System Sensor- Experts & Thought Leaders

Altronix, the provider of power and data transmission solutions for the professional security industry, introduces the latest additions to its extensive line of NAC power extenders with a unique rack solution. These new units are ideal for installations where wall space is limited or not an option, providing system designers flexibility when specifying fire alarm systems. Streamlining system design “This rack mount solution streamlines system design and provides installers with a versatile option to deploy fire signalling power, vertically – saving valuable space,” said Ronnie Pennington, Director of Sales, Americas for Altronix Corporation. Both provide 24VDC at 10A and interface with virtually any Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP) “The units’ extendable drawer simplifies installation and service - increasing total cost of ownership.” R1002ULADA offers 2-Class A or 4-Class B outputs and model R1042ULADA offers 4-Class A or 4-Class B outputs. Both provide 24VDC at 10A and interface with virtually any Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP). Outputs can be independently programmed for steady, temporal code 3 or strobe synchronisation, as well as repeating a specific signal utilising input to output follower Mode. Audible notification appliances These units synchronise with Potter/Amseco®, Gentex®, System Sensor® and CooperWheelock® notification appliances. Built-in battery charging provides system backup when coupled with RE2R, rack mount battery (red) enclosure which accommodates four 12VDC/7AH batteries. Special features include a horn/strobe sync mode that allows audible notification appliances and visual notification appliances to be silenced at the same time, signal circuit trouble memory to help identify intermittent loop problems, and common trouble input and output for external trouble signals. The Altronix R1002ULADA and R1042ULADA NAC power extenders are NDAA and TAA compliant and carry a lifetime warranty.

The fire industry’s most widely used aspirating smoke detector will be among the new technologies Honeywell will unveil at National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Conference and Expo 2017, taking place June 4-7 in Boston.Xtralis VESDA-E VEP smoke detectorThe company will showcase its next-generation Xtralis VESDA-E VEP aspirating smoke detector system, which yields 1.5 times greater sensitivity and offers six times better dust rejection than the previous generation of products, significantly reducing the potential for nuisance alarms and reducing related customer costs. It also features built-in Wi-Fi for remote detector access from smart devices to review and monitor status in real time. Honeywell is also announcing all-new fire alarm control panels—Honeywell Silent Knight, Honeywell Farenhyt Series, and Fire-Lite by Honeywell—each with new technological advances. “Our focus as a leader in the fire industry is to anticipate customer needs, solve problems and save lives. Our new fire panels and next-generation VESDA do just that,” said Michael Flink, President of Security and Fire, Honeywell Home and Building Technologies. “Customers and experts in the industry are telling us that the latest generation of Honeywell Xtralis VESDA is perhaps the greatest innovation in fire detection in the last 20 years."Targeted fire detectionAspirating smoke detectors are able to sense smoke before fires are visible to the naked eye. But beyond sensing smoke, the new VESDA-E VEP system has the unique capability of characterising particles, providing analytics for targeted detection, and a more efficient and effective response. With easy set-up and virtually stress-free out-of-the-box installation, an intuitive 3.5” LCD touch screen display and access to wireless remote review with the iVESDA app, this system may set a new industry benchmark for very early warning smoke detection.In addition to advanced detection technologies, Honeywell also will show new fire control panels from some of the strongest and most respected brands in life safety that will roll out this summer. Life safety professionals also will begin to see updated brand logos and refreshed product packaging and from Honeywell fire panels including Gamewell-FCI, Honeywell Silent Knight, Honeywell Farenhyt Series, and Fire-Lite by Honeywell. The Honeywell Silent Knight brand introduces four new fire alarm control panels ranging from 100 points to 1,100 points Built-in dual path communication Additional life safety innovations and technologies available at the NFPA Conference and Expo include: The Honeywell Silent Knight brand introduces four new fire