NORTHFORD, Conn., Jan. 12, 2015 — Gamewell-FCI by Honeywell today introduces a new addition to its FAAST series of aspirating smoke detectors from System Sensor – FAAST XT. In addition to the very early warning of smoke and enhanced immunity to false alarms all detectors within this series offers, one FAAST XT unit can protect nearly 30,000 sq. ft. of space with each of its four air sampling pipes running out as far as 400 ft. in length. This breadth of coverage mixed with such immediate and high precision smoke detection is being viewed as a big problem-solver for an assortment of common fire protection challenges.
“We had an old building retrofit we were about start. Then they redesigned all the under floor air race ways,” said Jim Brady of Electronic Security Corp., a Gamewell-FCI Distributor in the greater Philadelphia area. “Now we needed more pipe for smoke detection. It was way more cost effective to go with three XT units, rather than multiples of other detectors.”
Brady noted applications where smoke detection is needed in hard-to-reach places is an issue his team runs up against “all of the time”. The FAAST XT includes an onboard Ethernet port, which allows it to be configured and monitored off-site, plus it can send system alerts via email. These unique, remote capabilities are a necessity for detectors placed in hard-to-reach, hazardous or restricted access areas.
Harsh environments within many facilities are another challenge Brady commonly contends with. Most recently, he found traditional spot detectors being corroded by a great deal of dirt and other dense particulates within a recycling warehouse facility, and heat sensors could not offer fast enough detection.
“This is another place where we can use the FAAST XTs to provide them better protection with something that promises a longer life,” Brady said.
All FAAST detectors comprise a patented particle separator and a 30-micron filter, which prevent any heavier particulates not associated with smoke or fire to be immediately expelled from the detector. FAAST is UL listed for Class I, Division 2 hazardous environments.
Such extensive filtration combined with its use of two sensing technologies (infrared laser and blue LED) to detect low concentrations of smoke from a variety of fires, enable FAAST to sense incipient fire conditions as early as one hour before a fire actually starts. In areas such as detention facilities where very early warning of smoke is required, FAAST detectors absolutely meet that need, according to Kobey Ratliff of APi Systems Group, a Gamewell-FCI Distributor covering the Houston, Texas, area.
“In the county jails we’ve done, they require the system to detect smoke within 60 seconds, before setting-off the smoke purge systems in the detention areas,” said Ratliff.
Ratliff contends FAAST units are the way to go for these facilities and others that present challenges around detection time and space constraints.
“We used to have to install up to two or three spot detectors per 10’ by 10’ cell in order to achieve the required detector response time,” Ratliff said. “And the FAAST is good for protecting a lot of hard-to-reach places too.”
The FAAST XT conventional detector features three fan speeds, allowing users to adjust its coverage and power consumption. Two Modbus interface options enable the FAAST XT to connect to building management systems easily.
Gamewell-FCI systems are non-proprietary, engineered, installed and serviced by a network of factory-trained Engineered Systems Distributors throughout the U.S. To reach a local Distributor or inquire about FAAST or FAAST XT, contact a regional manager. More technical information on FAAST is available on Gamewell-FCI.com.
