A S P I R A T I N G S M O K E D E T E C T I O N

VESDA

When Performance Counts

VESDA Aspirating Smoke Detection

It’s critical.

A fire detection system that offers One that delivers high performance
the earliest possible warning of a through its high quality design and its
potential fire. dedicated global sales and distribution
A system that will ensure that busi- channels.
ness is never disrupted and that nui- With over 50,000 units installed
sance alarms are eliminated. worldwide, the VESDA name has
A system that can adapt to the become synonymous with high perfor-
‘unique’ characteristics of any given mance very early warning smoke detec-
environment. tion.
It is the product chosen when reli-
able performance is crucial.

VESDA...When Performance Counts

VESDA Features
• The Latest in Laser Technology
• Absolute Smoke Detection
• Patented High Efficiency Aspirator
• Widest Sensitivity Range
• Up to 4 Levels of Alarm
• VESDAnet communication -
linking detectors and ancillary devices
• Dual Stage Dust Filtration
• Programmable Relays
• Air Flow Monitoring
• AutoLearnTM
• Referencing
• Built-in Event Logger
• Optional Remote Displays
• Versatile Mounting Options
• Easy Interfacing to Major Fire Alarm Panels
VESDA Provides The Earliest Possible Fire Warning

TIME

STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3 STAGE 4

INCIPIENT VISIBLE FLAMING INTENSE
SMOKE DENSITY

SMOKE FIRE HEAT

Conventional
Detectors
VESDA VESDA VESDA
ALERT ACTION FIRE 1
VESDA Fire 2
(Fire Suppression Used)

All escalating fires have four stages: Incipient (pre-combustion), Visible Smoke, Flaming Fire, and Intense Heat. This
chart shows the progression of fire over a time period. Note that the incipient stage of smouldering fires provides the
widest window of opportunity to detect and control the spread of fire, before it takes hold causing major damage and
disruption. VESDA can be configured to generate multiple alarms within this window.
Conventional smoke detectors often detect smoke when a fire has already taken hold thus causing major damage
to assets and property.

VESDA helps to ensure that business active protection where other systems Typical response procedures could
disruption and down time are avoided prove inadequate. This sensitivity range include: activation of a pager, a gener-
by detecting smoke at the earliest possi- (0.005 to 20% obscuration/m) allows al alarm, building evacuation and fire
ble stage. Also, VESDA’s wide sensitivity for the initiation of up to four different department notification. The VESDA
allows optimum alarm settings for a response procedures as the smoke level Fire 2 response could initiate fire sup-
wide range of environments, providing rises. pression if necessary.
VESDA Solutions For Every Environment

In environments where down

time must be eliminated or
minimised:
In today’s business environment
down time is costly and unacceptable.
VESDA detects the earliest possible sign
of smoke, before flaming fire. It allows
for time to take action, ensuring 24
hour service and operation.

Telecommunications
Computer Rooms
Hospitals
Clean Rooms

In environments where smoke is

difficult to detect:
Larger areas and environments
experiencing high air changes are
often not adequately protected with
conventional smoke detection sys-
tems. For these environments, VESDA
is the ideal solution.

Warehouses
Atria
Aircraft Hangars
Cold Storage
Function Rooms
Indoor Stadiums
In harsher environments:
Traditionally, environments with a
higher degree of pollution or with
extreme environmental characteristics
have posed a problem for conventional
smoke detection systems. VESDA is able
to provide a superior level of detection
in these hostile environments.

Power Stations
Mines
Public Transport
Automotive Operations
Paper and Timber Mills
Manufacturing Operations

In environments where appear-

ance is important:
The aesthetic requirements of some
buildings will always pose a challenge
for conventional smoke detection sys-
tems. VESDA provides concealed
smoke detection for these environ-
ments while maintaining critical early
warning.

Modern Offices
Heritage Buildings
Cathedrals
Museums
Archives
Art Galleries
How Does VESDA Work?

VESDA’s high quality aspirating unique feature of providing an addi- smoke is present, light is scattered within
smoke detectors work by continually tional clean air supply to keep the opti- the detection chamber and is instantly
drawing air into the pipe network by a cal surfaces within the detector clear identified by the highly sensitive receiver
highly efficient aspirator. A sample of from contamination and to ensure the system. The signal is then processed and
this air is then passed through a dual stable calibration and long life of the presented via a bar graph display, alarm
stage filter. The first stage removes dust detector. threshold indicators and/or graphic dis-
and dirt from the air sample before it From the filter, the air sample is play. The VESDA detectors are then able
allows the sample to enter the laser passed through to the calibrated detec- to communicate this information to a fire
detection chamber for smoke detection. tion chamber where it is exposed to a sta- alarm control panel, a software manage-
The second ultra fine stage has the ble controlled laser light source. When ment system or business management
system via relays or a high level interface.
VESDA Eliminates Nuisance Alarms

Other high sensitivity smoke detec-

tion systems allow false alarm condi-
tions in the presence of dust or lint and
are therefore only recommended for
clean and controlled environments.
VESDA’s ability to trap dust and dirt
particles through it’s highly reliable fil-
tering system, coupled with the tradi-
tional method of using time delays,
reinforces VESDA’s commitment to elim-
inating nuisance alarm activity.

