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ASPIRATINGSMOKEDETECTION
VESDAVESDA
VESDA

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COLDSTORES

ColdStores

VESDA

DISCLAIMER
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Thispublicationisaguideonly.Referencetolocalcodesandstandardsforcomplianceofsystem
designshouldalwaysbesought.Nopartofthisdocumentmaybereproducedortransmittedinany
formorbyanymeans,electronicormechanical,includingphotocopyingandrecording,forany
purposewithouttheexpresswrittenpermissionofVisionSystems.Formoreinformation,please
contactyournearestVisionFire&Securityoffice.

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ColdStores

CONTENTS
1.

INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................4

2.

DESIGNCONSIDERATIONS.......................................................................................5

3.

LEVELOFPROTECTION............................................................................................6

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3.1.
3.2.
3.2.1.

PERFORMANCEBASEDDESIGN..............................................................................7
ROOMPROTECTION..................................................................................................7
SamplingPointLocation..........................................................................................8

3.3.

AlongUndersideofCeiling........................................................................................9

3.4.
3.4.1.
3.4.2.

CONDENSATIONCONSIDERATIONS......................................................................12
ExternalCondensation...........................................................................................12
InternalCondensation............................................................................................12

3.5.

INRACKPROTECTION............................................................................................14

3.6

VOIDPROTECTION...................................................................................................14

4.0

GLOSSARY...............................................................................................................15

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1.

VESDA

INTRODUCTION

Refrigeratedwarehousesandcoldstoragefacilitiesaretemperaturecontrolledenvironmentsthat
containawiderangeofinventorysuchasfreshandfrozenfoods,pharmaceuticalsandprepackaged
productlines. Theultradryenvironment,andhighlycombustiblenatureoftheinsulationand
packagingmaterialspresentasignificantfireriskinthesefacilities.Reliable,veryearlysmoke
detectionsystemscanassistinprotectingthesefacilitiesandtheassociatedstockassetsfromthe
threatoffire.
Asaninnovativepioneerofaspiratingtechnology,VESDAprovidestheearliestpossiblewarningofa
potentialfirebydetectingtheincipient(precombustion)stageofafireevent.Thisguidehasbeen
developedbyVESDAengineerswhohaveextensivedesignandinstallationknowledgeincold
storageenvironments.
TheColdStoreDesignGuideisintendedasareferenceforconsultantsanddesignersinvolvedinthe
specificationofrefrigeratedstoragefacilities.Itdiscussesrelevantdesignconsiderationsand
recommendationsregardingtheinstallationofanaspiratingsmokedetectionsystemincoldstorage
environments.

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2.

ColdStores

DESIGNCONSIDERATIONS

Thefollowingaspectsshouldbeconsideredduringthespecificationanddesignofanaspirating
system:
Temperaturerangesofthecoldstoreandassociatedrooms
Airflowcharacteristicsoftheroom
Defrostcyclesandassociatedcondensation

Penetrationsintheceilinginsulation.
Productflammabilityandtoxicityrisksand

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3.

