New warehouse protected by early warning detection

18 July, 2007

The warehouse, near Birmingham, was completed in July last year. A recent incident occurred where a forklift truck caught fire in the warehouse. This was detected at a very early stage by the Stratos High Sensitivity Smoke Detection system which activated an early alarm, providing sufficient time for the fire to be safely dealt with, without damage being caused to the building structure or contents.

According to CBS Security Systems, the company responsible for the quality and safety of the security systems installed at the warehouse, Bristan was pleased with the effectiveness of the system.

CBS had specified and installed the system, complete with Command Module to allow centralised reporting. The company’s decision to use the Stratos-HSSD system was based on past experience of the product. General manager, Derek Emslie, said: “We had used Stratos in the past and found it to be an effective system. The Bristan warehouse covers 240,0002ft and its ceilings are 42ft high – Stratos was the most suitable solution for the narrow aisles and high racks.”

“The developer, IM Properties, was still modifying the design of the warehouse according to Bristan’s requirements, and so Stratos detectors were the best choice logistically, as they allowed scope for modifications and flexibility while the stocking profiles and racking systems were still to be determined,” said Emslie.

The warehouse has a large footprint, yet only 13 detectors were needed to provide early warning for the whole area. This was made possible because the Stratos detectors can be networked using RS485 cabling that covers up to 1.2km between each detector. Maintenance and access is also more convenient.

The Stratos-HSSD system uses the ‘forward light scattering’ principle where an internal laser beam is diffracted at a small angle by smoke particles. The Stratos Perceptive Artificial Intelligence system is able to recognise the changes in environment and adapt performance accordingly, making it suitable for use in buildings with high ceilings, such as the Bristan warehouse. A system of laser dust discrimination (LDD) ensures reliability and prolongs the service life.