AutoLearnTM
AutoLearn is a unique feature avail-
able with all the VESDA detectors to
ensure optimum operation in differing
environments. By monitoring ‘average’ The same process of continually drawing air through a standard pipe network can also be
environmental conditions and automat- applied to small, single environments including critical process tools. VESDA LaserCOMPACT, which

ically setting alarm thresholds for the is specifically designed for areas less than 500 sq. m (5000 sq. ft.), is shown as a cost effective
approach to very early warning smoke detection.
protected area, it allows for the earliest
possible warning of a potential fire situ-
ation and minimises the occurrence of
nuisance alarms.
VESDA Supports Innovative
Referencing Performance Based Design
As added protection against nui-
sance alarms caused by external With the trend towards performance
sources, VESDA offers a Referencing based fire safety systems, designers are
feature. Referencing ensures that exter- able to show an increasing level of
nal pollution does not interfere with the innovation when designing new build-
true smoke level being detected in ings or remodelling existing ones.
the protected area, particularly in VESDA’s modularity and flexibility sup-
air conditioned environments. With ports designers in their quest to provide
Referencing, reliable and accurate ideal fire detection solutions without
detection can be achieved at all times. compromising fire safety.
The VESDA Products

VESDA LaserPLUSTM VESDA LaserCOMPACTTM

• The LaserPLUS detector is the core • While LaserPLUS and LaserSCANNER
product in the VESDA product address larger, more complex envi-
range. ronments, the LaserCOMPACT offers
• Like all the VESDA products it detects a simple, cost effective solution for
fire at the earliest possible stage and the protection of single and smaller
reliably measures very low to environments such as, small
extremely high concentrations of archives, production machinery, ceil-
smoke. ing voids, prison cells, wet benches,
• The LaserPLUS detector protects areas data storage cabinets and critical
up to 2000 sq.m (20,000 sq. ft.) VESDA LaserSCANNER TM
process tools.
• It has the world’s widest sensitivity • Offers the same wide sensitivity
• The LaserSCANNER locates the ori-
range: 0.005 to 20% obscuration/m range of LaserPLUS and
gin of smoke by identifying the first
(0.0015% to 6% obscuration/ft) LaserSCANNER - 0.005 to 20%
sector (pipe) with the highest level of
• The LaserPLUS display supports four obscuration/m (0.0015% to 6%
smoke and then continues to sample
(4) configurable alarm levels (Alert, obscuration/ft)
from all sectors to monitor fire
Action, Fire 1 and Fire 2) and a 20- • The LaserCOMPACT display supports
growth.
segment bar-graph indicating real- three configurable alarm levels (Alert,
• The LaserSCANNER provides the
time smoke level and fault conditions. Pre-Alarm, Fire)
same four alarm levels as LaserPLUS
• The detector can form part of a mod- • The LaserCOMPACT is available in
for each individual pipe (Alert, Action,
ular system with the display, pro- two versions, one that interfaces via
Fire 1 and Fire 2). Sector factors (sen-
grammer and VESDAnet modules relays only (RO), the other across
sitivity) can be set individually to
installed in a remote location or as a either relays or VESDAnet (VN).
ensure the optimal alarm thresholds
“self- contained” system by replacing • It is directly targeted at small mission
are applied for each sector.
the detector’s panels with display critical areas, processes and equip-
• The display is similar to that of the
and/or programmer modules. ment that occupy less than 500 sq.m
LaserPLUS. The bar graph displays
(5000 sq.ft).
the individual pipe smoke levels dur-
ing the scanning sequence. There is
also an extra LED to indicate when
the first alarm sector has been estab-
lished.
• Protects areas up to 2,000 sq m/500
sq m per sector (20,000 sq ft/5000
sq ft per sector)
• Provides Individual Pipe
Addressability and Individual Pipe
Sensitivity Settings.
REMOTE DISPLAYS PROGRAMMERS SUB RACK
ENCLOSURES
The VESDA displays monitor and The VESDA programmer is menu dri-
report the status of a detector. The dis- ven and allows the user to convenient- The VESDA 19” sub racks are
play module can be mounted in a ly configure, commission and maintain designed to accommodate the display
detector unit, or separately (connected their VESDA system as well as program and programmer modules and to inter-
via VESDAnet) in a remote unit or in a each individual detector. Only one pro- face with other standard cabinet con-
19” sub rack. It gives visual representa- grammer is needed to support the trol systems.
tion of smoke levels along with all alarm entire network. Like the display, it can
and fault conditions. For monitoring be mounted within a detector or at a
convenience, multiple displays can be remote location. A hand-held version is
associated with a single detector. also available to plug into the VESDA PipeTM
VESDAnet socket located on the detec-
One of the key elements in the per-
tor or in a remote area. It is specifically
formance of a VESDA aspirating detec-
designed for convenient on-site mainte-
tion system is the network of sampling
nance and service interrogation.
pipes that actively transport air from a
protected area to the detector. This is
why VESDA offers Aspirating Pipe and
Fittings packages to simplify pipe selec-
tion and to ensure that a quality system
is installed every time.
The VESDA “Connection”

