The Vesda range of aspirating smoke detectors have become the first to be CE marked under the Construction Products Directive, claims manufacturer Xtralis, following testing to EN-54-20, the new European standard for these products.
This standard becomes a mandatory requirement for aspirating smoke detectors (ASDs) across most of Europe next year and introduces performance requirements for high sensitivity detection systems.
“We are proud to have achieved the EN 54-20 approval more than 12 months before the official European deadline,” said Mariann McDonagh, senior vice-president of corporate marketing for Xtralis. “Now people can specify Xtralis ASD solutions with the full confidence that they will be compliant upon installation and commissioning. This is particularly relevant in countries such as the UK, where the Installation Code of Practice (e.g. BS5839-1:2008) already recommends that ASD systems should comply with EN 54-20.”
In support of the approval, the company’s pipe network design software now includes a range of special features, which are intended to allow designers to calculate the detector sensitivity setting needed to achieve a particular EN54-20 class. There are three: Class A (high sensitivity), Class B (enhanced sensitivity) and Class C (normal sensitivity).
The standard is changing the way ASD systems are specified, adds the company. For example, for early warning applications, an aspirating smoke detector with a capability to provide Class A ‘high sensitivity’ at 30 sampling holes may be specified, while for a project where maintenance access is restricted, an aspirating smoke detector providing Class C ‘normal sensitivity’ at 40 sampling holes may be specified.
