[
The largest scientific facility to be built in the UK for over 30 years is being protected by aspirating smoke detection systems from Stratos-HSSD.
The Diamond Light Source in south Oxfordshire – a runner up in the 2005 FSE Design Awards – is housing a third generation synchrotron radiation source. The facility consists of series of ‘super microscopes’ used in the research of life, physical and environmental sciences. The futuristic doughnut-shaped building is over half a kilometre in circumference, with a footprint equivalent to five football pitches.
Chubb Fire is installing, commissioning and servicing the fire detection system. Some 76 Stratos-HSSD detectors with ClassiFire-3D artificial intelligence have been installed. This allows the detectors to accurately ‘condition’ themselves to ideally suit the environment of the main synchrotron building and the experimental research laboratories that radiate from it. The Stratos-HSSD detectors interface with a networked six-panel fire and voice alarm system, which includes over 3000 devices.
“The sheer scale and particularly the height of the building made aspirating smoke detection the optimum solution, with the air sampling pipe-work running throughout the industrial areas of the complex,” said a spokesperson from Chubb Fire.
The facility welcomed its first scientific users in January this year, with the current Diamond synchrotron team of 200 engineers, scientists, support staff and technicians anticipated to grow to 300 by 2012.