VESDA

LEVELOFPROTECTION

Coldstorageenvironmentsexhibitharshclimaticconditions.Theiroperatingtemperaturestypically
rangebetween8Cto40C(46Fto40F)resultinginextremelydryatmospheres.Keycoldstore
risksinclude:a)ignitionhazardsfromelectricalandmechanicalfaultsfromconveyor/transport
equipment,b)lightingorhotspotscausedbymaintenanceoperations,andc)thefuelhazardsfrom
thehighlycombustiblenatureofpolystyreneandpolyurethanefoams,woodenpalletsandplastic
wrapping. Thelowhumiditylevelsofcoldstoresfurtherexacerbatetheheatreleaserateofburning
materials.
Highbaystoragerackingcanalsoaffecttheairflowandimpedethedetectionandresponsetoafire
event.
Theextremetemperaturesofrefrigeratedstoragefacilitiesareaprimarychallengetodetectingacold
storefireasmostformsofdetectionarenotdesignedtooperateinharshclimaticenvironments.High
airflowscreatedbyblastchillerunitsandcondensation(iceformationwithinthefacility)canimpede
theoperationofconventionalpassivedetectors.Internationallyrecognisedfirestandardsfurther
state,thatunlessspecified,smokedetectorsshouldnotbeinstallediftheoperatingtemperatureis
1
below0C(NFPA72).
Althoughwatersupressioni.e.sprinklers,maybeusedinwarehouseapplications,theymaybe
ineffectiveincoldstorageenvironments.Intheeventofafire,theactivationofwatercancreate
environmentalandoccupationalhazardssuchasiceformation(blackice*).Thereleaseofwatercan
alsogeneratelargeamountsofdensefog,causingreducedvisibilityandimpedinganappropriatefire
brigaderesponse.
Tominimisedamageandlossincoldstores,afiremustbedetectedataveryearlystage.VESDAs
reliable,veryearlywarningminimisesthelikelihoodofproductloss(eitherfromfireand/or
contamination),facilitydamageandoperationaldowntime.
Thefollowingguidelinesaretoassistconsultantsanddesignerstoachievetheoptimumlevelof
protectionrequiredbyacoldstorefacility.Internationallyrecognisedfirestandardsandcodesof
practiceorrequirementsshouldalwaysbetakenintoconsideration.
Thespacingordensityofthesamplingholesaredictatedbylocalstandards.Sensitivitylevelsare
determinedbytheapplicationenvironmentandthelevelofresponsetospecifictestsandwillnotbe
addressedinthisguide.
Table1showsthepossibleareasofprotectionofacoldstoreenvironment.
Areas
Freezers/Chillers
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Required

Recommended

Optional

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Plant/Maintenance
Areas
ReturnAirPath
Protection
AnteRooms/Loading
Bays
RackingProtection
CeilingVoid
Table1

AreasofProtection

Thefollowingsectionswilldescribedesignrecommendationsrelatedtothedifferentprotectionareas.
ASPIRE . Thisprogramillustratesthesignificanceofvariousparametersinanaspiratingsmoke
AllpipeworkdesignsshouldbeverifiedusingtheVESDASamplingPipeModellingProgram
detectionsystemsothatthemostappropriatedesigncanbeapplied.
TM
NFPA72NationalFireAlarmCode,1999.
* Athinlayerofice,whichformsonconcreteduetosprinkleractivation.
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1

VESDA

3.1.

ColdStores

PERFORMANCEBASEDDESIGN

PerformanceBaseddesigndeterminesthebestfireprotectionsystembyassessingtheenvironmental
risksattheconceptdesignstage.VESDAsadvanceddetectiontechnologycomplementsexisting
coldstoreoperationsofcontinualrefrigeration,humiditycontrolandstorageconfigurationsbyutilising
thisperformancebasedapproach.
ItisrecommendedthatsmoketestingbeperformedtodeterminetheoptimallocationfortheVESDA
detectionsystem.Thisalsoallowsaccurateidentificationofdirectionofsmoketravelandlevelof
smokestratification.Thesetestsareusuallyperformedduringthecommissionphaseofthecold
store,i.e.priortocontaininggoods.
NOTE:

Theadditionofstockwillfurtheraltertheairdynamics(airflowandairdirection)of
thecoldstorefacility.
Thisshouldbeacknowledgedduringthedesignstage.

3.2.

ROOMPROTECTION

VESDAprovidesearlywarningsmokedetectionoffreezers/chillers,anterooms,loadingbays,plant
andmaintenanceroomsviapipeworkpositionedeitheralongtheundersideoftheceilingordirectly
throughtheceilingusingcapillarytubes.
Thefirstconsiderationisachievingthebestairsamplingconfiguration.Therearetwo(2)alternate
approaches:
1)
2)

Samplingpipeinstalledinsidethecoldstore
Samplingpipeinstalledexternaltothecoldstorewithcapillarytubesenteringthecoldstore.

Inmostcoldstorefacilities,samplingpipeworkinstalledwithinthecoldstoreisthepreferredoptionas
fewerceilingpenetrationsarerequired.

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3.2.1.

