Engineering Specification for

a High Sensitivity Laser Airsampling Smoke Detector

(HSLASD)
(15 channel 15 pipes VFT-15)

Jan 2010

VESDA by Xtralis

Engineering Specification

Table of Contents
PART 1......................................................................................................................................... 2
1.1
General........................................................................................................................................ 2
1.2
Principal of Operation.................................................................................................................. 2
1.3
Calibration and ambient pollution compensation.........................................................................2
1.4
Flow Monitoring............................................................................................................................ 2
PART 2......................................................................................................................................... 3
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8

Product specific............................................................................................................................ 3
Programming............................................................................................................................... 3
Inputs and outputs....................................................................................................................... 3
Display......................................................................................................................................... 4
Environmental.............................................................................................................................. 4
Accessories................................................................................................................................. 5
Remote displays.......................................................................................................................... 5
Pipe Modeling Software............................................................................................................... 5

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Engineering Specification

VESDA by Xtralis

General Engineering Specification

PART 1
1.1 General
The HSLASD system will consist of a central housing with 15 micro-bore pipes that are routed to the
protected area. The minimum micro-bore pipe length allowed by the system will be 50 m (164 ft), covering a
maximum of 1500 m2 (16150 ft2). The system will actively sample air from this area into the housing where a
laser-based smoke detector is located, with a sensitivity to detect smoke with a density of 0.001%Obs/m
(0.0003%Obs/ft). The optical chamber will be field serviceable without need for recalibration or speciality
equipment. The removable chamber will include a two-stage particle filter.
Alarm states will be shown on the display panel and an audible warning will be given.
The unit will be approved by VdS with EN54-20 compliance, approved by FM and listed by UL.
The unit will be placed at a convenient height for ease of use.

1.2 Principal of Operation

The system will use a high performance vacuum pump with a minimum pressure of 0.7 bar to sample air
through micro-bore flexible tubes at near-ambient pressure. The smoke detector will be of an integrating
mass particle detection nephelometer type using a laser as the light source.
The detector will provide a direct (absolute) measurement of obscuration, without attempting relative scaling
or other compensation for contamination of the chamber.
Samples from all inlets (sectors) will be combined as an overall sample in the inlet manifold, filtered, and fed
to the smoke detector. If smoke is detected and the obscuration is determined to exceed a preset non-alarm
level of smoke density (TRACE threshold), the detector will sequentially scan the sectors using a rotary valve
to determine the source of the event. If the smoke level is then determined to exceed a preset alarm level,
the detector will signal to the host panel or other monitoring equipment after a configurable time delay.
There will be at least four stages of Alarm: ALERT, ACTION, FIRE1 and FIRE2 and another smoke density
level, TRACE, set below the ALERT alarm level to initiate the scanning sequence. It will be possible to set
different levels for TRACE, ALERT, ACTION, FIRE1 and FIRE2 Alarm levels and delay times. The respective
relay outputs and indications can be set to latched or unlatched.

1.3 Calibration and ambient pollution compensation

Unlike traditional point detectors, background compensation or floating background compensation algorithms
within the sensor will not be accepted; particularly as real events below 0.03 %Obs/m (0.009%Obs/ft) might
otherwise be masked.

1.4 Flow Monitoring

The control unit will continuously monitor for blockages and/or disconnection of tubes on an individual sector
basis. The unit will enable the user to normalize flow readings to a nominal 100% for each sector. The unit
will have default and configurable high and low flow thresholds and configurable delays for each threshold.

PART 2
2.1 Product specific
The housing will be constructed of a robust metal and plastic materials meeting all relevant flammability
requirements. The unit will have tamper proof screws preventing unauthorised access.
The unit will employ an in-line filter to remove dust particles from the air sample and shall enable simple onsite filter replacement without use of any speciality tools. The HSLASD will allow closed loop sampling
whereby the exhausted air will be completely returned to the sampled area.

VESDA by Xtralis

Engineering Specification

The unit will provide a programming facility through a display or PC based software that may also be used for
monitoring and configuration procedures.
The unit will provide an RS232 port to download all the data that is logged within the unit. It will be possible
to view and retrieve all detector and user events or trends collected over a period of time and stored in the
event log. The event log will store at least 4000 events. When equipped with a TCP/IP module, the event log
will store at least 20000 events.