VESDAnetTM
VESDAnet is a comprehensive fault It also allows for easy interfacing
tolerant “closed” communications loop. with systems external to the network
It links the detectors, displays, program- such as, building management systems
mers, remote units and power units on that are able to use VESDAnet to com-
a daisy chained loop in a configuration municate with the individual devices in
that meets customer requirements. It the VESDA system.
allows for a number of these units to be
programmed together from one or
more locations and automatically
detects communication failures.
The VESDA Software

VSMTM VConfigTM ASPIRETM

The VESDA System Management soft- VConfig is a configuration tool specifi- ASPIRE is a computer software tool for
ware package allows the user to moni- cally designed to simplify the setup of designing and evaluating aspirated
tor, configure and control a VESDA sys- any VESDA system during commission- pipe system layouts. By simply entering
tem from a central location via a ing and installation. It is available via a parameters such as pipe length, the
VESDAnet communication loop. Real PC Link into VESDAnet or directly to a number of pipes in use, air temperature
time and historical events for a single LaserCOMPACT using VESDAlink. and pressure and the type of detec-
detector, an area, or the entire facility tor(s) used, the software can calculate a
Features:
can be collected, processed and pre- pipe sampling model that will predict
• Simple drag and drop address set-
sented in either report or graph format. the performance of the proposed pipe
ting of display and relay devices to
network.
Features: detector zones
• Complete System Monitoring • Wiring table to show VESDAnet Features:
• Zone Display Representation device order with the immediate • Allows modelling of optimum sys-
• Event Logging identification of communication tem during design stage
• Smoke Trending faults • Allows for single pipe and twin
• Modem Access • Simple configuration table allowing branch (T-jointed) arrangements
• Floor Plans straight forward detector configura- • Generation of data for inclusion in
• Comprehensive Help Menu tion commissioning reports
• Event Log Analysis • Easy to use and understand
• Graphical Smoke Trending Capability
• Detector configuration up-load and
down-load
 Vision Systems - VESDA is the world’s leading manufacturer of very
TM

early warning smoke detection systems.

VESDA is committed to providing high quality products and unsur-

passed service through ongoing research into new technology

based solutions and customer needs.

VESDA is backed by a highly experienced and dedicated support

network. All VESDA products are installed and supported by VESDA

approved technicians.

VESDA products are approved by the key approval bodies worldwide

including FM, LPCB, SSL, UL, ULC, VdS.

Vision Systems - VESDA TM

has offices in Australia, China, Europe,

France, Germany, Korea, Taiwan and The Americas.

Vision Systems - VESDA is a member of the Vision Systems group.

TM

Australia and Asia The Americas Europe and the Middle East www.vesda.com
Vision Systems – VESDA™ Vision Systems – VESDA™ Vision Systems – VESDA™
15-17 Normanby Road 35 Pond Park Road, Vision House, Focus 31 Mark Road
Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia Hingham, MA 02043, USA Hemel Hempstead
Ph +61 3 9544 8411 Ph 781 740 2223 Herts HP2 7BW UK
Fax +61 3 9544 8648 Toll Free 800 229 4434 Ph +44 1442 242 330
Vision Systems Freecall 1 800 339 529 Fax 781 740 4433 Fax +44 1442 249 327

©1999 Vision Systems – VESDA™. All Rights Reserved. In accordance with its policy of continuing product and system improvement, Vision Products reserves the right to change designs or specifications
without obligation and without further notice. VESDA is a registered trademark of Vision Products Pty. Ltd. VESDA InfoWORKS, ASPIRE, LaserPLUS, LaserSCANNER, LaserCOMPACT, AutoLearn, VSM and
VESDAnet are trademarks of Vision Products Pty. Ltd.
Form No.: 18695 Printed: December 1999