VESDA

SamplingPointLocation

Themethodoflocatingthesamplingholesisidenticalineitherpipeworksamplingconfiguration.
Samplingholesinaspiratedsmokedetectionsystemsarepositionedwhereconventionaldetectors
wouldnormallybeplaced,andaccordingtolocalprescriptivestandards.
Internationalcodesandstandardsrecommendboththeareaofcoverageperdetector,andalsoarea
coverageatvariousairchangerates.Thepositioningoftheactualdetectorisusuallydeterminedbya
simplegridlayout. Moststandardsdefinedifferentgridspacingdependentoncertaincriteria.
Referenceshouldbemadetoyourrelevantstandard.RefertoFigure1.
NOTE:

ItisadvisabletolocatethesamplingholesoutsidethedirectairflowpathoftheChillerunit.

Endcapwith
SamplingHole

Chiller

Airflow

SamplingHoles

Figure1

GridLayoutforSamplingHoleLocations
(X=samplingholedistancerefertorelevantstandard)

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3.3.

ColdStores

ALONGUNDERSIDEOFCEILING

Usingtheabovegridlayoutmethod,thesamplingpipesmaybepositionedalongtheundersideofthe
ceiling.RefertoFigure2.

CeilingVoid

Penetrations

CeilingInsulation

Sampling
Hole

Figure2

SaddleClip

SamplingPipeAlongUndersideofCeiling

Wheninstallingceilingmountedpipework,penetrationsaredrilledthroughtheceilinginsulationpanels
andmustbefullysealedbyeitherurethanefoam(solid/rigidmaterial)ormastic(flexible).Thepipe
mayalsohaveasealand/orinsulationbootinstalledtosealthepenetratingpipethroughthecold
storeceiling.RefertoFigure3.
Icingdueto
condensation

PipeLagging

CeilingVoid

RubberInsulation
Boot
CatchmentTray

CeilingInsulation

UreaFoam

Figure3

Mastic
Sealant

SealingHolesThroughColdStoreCeiling

Foreaseofinstallation,asemiflexiblepipematerial(e.g.PVC,UPVC,HFT,ABS)isusedwithceiling
mountedsampling,withparticularconsiderationgiventointernaltemperaturefluctuations.
Anymountingclipmustallowforpipemovementtoaccommodateexpansionandcontractioncaused
bytemperaturefluctuations.Inparticular,wherethepipeisinstalledinambientconditions,reference
mustbemadetotheamoutofcontractionthatwilloccurasthetemperatureisreduced.
Forexample,ABSpipewillcontractby0.1%foreach10 C(50 F)dropintemperature.Thisis
equivalentto40mm(1.57)inalengthof40m(131.2ft)pipe,andwillcausethepipetopullapartifthe
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VESDA

mountingclipsconstrainthecontraction.Itmaybenecessarytolocateexpansion/contractionoffsets
every1020m(32.865.6ft)toaccommodatethechangeinpipelength.
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NOTE:Pipeconnectorsshouldnotbepositionedadjacenttothemountingclipasthismay
alsoconstrainmovement.
Toreducetheeffectofpipeworkexpansionandcontractioncausedbyclimaticchanges,pipeworkis
supportedbyeithersaddleoroffsetclips.RefertoFigure4.
Offsetclipsarethepreferredoptionincoldstoreenvironments.Thisallowsforexpansionand
contractionofthepipeworkduringdefrostingcyclesandothermajortemperaturechangesand
removestheneedtopenetratetheinsulation.

Figure4
NOTE:

OffsetClip

SaddleClip

Samplingholesshouldbedrilledinthesideofthesamplingpipe.Thisreducesthe
accumulationofcondensationandice,whichcouldblocksamplingholesifdrilled
underneaththepipe.RefertoFigure4.

TheVESDAdetectorcanbepositionedintheceilingvoidorexternaltotheprotectedcoldstorearea.
NOTE:Theincidenceofcondensationaccumulatinginthesamplingpipesandenteringthe
detectorispreventedbyensuringthedetectorisinaninvertedposition,i.e.thepipework
entersthedetectorfromunderneath.
VESDAdetectorscanreliablydetectsmokesamplestoaminimumtemperatureof20 C(18 F),
however,itisrecommendedthattheairsampleentersthedetectoratatemperatureof0 C(32 F).
Thisismosteasilyachievedbyextendingthesamplingpipelengthoutsidethe0 areaandallowing
theambientairtoincreasethetemperatureofthesampledairinthepipe.Copperpipemaybeused
forthisprocessduetoitsheattransferabilities
Thisconfigurationissufficientinthemajorityofcoldstoragefacilities,andpiperunsof510m(16
32. 8ft)intheambientenvironmentisoftensufficient.
Incoldstoreconditionswherespaceislimitedorpiperunsinambienttemperaturesisnotpossible,
thefollowingoptionsmaybeemployed:

