by aspiration system for small, business-critical spaces. It is available in two models: VLF-250 covers up to 250 m², and VLF-500 covers areas of up to 500 m².
Applications: Local telecommunications centers, air handling units, small server rooms, control rooms, utility control centers, railway signal centers, small warehouses, hazardous areas (Class 1 Div 2).
Certifications: UL, ULC, FM, CFE, LPCB, VdS, VNIIPO, AFNOR, ActiveFire, CE – EMC and CPD, CSFM, hazardous locations FM (suitable for Class 1, Division 2, Groups A, B, C, and D), EN 54-20
The VESDA-E VEP series brings the latest and most advanced detection technology to provide very early warning for a wide range of applications. Built on Flair detection technology and years of application experience, VEP detectors deliver consistent performance throughout their life through absolute calibration.
Applications: Hotels, shops and offices, sterile rooms, cold storage warehouses, museums, telecommunications, education, hospitals, insurance, maritime industry, nuclear plants, oil and gas industry, power plants, portable switch rooms, wind energy.
Certifications: UL, ULC, FDA, VdS (EN54-20), CE, CSFM, FM, AFNOR, VNIIPO, ActiveFire (ISO 7240-20), BOMBA, RCM CCCF
VESDA-E VES (Sector Addressable ASD)
VESDA-E VES can identify and monitor smoke density through individual sampling pipes (sectors), allowing a single area to be divided into four separate sectors (e.g., differentiating between separate corridors in a data room). Sector addressability allows the user to quickly respond to a potential fire by narrowing down the search area. VESDA-E VES has four programmable alarm thresholds (Alert, Action, Fire 1, and Fire 2) per pipe. Once the detector identifies the first sector that has reached the alert threshold, it continues to sample from all sectors to report real-time status on the sector through the intuitive touchscreen.
Applications: Data centers, warehouses, airports, sterile rooms, atriums.
Certifications: UL, ULC, FDA, VdS (EN54-20), AFNOR, CE, CSFM, ActiveFire (ISO 7240-20), BOMBA, RCM
Managing multiple smoke detectors in large and crowded buildings, such as hospitals, prisons, or hotels, can be challenging. Testing and maintaining smoke detectors in such settings, especially those with restricted zones, can be time-consuming and disruptive to critical operations. Xtralis VESDA-E VEA combines assured detection with the unique value of centralized testing and maintenance, reducing time, cost, and impact of ongoing maintenance.
Applications: Offices, hospitals, schools, correctional centers, multi-story residential buildings, data centers, warehouses.
Certifications: UL, ULC, FDA, VdS (EN54-20), CE, CSFM, FM, ActiveFire (ISO 7240-20), BOMBA, RCM, CCCF
VEU is the premium series of the VESDA-E range, offering ultra-wide sensitivity, 15 times greater than VESDA VLP, and provision for multiple sampling holes, ensuring enhanced coverage in high air-flow applications, with at least 40%. VEU’s revolutionary new features provide unmatched detection performance, flexibility, field programmability, connectivity, and reduced total cost of ownership.
Applications: Hotels, shops, sterile rooms, cold storage warehouses, museums, data centers, education, hospitals, maritime industry, nuclear plants, oil and gas, etc.
Certifications: UL, ULC, FDA, VdS (EN54-20), CE, CSFM, FM, AFNOR, VNIIPO, ActiveFire (ISO 7240-20), BOMBA, RCM, CCCF
Comprehensive Services, Turnkey Projects
For fire protection systems, AVITECH offers a complete range of services: Consulting and Design, Equipment Procurement, Installation Works Execution, Programming, Maintenance and Technical Support.
We place a special emphasis on the integration process of access systems with other building systems and installations: Video Surveillance, Intrusion Detection, Perimeter Protection, Integrated Security Systems (PSIM), Information Systems, Fire Detection, BMS, Smart Lighting.
FAQs
ASD systems, such as those offered by VESDA, have the advantage of detecting smoke at a very early stage, even before it becomes visible to the human eye. They actively monitor air samples from the protected area, with sensitivity up to 15 times greater than previous models. This allows for rapid detection of potential issues, providing extra time to respond to a potential fire and reducing risks and damage.
VESDA systems are suitable for a wide range of environments, from harsh industrial settings such as factories and power plants to critical business spaces and commercial buildings such as data centers, hotels, and museums. Specific models, such as VESDA VLI and VESDA-E VEP, are designed to handle both challenging industrial environments and variable-sized spaces, offering superior protection tailored to the needs of each application.
VESDA systems can be effectively integrated with other security solutions, such as video surveillance, intrusion detection, and access control systems. AVITECH offers complete services, including the integration of these systems to create a unified security solution. This ensures that fire detection systems work seamlessly with other security solutions, optimizing overall building protection and facilitating a coordinated response in emergencies.
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