Air-sampling detection provides fire safety for new prison cell block
Fire detection for 128 individual cells in a new block at a prison in Nottingham is provided by a Wagner Titanus addressable air-sampling-detection system.
Wagner UK’s addressable air-sampling detection systems are providing early-warning smoke detection for a new prison block at HMP Lowdham Grange in Nottingham. This block of 128 cells was constructed by Skanska Rashleigh Weatherfoil for the prison operator Serco. The Titanus Micro-Sense systems have been tested and evaluated by the Home Office for use in prison accommodation. Air sampling is an established fire-detection technique for prison cells because it requires only a sampling point and avoids the need for a point smoke detector that can be easily damaged. A single Titanus unit can monitor multiple cells and identify the specific location in the case of a fire, providing a significant cost saving to systems that require a detection unit for each cell. In all, 35 sensors were installed to serve the 128 cells. The sensitivity threshold is adjustable, and cigarette smoke does not cause false alarms. Air-sampling-detection systems draw samples continuously from the monitored area through a pipe system fitting with sampling holes at regular intervals. This air is analysed for smoke particles and an alarm raised if smoke is present. A monitoring system detects if a sampling hole is blocked, a pipe is ruptured or if the air-sampling unit has failed. The Titanus range has been developed by Wagner as a simple and low-cost air-sampling system replacement for point smoke detectors.
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