Servicing tick list for Aspirating system ?

[Benzerari]

Any luck of what should be checked and tested in an aspirating system, I mean proper aspirating systems such as Vesda, Stratos... not Duct detectors system.

Thank you

[Benzerari]

Other questions;

Have seen Vesda fitted in a warehouse storage of 15 meters high, the holes to be tested are available only at ceiling level...


1- Is that conform to BS?
2- If Yes, how can that be tested with a normal 10m pole?
3- Would a normal solo spray trigger the system?
4- Would Aspirated system be suitable for such large area of (100m*100m), and around 15m high?


Thank you

[Big_Fella]

This is on the limites of the correct operation on an aspirating system (providing it's not a cat P installation).  Generally they should be tested in accordance with the manufacturers and BS recommendations which is a burnt wire test.

Also, being at this height, you should check that the aspirating system is set at it's maximum sentitivity.

We also have a few systems installed very similar to this, and we generally use the burnt wire test to activate the system.  Takes a while for the smoke to reach that level, but it is activated.

Factors to consider also in the time it detects is the spacing of the sampling holes and tube length.

[dark one]

tend to use a smoke pen for testing vesda / stratos. solo smoke is not recommended the wire burn test is ok but does not show that indevidual holes/pipes are drawing smoke just that the system will pick up smoke.

test from the end cap to check transmission time for each pipe the panel should respond in 30 sec but does not have to go into fire.
test snoke into indevidual holes or groups of holes if covering a/c unit for example
On vesda system check raw air flow is good. some pepole will just normalise an air flow fault to clear the panel but the raw flow rate will indicate if ok or not.
check the filter contamination level (and service date for vesda)

for high pipe work if access is not possible have used smoke pellets in the past heat these in a metal can and they generate quite a bit of smoke that is driven up by the heated can these are often used for testing chimneys and Flues and can be purchased from fireplace shops

[Benzerari]

Thanks Guys for this info

[Thomas Brookes]

Normally Vesda's have a pipe coming down to a lower position where you take off the end cap and smoke test at that point.

[Benzerari]

Have been told that, but some cabling crossing the ducts and very tightly fitted. Only by unscrewing the cables I probably can remove the end of the ducts from the unit.

But would that be acceptable by BS to spray the unit on the top, while removing the end of the duct, instead of testing from different holes in different zones…?

[chris.]

Simple answer, no its not acceptable to test the panel by taking off the pipe and testing it that way - you should be testing from the end point (if you can) / as many sample points as you can get to , and document the holes tested as best as you can.. Just in case of the holes is blocked - if there was a real fire and its found the holes have been blocked for some time, i imagine you could be in a bit of trouble.   

Also, dont use the solo smoke.. you should be testing with something that you burn to get a accurate test - and you may find the unit may not even go off using solo aerosol smoke..

I'd recommend you get a smoke pole that holds the smoke sticks, I use a Hochiki one which you light the stick in the bottom, and extend the pole out to the sample point - in fact I think it goes higher than the solo poles.

[Allen Higginson]

The BFPSA document that came out in relation to aspirating systems recommended the installation of a test point at the end of the sampling pipe for purely test purposes.Transportation times should be noted from this point (being the furthest from the detection chamber).
Any holes that are obstructed on a properly installed aspirating system will bring up a flow fault.