VESDA HSSD Air Sampling for Data Centres

Although there are a number of active smoke detectors systems that use aspiration technology, VESDA by Xtralis was the first.

VESDA is an acronym for Very Early Smoke Detection Apparatus.

The VESDA system uses an engineered plastic piping network that draws air from the protected space and samples that air quality through the VESDA laser detection chamber.

The air first passes through a dual stage filter before entering the sampling chamber.

The first stage filter removes the dust and dirt from the air sample. The second filter provides additional clean air to keep the detector optical surfaces free from contamination.

The air sample then enters the detection chamber and is exposed to the laser diode light source. If smoke is in the chamber, the light will be scattered and the VESDA detector will indicate the level of alarm on a bar graph display located on the detector itself or at the network annunciator if installed.

Www solarfiresystems com VESDA HSSD for Data Centres

VESDA smoke detection is ideal for Data Centres and Server Rooms that have high airflow. (The Uptime Institute advises that all data centres use VESDA (very early smoke detection apparatus) air sampling systems and maintain appropriate fire barriers and separation of systems.)

Tradional spot smoke detectors struggle to activate with volumous air passing through their chambers. VESDA detectors draw smoke from the aspirating pipe and the holes in the pipe collectively capture the air and draw it back to the VESDA HSSD detector.

VESDA HSSD smoke detection is far more responsive than conventional smoke detectors. Measured tests again provide reports and samples of how the VESDA ASD detectors will operate in a high airflow environment.

Hot / Cold Aisle Containment

Hot/cold aisle is a layout design for server racks in a data centre. The goal of it is to increase the effectiveness of cooling system by managing air flow in data centre.

In the simplest form, this design involves lining up server racks in different rows with cold air facing one way and hot exausts facing the other. Typically, cold aisles, which are usually composed of rack fronts, face AC output, and hot aisles face return ducts.

Hot/cold Aisle Containment Vesda Air Sampling

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In hot / cold aisle systems, the cabinets are adjoined into a series of rows, resting on a raised floor. The fronts of the racks face each other and become cold aisles, due to the front-to-back heat dissipation of rack servers.

Hot / cold aisle protocol can be implemented with underfloor, overhead, horizontal displacement, or local air distribution systems.

Hot Aisle Containment Vesda Air Sampling

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In Hot aisle containment systems, racks are positioned in rows (back to back). The hot aisle in between racks will be covered on the top and at the end of the rows and ducted back to the air conditioning unit.

The result is a full separation between supply and return air.

Cold Aisle Containment Vesda Air Sampling

Www solarfiresystems com data centre vesda hssd cold aisle air sampling

In cold aisle containment, racks are positioned in rows (front to front). The cold aisle in between racks will be covered on the top and at the end of the rows. The result of this is a full separation between supply and return air.

Cold air will be supplied through a raised floor into the contained cold aisle; hot return air is exhausted from the racks into the room.

Return Air Grille Sampling

The sampling pipe is placed over the return air grille of a duct or an Air Handling Unit (AHU).

The image below illustrates pipe mounting over the return air grille. The number of AHUs that can be covered by different detectors is dependent on the suction power of the AHU and also on the size of the return air grille.

Www solarfiresystems com data centre vesda hssd air sampling return air sampling

Recommendations:

Do you have a Data Centre project that requires VESDA HSSD air sampling?

Call us today to dicuss your requirements on 01628 902107 or email us [email protected]



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