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VESDA

ColdStores

HeatTracing:
Ifextendingthepipelengthisnotpossible,itmaybenecessarytotraceheatthepipeorcapillary
tube.Thisinvolvesacombinationofsamplingpipewithheattracingifthedetectorispositionedinthe
ceilingvoid.RefertoFigure5.

CeilingVoid

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overpipework
Heattracing

Topowersupply

CeilingInsulation

Figure5

HeatTracing

HeaterBox:

Aheaterboxmaybeemployedifthelengthofsamplingpipeisnotsufficienttoallowtheairto
warmnaturally.Theheaterishousedwithinanairtightboxandisdesignedtoraisethe
temperatureofthesampledairbeforeitreachestheVESDAdetector.RefertoFigure6.

100 wattdehumidifierheater

HeatedAir

AirfromColdStore

Topowersupply

Figure6

11

HeaterBoxArrangement

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3.4.

CONDENSATIONCONSIDERATIONS

3.4.1.

ExternalCondensation

VESDA

Samplingpipesorcapillarytubesthatpenetratetheinsulationlayerareinevitablycoldastheyenter
theambientairspace(ceilingvoid).Asaresult,condensationislikelytooccurontheoutsideofthe
samplingpipeandmayfreeze.
Considerationshouldbegiventoinsulatingthepipeortubeforashortlengthasitexitsthecoldstore
andtomovetheriskofmeltcondensation(i.e.water)awayfromthepenetrationtoanareawhereit
canbetoleratedorcontained. Awatercatchmenttrayisrecommendedtocapturethemelt
condensation.RefertoFigure3.

3.4.2.

InternalCondensation

Condensationmayoccurinsidethesamplingpipeiftheexternalenvironmentiscoolerthanthe
VESDAprotectedarea.Whileunlikely,somecoldstoreapplicationsmaypresentfreezingfogwhich,
ifdrawnthroughthesamplingpipe,maymelt.Theoccuranceoffreezingfogisusuallypresentinthe
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vicinityofdoorsandchillersduringdefrostcycles.

CeilingVoid
Tfitting

Clearpipetoshowwaterbuildup

StopValve
WaterCatchmentTray

CeilingInsulation

Figure7

Condensation/WaterTrap

AtypicalwatertrapconfigurationrequiresaTfittingbeforethepipeenterstheinverteddetector,
allowinganypresenceofwatertopoolatthestopvalve.RefertoFigure7.
Theclearsectionofthesamplingpipeallowsmaintenancepersonneltoidentifyandreleaseaywater
accumulationbyopeningthestopvalve.
NOTE:

Itisadvisedthatthestopvalveshouldbeopennomorethan5secondstominimise
theoccuranceofanairflowfaultbeingreportedbythedetector.

VESDAsASPIRESamplingPipeModellingProgramshouldbeusedtoverifytheperformanceofthe
system.Ascoldtemperaturescauseairtotravelataslowerrate,thesampletemperaturecanbeset
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VESDA

ColdStores

toarangeofvaluesintheASPIREprogramandresponsetimescanthenberecorded.Itisalways
recommendedthatasmoketestbeperformedtoverifythedetectionsystem.
PointstoConsider:

ItisrecommendedtheVESDAsystembefullyinstalledandpowereduptoensureoptimumair
movementthroughthepipe,andtoavoidtheincidenceoficing.Thisisperformedduringthe
commissioningstageofthecoldstoragefacility.
Tominimiseheattransferduringinstallationinexistingcoldstoreretrofits,itisrecommendedthat
pipeworkisblockedatthepointthatthepipeleavestheprotectedareaintotheceilingvoid.The
pipeworkcanbeunblockedoncetheVESDAdetectorisconnected.
Toavoidicingandcondensation,samplingholesshouldbepositionedaminimumof5m(16.4ft)
fromdoorwaysorchillers(refertolocalcodes/standards).

