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 Gulf Wide Safety Systems, we design, install, and service both the Analaser high sensitivity smoke detection system, and the VESDA air sampling system. The two employ different detection strategies.

Analaser High Sensitivity Smoke Detection System

The analaser 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 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 is designed to detect the plasticizers commonly released from PVC wire in the very early phases of heat build up.

In the Analaser 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 Air Sampling System

The VESDA system uses a Xenon tube as the light source to bounce light off fire byproducts in the detection chamber

The VESDA 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.

Siemens Cerberus Division Intelligent Systems - MXL Series

	MXL-IQ: A member of the InteLINK family of systems designed to make installation and maintenance easier and more efficient through innovative, user-friendly technology. By "intelligently linking" people and technology, these systems allow more end-user participation in the system design and provide an intelligent, custom-engineered solution that reduces cost, increases efficiency and maintains the highest degree of system performance and reliability.
	MXL: As the foundation of the MXL Series of systems, the MXL is the most widely accepted analog fire protection system in the marketplace today. With an amazingly flexible architecture, the MXL is the one system that can meet the requirements of a wide range of applications - from the smallest office building, the tallest high rise, the largest convention center, a health care facility, a school or university, airport or a hotel concerned with early warning and evacuation. Flexible and easily expandable at any range, eliminating costly upgrading or retrofitting.
	MXLV: The MXLV is a complete package - combining emergency voice evacuation with reliable fire protection. It's the one system that can meet the requirements of a wide range of applications- from the smallest office building, the tallest high rise, the largest convention center, a health care facility, a school or university, airport or a hotel concerned with early warning and evacuation. The flexibility of the MXLV makes it easily expandable at any range, eliminating costly upgrading or retrofitting in the future.

Siemens Cerberus Division Conventional Systems

	System 3: Introduced in the late 1960s, System 3 is the most successful system ever from Cerberus Division. At the time it revolutionized the concept of modular design, which enabled each system to be specifically designed and customized to meet the customers application needs. System 3 continues to endure as one of the most popular systems, due to its inherent simplicity and reliability.
	PXL: The PXL fire alarm system offers every building owner fire protection which is easy to install, easy to use and cost effective in every application. Buildings which require reliable fire protection at low cost are quickly satisfied by the PXL, the only conventional fire alarm system utilizing detection and control products from the same manufacturer. Many facilities require conventional fire detection in 12 to 16 zones or more, but do not require the increased capabilities of intelligent detection. PXL offers a cost effective solution for schools, nursing homes, apartment buildings, municipal buildings, department stores, strip malls, and more. This system will provide basic, reliable smoke and heat detection, monitor status of sprinkler systems, send evacuation signals throughout the building and transmit system condition to a central station. And it can be tailored to do so for any variety of specific needs.
	SXL-EX: The SXL-EX is the most basic member of the Cerberus Division family of fire alarm control systems. Incorporating innovative, high quality design, SXL-EX will provide years of reliable fire protection in small buildings and structures. The SXL-EX was developed to meet the varied fire detection needs of schools, municipal buildings, nursing homes, apartment buildings warehouses, small office buildings, department stores- virtually anywhere a cost efficient, general purpose fire control panel is required.
	VoiceCom: The VoiceCom voice and tone alarm emergency communication system is the ideal solution for voice evacuation requirements in small to mid-size applications. Recent trends indicate that future fire alarm/suppression systems will use more voice communications to better manage the evacuation of facilities during fire and other emergencies. VoiceCom provides the answers all the emerging voice and tone communication needs such as NFPA's "new assembly occupancy" requirements.

Engineering Resources from Gulf Wide Safety

The Gulf Wide Safety’s Engineering Department can engineer your air sampling system

Gulf Wide Safety Systems, LLC, has an engineering staff capable of designing your air sampling system. We will prepare your engineering drawings using Autocad revision 14 (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 Gulf Wide Safety service is a separate department. You will receive focused attention annual testing and maintenance.