alarm control panels ranging from 100 points to 1,100 points. These panels allow you to connect up to 17 panels with convenient single point access and dramatically lower monitoring costs. With built-in dual path communications, a cellular side car option, larger 40- by 20-inch display, and support for SWIFT wireless detection, these panels are designed for the future while still being fully backwards compatible. The new Honeywell Farenhyt Series Black Fire Panels offer a unique design with flexible architecture so integrators can choose the ideal system size and cost for each installation. The new generation of fire control panels allow a network up to 32 panels, combination emergency communications, carbon monoxide and fire detection all in one panel, as well as compatibility with all SWIFT Wireless devices. The new panels are eVance ready for faster and simpler serviceability, and are also available in red. Notifier fire alarm control panels The Fire-Lite by Honeywell brand introduces six new fire alarm control panels that offer more communications options—built-in IP/POTS as well as cellular side cars—and a USB port for easy programming and firmware updates. All panels support SWIFT Wireless devices and offer 4 programmable buttons for convenience and efficiency while still being backwards compatible.High-Level Interface, an integration with the SLC Integration Module that marries VESDA devices with Notifier Fire Alarm Control Panels, allows the newly introduced VESDA-E series of aspirating smoke detectors to exchange information directly with the Notifier fire alarm control panels. The new L-Series AV Notification Appliances, a line of fire and life safety notification devices from System Sensor, covers the full range of candela settings while offering the lowest power consumption—up to 35 percent reduction across all settings. Notifier website has been given an overhaul, is now mobile-friendly and features an updated user interface to make it easier for users to find product information, browse related products, and download and distribute collateral.

System Sensor is excited to announce the launch of FAAST XT, an aspirating smoke detector with an expanded coverage area that uses four pipe inlets to draw air in from the protected space. FAAST XT brings all the capabilities of FAAST – such as three stage filtration, very early warning fire detection, and several integration options – to a broader range of applications. The smoke-sensing chamber can detect particulate up to 0.00046%/ft. obscuration, and the two-light chamber offers increased accuracy and nuisance immunity. FAAST XT can cover up to 28,800 square feet in Standard Detection, and has an aggregate pipe length of 1,050 feet. Ultra-sonic airflow sensing for each pipe inlet FAAST XT’s other new features include: an LCD for easy status reading and device operations, a USB connection for plug-and-play device configuration, a 3-speed user-adjustable fan, Serial Modbus, and ultra-sonic airflow sensing for each pipe inlet.

New notification appliances from Silent Knight provide code-required low-frequency output Just before the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) World Safety Conference and Expo, June 22-25 in Chicago, Honeywell unveiled new solutions and features designed to boost life safety and provide more intuitive installations. S3 series control/communicator A “virtual press conference” unveiling the announcements was kicked off by Beth Welch, manager of public relations and social media engagement. She highlighted technology, code requirements and new market demand. Presenters included: Brian Carlson, manager of strategic marketing, Gamewell-FCI; Susan Adam, marketing director, NOTIFIER; Richard Conner, director of marketing, Fire-Lite Alarms, Silent Knight; Christa Poss, senior manager of product marketing, System Sensor; Charles Simek, industrial, product and technology specialist, Honeywell Industrial Safety; and Gene Pecora, business leader, industrial fire, Honeywell Fire Safety. Brian Carlson, Gamewell-FCI, manager of strategic marketing, outlined intuitive capabilities of the new S3 Series control/communicator designed for small- to mid-sized buildings. The S3 Series includes touchscreen technology that allows for greater confidence and ease of use during fire alarm programming and event control. “Some of the most commonly heard feedback is that there is some fear of fire alarms and what buttons to push during an event. We’ve taken the fear out of using fire alarm systems with the S3 Series. The focus is on mistake-free operation, and everything on the keypad is highlighted. This guides the user on exactly what