Air Sampling Systems

Air Sampling Systems - High Sensitivity Smoke Detection

Air sampling systems are designed to detect fire in high value applications, or historic buildings and properties where conventional fire detectors simply fail to provide sufficiently rapid response. In applications where down time is a critical factor, high sensitivity smoke detection systems provide early warning fire detection up to 1000 times more sensitive than conventional spot type fire detectors. This provides rapid fire detection allowing facility personnel to address potential problems before they result in costly down time.

At the Fireline Corporation, we design, install, and service both the Analaser II high sensitivity smoke detection system, and the VEDA air sampling system. The two employ different detection strategies.

Analaser II High Sensitivity Smoke Detection System

The Analaser II uses a laser beam and a particle discriminator to detect fire and reject false alarms

Unlike conventional smoke detectors that passively wait for smoke to reach them, the Analaser II system continuously draws air from the protected area through a piping network to the detection chamber. As electrical or electronic wire begins to overheat, it releases specific materials as the temperature increases. The Analaser II is designed to detect the plasticizers commonly released from PVC wire in the very early phases of heat build up.

In the Analaser II air sampling system a laser beam bounces light off small particles released by the combusting materials in the protected area. A particle discriminator rejects reflections off those particles not associated with fire decomposition.

This technology creates a high sensitivity smoke detection system up to 1000 times more sensitive than conventional ionization or photoelectric type smoke detectors. The system will detect overheat byproducts of combustion in concentration as low as 0.003% obscuration per foot.

Vesda Laser-Plus Air Sampling System

The VESDA Laser-Plus system uses a laser beam as the light source to bounce light off fire byproducts in the detection chamber

The VESDA Laser-Plus air sampling fire detection system detects the invisible byproducts of materials as they degrade during the pre-combustion stages of an incipient fire. And, by actively and continuously sampling air, the system operates independently of air movements.

In operation air samples are continuously drawn from the monitored environment, typically through a sampling pipe network with the aid of a high efficiency aspirator. On the way to the fire detector the air samples pass through a filter assembly to screen out large airborne dust particles. Once inside the air sampling detector the samples are exposed to a high-intensity and broad-spectrum light source. The incident light scattered from smoke particles in the air sample passes through a series of optical components to a solid state light receiver. The light is converted to an electronic signal and passed to the control system.

At the control module the signal is processed and presented on an analog bar graph to visually indicate the level of smoke present in the monitored area. Depending upon smoke levels and the preprogrammed alarm levels, the appropriate output signals are generated.

The first of the three staged alarm levels (ALERT) may simply indicate that the system has detected something out of the ordinary that should be investigated. The second level (ACTION) indicates that a potential fire exists and that emergency procedures should begin. The third level (FIRE) signifies an actual fire condition.

Engineering Resources from the Fireline Corporation

The Fireline Engineering Department can engineer your air sampling system

Fireline Corporation has an engineering staff capable of designing your air sampling system. We will prepare your engineering drawings using Autocad 2000 (or lower), perform calculations, and assemble submittal documents as required. Our installation team has over 10 years combined experience in the installation of high sensitivity smoke detection systems.

After the sale you will need support on your fire detection system. At Fireline Corporation service is a separate department. You will receive focused attention on annual testing and maintenance.