2.2 Programming
The units will be programmed through a software package connecting to the RS232 port or remotely through
Ethernet or RS485.
The software will allow at least the following actions and settings:
Perform flow normalization (when the detector is not in alarm)
Set Flow Fault delay period
Set High and Low limits set for Flow Fault thresholds
Set Day sensitivity
Reset and Isolate the detector
Silence the sounder
The unit will record engineering values during manufacture and operation such as:
Software version
Sample flow through the detector
Log of flow changes
Measurements of sample flow rates for each sector
% Obscuration
Settings for a 4-20mA output module

2.3 Inputs and outputs

The unit shall be externally powered at 24 VDC to be provided by an EN54-4 or UL1481 or ULC 527
approved power supply. There will be an Auxiliary 24 VDC output supply (fused to 1 A) for powering an
external devices.
It will be possible to remotely reset the unit by applying 24 VDC to a dedicated input.
The unit will provide an RS485 port for remote operation, as well as a RS232 connection for conducting
Test/Configuration functions and interrogation of the fault log data.
The unit will provide an Ethernet connection for connecting to a host computer. With this capability, the unit
will support remote monitoring and control of all detector functions.
The unit will provide at least 5 relay outputs reflecting ALERT, ACTION, FIRE1 and FIRE2 alarm status.
There will be a common fail-safe relay for fault signalling.
The system will support any mix of at least 2 self-declaring I/O modules. These can be of the following types,
an 8-channel 4-20mA-output module, or a 4-way SPDT relay module.
The 8-channel 4-20mA-output module will have a minimum 16-bit resolution.

2.4 Display
The display board will enable the following user functions as a minimum:
ACCEPT Switches the internal sounder off and acknowledges all current alarm states while leaving
all other warning mechanisms to continue unchanged. New alarm events will cause the sounder to
revert to continuous operation.

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Engineering Specification

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SOUNDER SILENCE Switches the internal sounder off until one or more new alarm events occur.
RESET Clears all latched alarms and faults. Current Alarms or Faults will remain.
ISOLATE Disables alarm relays so that Alarm and/or Fault conditions will not be reported back to
the Host Panel. It is intended for use when diagnosing faults, testing new installations etc.
TEST Scrolls through date, time and performs a LED test where all LED segments are illuminated.
Control and configuration buttons Enables all local user-interface operations, which are also
accessible a software package.
The display board will have the following indicators as a minimum:
SAMPLE, ALARM and FAULT indicators for each sector.
POWER Power supply is ON
GENERAL FAULT Detector has one or more faults. Individual faults will also be shown by specific
fault indicators. The FAULT relay contacts will follow the state of this indicator.
GENERAL FAULT (flash on/off) Detector EEPROM is faulty.
PROCESSOR RESET Processor has been reset
FLOW FAULT Flow rate for any sector is outside the bounds set by the High and Low flow limits.
ASPIRATION FAULT Rotary valve is faulty.
DETECTOR FAULT Laser smoke detector has developed a fault
COMMUNICATION FAULT Part of the internal RS485 communication link is faulty.
HOLD Unit has been set to sample from only one sector.
UNLOCK An access code has been entered and some functions for the detector are now enabled.
ALERT, ACTION, FIRE 1 and FIRE 2 A smoke density exceeding the respective alarm level has
been detected. The alarm LEDs will operate in tandem with corresponding relays on the I/O board to
indicate progressive levels of smoke. They will be programmable for both obscuration level and time
delay.
Smoke density bar graph
Status display Display for the smoke density value and all SETUP and CONFIGURE procedures.
Indication of the sector that is currently being monitored.

2.5 Environmental
The units will have an IP30 rating and operate at an ambient temperature range of at least 0C to 39C (32
to 103 F) at a relative humidity of 10-95% RH (non-condensing). The detector will be tested to a
temperature range of -10C to 55C (14 to 131 F) and be able to sample air with a temperature ranging from
-20C to 60C (4 to 140 F). Product UL listed for use from 0 C to 38 C (32 F to 100 F).

VESDA by Xtralis

Engineering Specification

2.6 Accessories
All tube, accessories and fittings will be supplied by the same manufacturer to guarantee optimum fitting.

2.7 Remote displays

It will be possible to connect one Remote Display to each unit, and the Remote Display will mimic all control
functions of the main unit.

2.8 Pipe Modeling Software

The system shall have adequate software to determine transport times for each sampling point.
End of Specification

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