to do during an emergency so they can have the confidence to press the right button and move on. Five custom shortcut buttons provide simple system control,” Carlson says. The S-3 Series comes with a built-in Ethernet port for programming, monitoring and diagnostics. “IP connectivity is critical,” adds Carlson. “Fire protection integrators can connect to the system via a smartphone, so they can see what’s happening on site.” New opportunities in wireless fire detection Honeywell also outlined new opportunities in wireless fire detection and protection, focusing on the Smart Wireless Integrated Fire Technology (SWIFT), introduced at the 2014 NFPA Conference & Expo. According to Susan Adam, marketing director for NOTIFIER, SWIFT offers systems integrators the ability to offer fast and flexible installation, a less evasive specification and heightened solution reliability. “SWIFT greatly expands the array of applications for wireless systems and is perfect for temporary protection and detection, even through metal construction.” SWIFT, she says, was recently deployed at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Vail Valley in Avon, Colo. "Fire protection integrators can connect to the system via a smartphone, so they can see what’s happening on site", says Brian Carlson of Gamewell-FCI Located on the edge of the ski course was a temporary facility called the VIP Building, with walls of glass that allowed spectators to watch the races outside the windows while staying indoors. Though not required by local code enforcement to install a fire alarm system within the temporary buildings, organisers did so as a precaution. “They concluded it would be a good idea to have some form of fire protection in the buildings,” says Tim Ward, NICET IV, general manager at Commercial Specialists of Western Colorado. The structures would be disassembled after the race, so organisers did not want to waste time pulling wires across the buildings to support the fire alarm system’s assorted field devices. Coupled with a tight deadline for installation and tear-down, it made sense to turn to wireless smoke detectors. “Because of the ease of installation, it was just the perfect solution to go wireless,” says Joe Quinn, service manager at Commercial Specialists of Western Colorado. “By running a wireless system, we knew it would be beneficial because all we would have to do is place our bases and do the programming.” Low frequency for waking Low frequency was also on the press conference agenda. Richard Conner, director of Marketing for Silent Knight, says new research indicates that a signal or tone at 520 Hz is more effective at waking building occupants, including those with mild to severe hearing loss. The expanded line of the Silent Knight IntelliKnight 5820XL-EVS emergency voice system now includes SpectrAlert® low frequency sounders and sounder bases. "SWIFT greatly expands the array of applications for wireless systems and is perfect for temporary protection and detection, even through metal construction", says Susan Adam, marketing director for NOTIFIER Conner says the International Building Code 2012 and others increasingly recognise the use of low frequency notification in certain applications, especially sleeping areas such as dormitories, hotels and motels. Current versions of Silent Knight detectors and traditional sounder bases can be upgraded simply by replacing the base with the new low frequency version. Other highlights of the press conference included the announcement that the FAAST XS Aspirating Smoke Detectors will soon be available for smaller applications up to 5,000 square feet, said Christa Poss, senior manager of product marketing, System Sensor. “The variable speed fan allows users to select the best coverage for their space,” she adds. Finally, Honeywell announced a new line of Industrial Fire and Gas Protection products featuring the HS81-HS Controller, designed for hazard monitoring and control at industrial sites such as oil and gas facilities and petrochemical processing plants. Gene Pecora, business leader, industrial fire, Honeywell Fire Safety, said the oil and gas industry and fracking are driving the construction of new facilities in the Americas and the world and demand for fire protection equipment, such as this fire and gas controller, that efficiently ties everything together with the plant safety system. “This is an area where damage, economic and structural, can be devastating,” Pecora says. The HS81-HS Controller performs flame, smoke, and gas detection and extinguishing/agent release, and seamlessly interfaces with plant safety and control systems through multiple protocols.