NOTE:Temperatureandhumidityfluctuationsmaycausecondensationtoformontheexterior
ofthepipeasitenterstheceilingvoidfromthecoldstorearea.Insulatingthepipeworkasit
enterstheceilingvoiddecreasestheleveloficingthatmayformontheexteriorofthesample
pipeasitexitsthefreezer.(RefertoFigure3)

Capillarysamplingisanalternativemethodtoceilingpipeworksampling.Thesamplingpipeis
locatedintheceilingspaceandacapillarysamplingtubeisconnectedfromthepipethroughthe
ceilinginsulation.Airisthendirectlysampledfromthecoldstorearea.RefertoFigure8.

ThecapillarysamplingholepositionshouldcoincidewiththegridlayoutasdescribedinSection3.2.1.

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CeilingVoid

CeilingInsulation

Figure8

CapillarySampling

Capillarysamplingcanbelabourintensiveaseachsamplingpointmustbedrilledthroughthe
insulationskinoftheceiling.Penetrationsneedtobefullysealedtopreventmeltcondensation
seepingintotheinsulationbarrierandcausingdamagetothepanel.
PointstoConsider:

Ceilingmountedpipeworkonlyrequiresonepipeworkpenetrationthroughthecoldstoreceiling.
(RefertoFigure2)

Incomparison,capillarysamplingrequiresapenetrationpersamplingpoint.RefertoFigure8.

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3.5.

VESDA

INRACKPROTECTION

Samplingpipesforaspiratedsmokedetectionsystemsmayalsobelocatedalongthecoldstore
rackingsystems.Itisrecommendedthatthedetectorispositionedinanexternalareawitheasy
accessforserviceandmaintenance.RefertoFigure9.

VESDADetector

Figure9

InRackSampling

Theidenticalsamplingpipeconfigurationcanalsobeachievedforrackingsystemsinstorage/loading
bayareasi.e.anterooms.

3.6

VOIDPROTECTION

Freezers/Chillers,anterooms,loadingbays,plantandmaintenanceroomscanalsohaveprotectionin
theceilingvoids.Thisisespeciallyrelevantifthevoidcontainscablingandequipmentwhich
increasestheriskoffire. RefertoFigure10.
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Todeterminethespacingofthesamplingholes,thepreviouslydescribedgridlayoutmethodshould
beemployedwithreferencetolocalcodesandstandards.

CeilingVoid

SamplingHoles

CeilingInsulation

Figure10

CeilingVoidProtection

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VESDA

4.0

ColdStores

GLOSSARY

BlackIce:

Athinlayeroficethatformsonconcreteduetosprinkler
activation.

HeaterBox:

Anairtightboxthattypicallyhousesa100wattdehumidifier
heater.Theheaterraisesthetemperatureofthesampledair
beforeitreachestheVESDAdetector.

HeatTracing:

Amethodofwrappingtapearoundacoppersamplingpipe
andrunningacurrentthroughthepipetoproduce
approximately30wattspermetre.Thetemperatureofthe
sampledairisraisedbytheheatgeneratedinthecopper
samplingpipebeforeitreachestheVESDAdetector.

InsulationBoot:

Awatertightsealmadeofrubberwhichisfittedaroundthe
samplingpipetokeepthesampledairatfreezertemperature
untilitpassesthrougharaisedsectioninthepipework.

SmokeStratification:

Thermallayerswhichcanoccurinhighroofapplicationsthat
canpreventsmokefromrisingtotherooflevel.

MeltCondensation:

Theconditionthatoccursaftersampledairiswithdrawnfrom
theprotectedarea,andbeginstoriseintemperatureonce
outsidethecoldstore,causingmoisturetobecomeliquid.

FreezingFog:

Moisturecloudwhichtypicallyformneardoorsorotherareasof
heatentryintothecoldstore.

Commissioning(acoldstore):

Theprocessofsealingthecoldstorearea(includingall
fixtures),installingthechillersandbringingthecoldstoretoan
operationaltemperature.

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