High-sensitivity aspirating smoke detectors (ASDs) excel at providing very early warning of fires. Because of their high sensitivity chamber, their ability to cover large areas, and their ability to detect smoke in high-airflow environments, ASDs are ideal solutions for many common smoke detection applications. New ASD technology is enabling fire system designers to solve a much broader range of fire detection challenges, enabling them to take aspiration anywhere. In this article, Stephen Lederer, Sr. Product Marketing Manager, Aspiration Business Unit at System Sensor, explains that the latest innovations in aspirating smoke detection technologies increase their effectiveness in traditional high-sensitivity applications, while also enabling them to meet a much wider range of fire detection challenges. Smoke Detection in Data Centres One of the most common applications for ASDs has been data facilities. Server rooms are home to expensive equipment and valuable business processes and data. In these facilities, every second of downtime accrued, transaction missed and byte of data destroyed due to smoke or fire can mean significant financial losses. In fact, according to a recent study by Emerson Network Power, downtime in a data centre has an average cost of about $500,000 per event. The potential for smoke and fire is heightened in data facilities as the electrical equipment they contain creates a high-heat-density environment. At the same time, air conditioning devices used to control the temperature create a high air flow and air filters used by the AC units can remove smoke particulate, making detecting smoke in data centres extremely challenging. ASDs overcome the challenges of protecting data centres by actively sampling air through a network of pipes. These pipes can be run above the ceiling, under the floor, in-between, in, and above server racks and cabinets, and in the return air duct of an air handling unit – anywhere smoke might travel. These detectors are capable of providing Very Early Warning Smoke Detection. This level of sensitivity, combined with multiple levels of alerts, enable facilities to implement a strategic response plan to address incipient fire conditions before costly damage and downtime can occur. Recent developments have enabled ASDs to potentially eliminate costs related false alarms A newer innovation that can enhance data centre smoke detection is increased nuisance immunity. Traditionally, nuisance alarms have been accepted as the cost of using a high-sensitivity aspirating detector. However, more advanced detection and filtering technology has greatly enhanced the nuisance immunity of some ASDs, enabling the detector to potentially eliminate costs-related false alarms. Smoke Detection in Warehouse Spaces A fire in a warehouse can potentially cost millions in lost inventory and downtime. Fires can also escalate quickly due to the amount of stored goods and the presence of combustible materials. But because of their size, these spaces present unique challenges to traditional detection devices. Large, open areas with high ceilings can cause smoke to dilute and not reach ceiling-mounted spot detectors in detectable quantities, and differences in temperature can cause stratification that prevents smoke from even reaching the ceiling. Aspirating smoke detectors can overcome many of the challenges typically present in warehouses. An ASD’s pipe system may be run vertically up racks and across the ceiling, taking samples along its pipe network to overcome the challenges of stratification. To further protect stored goods, pipes may also be run intra-rack to ensure complete coverage of a warehouse facility. If the warehouse is very large, a single ASD unit can cover several thousands of square metres of space, reducing the number of devices required. One common warehouse application challenge that has been difficult for ASDs to overcome is that the constant movement of inventory, forklifts, and air currents can release an unusual amount of dust and dirt into the air. This makes nuisance rejection a must in many warehouse environments. Again, recent developments in the filtering and detection of particulate have made it possible for some ASDs to provide the high-sensitivity required to detect very small levels of smoke while rejecting nuisance particulate from the detection equation. This mitigates the effects of dilution and enables a response before costly inventory damage can occur. Recent developments in the filtering and detection of particulate have made it possible for some ASDs to provide the high-sensitivity required to detect very small levels of smoke while rejecting nuisance particulate from the detection equation Another recent advance beneficial to these spaces is integral communications capabilities in the ASD that enable it to actively notify facility managers at the first instance of trouble. For example, there are devices that can communicate directly to the many major fire alarm panels without the need for any extra hardware. There are also devices that use an onboard Ethernet port to send e-mails to up to six individuals when set alarm thresholds are reached. The integral Ethernet capabilities also allow the device to be monitored anywhere in the facility via the Local Area Network (LAN), or anywhere in the world using a Web browser and a VPN-capable device. Smoke Detection in Cold Storage Spaces Costly loss of product and productivity are just two ways a fire can do a great deal of damage to cold storage facilities. However, due to low temperatures, normal UL listings for many traditional passive detection devices preclude their use in refrigerated storage applications. Furthermore, because cold storage environments have extremely dry atmospheres, high airflows, and the presence of highly combustible materials, fires can often spread very quickly. An ASD can be mounted outside the extreme environment in an easily accessible location. It then draws air through a pipe network that is run into the cold storage space, so the device is not exposed to the cold temperatures that prevent the use of many traditional devices. Temperatures within a cold storage facility can vary between –40°C and 18°C. There are systems, for example, listed to sample air as cold as -20°C. But if the air sample is colder than the listed ratings, it can be warmed before entering the device. Cold storage typically exists in a warehouse-style setting, so these facilities present many of the same challenges as warehouse applications. It is essential to protect freezers/chiller rooms, coolers, shipping bay areas, ceilings and ceiling voids. In addition to these areas, it is recommended to sample air from the return air path in the protected area. Samples may also be drawn from within the racks.