Effective fire detection in production and storage facilities is essential for protecting human lives, valuable assets, ensuring safety, minimizing operational disruptions and environmental damages. These facilities, often characterized by high ceilings and densely packed storage areas, require specialized fire detection systems for early and reliable detection. AP Sensing’s fiber optic Linear Heat Detection systems are perfectly suitable not only for high bay shelved warehouses, but also for bulk storage, such as grain or coal, which cause highly dusty and potentially explosive atmospheres.
Challenges of Fire Detection Systems for Industrial Applications
Production and storage facilities face unique challenges when it comes to effective fire detection, as these environments often house flammable goods and multiple sources of ignition, from packing materials to electrical and HVAC equipment. Fires in such facilities can lead to severe consequences, including loss of stock, costly downtime, and reputational damage. High ceilings, dense shelving, and pallet storage further complicate fire detection.
For food processing plants, additional challenges arise due to the need for strict hygiene standards and environmental conditions like humidity, condensation, salinity, and rapid temperature fluctuations. These facilities require systems that can handle these conditions as well as other harsh ambient scenarios, such as direct cleaning with detergents or high-pressure washer procedures.
Fiber Optic Linear Heat Detection
Fiber optic Linear Heat Detection (LHD) technology offers precise, real-time monitoring by using a passive fiber optic cable as a distributed temperature sensor, measuring thousands of temperature points along the cable. This makes fiber optic LHD ideal for production facilities, where comprehensive coverage, real-time monitoring, and high precision are essential to detect and respond to fire risks effectively.
AP Sensing's Fiber Optic LHD Solution
AP Sensing’s fiber optic Linear Heat Detection (LHD) solution meets these needs with high reliability and low maintenance, offering an ideal solution for challenging industrial and storage settings. This makes our LHD solution ideal for industrial environments, such as:
Food Production and Industrial Processing Facilities
Fire detection systems in food production and other industrial processing facilities must adhere to strict hygiene and safety standards and meet requirements towards robustness and reliability. These environments pose unique challenges due to regular cleaning processes, the presence of combustible materials and strict temperature control requirements.
AP Sensing’s fiber optic LHD system addresses these needs by ensuring compliance with industry regulations. Our technology can be easily deployed with a single robust fiber optic cable that continuously monitors temperature across all critical locations in the plant. The robust cable jacket withstands high temperature of certain industrial processing areas, as well as cleaning procedures with detergents or various types of vapors. Each processing area can be customized with specific alarm settings, reducing false alarms and enhancing fire detection reliability.
Warehouses and Freezers
Warehouse and cold storage facilities, including freezers, face specific fire risks due to high ceilings and densely packed storage racks. In these settings, reliable early detection is essential, particularly where smoke detectors may struggle in cold environments.
AP Sensing’s fiber optic LHD solution addresses these challenges with a passive fiber optic cable that acts as a distributed temperature sensor, measuring thousands of temperature points in real time. The lightweight, rugged ⌀ 4 mm sensor cable is easy to install along storage racks and between shelving levels, providing multi-level coverage with minimal maintenance requirements. Our solution offers reliable, real-time temperature profiling, ensuring robust fire protection tailored to the demands of large-scale warehouse facilities.
Conveyor Belt Systems
Conveyor belts are essential to many industrial processes, yet they pose substantial fire risks due to potential mechanical failures, overheating, or material buildup. Fire detection systems designed to monitor the entire length of conveyor belts help prevent minor issues such as smoldering fires from escalating into major fires.
AP Sensing’s fiber optic LHD solution is ideal for these environments, as it continuously monitors temperature along the conveyor, detecting localized heat increases and potential malfunctions early on. With capabilities like hot roller detection and robust resistance to vibration, our solution ensures reliable fire safety tailored to the demands of conveyor systems.
EX-Areas (Hazardous Areas)
Fire detection in hazardous, explosive areas (EX-areas) is essential for preventing potential explosions in environments with flammable gases, liquids, vapors, or dust. AP Sensing’s LHD technology is specifically designed for these high-risk settings, providing reliable fire detection that meets ATEX and internationally recognized IECEx safety standards. Certified for use in most critical EX zones, namely zones 0 and 20, AP Sensing’s LHD system complies with international fire safety directives and requires no special housing, which simplifies both installation and maintenance in hazardous areas.
AP Sensing's Fiber Optic LHD Solution
AP Sensing’s LHD N45-Series stands out with its ability to maintain functionality at extreme temperatures, ensuring continuous monitoring in severe environments. The distributed sensing approach enables continuous monitoring over the entire length of an asset or area, minimizing nuisance alarms by distinguishing between actual fires and standard temperature variations.
The LHD N45-Series is thoroughly tested and holds the most complete set of certifications on the market (EN(VdS), UL, FM, ATEX, IECEx, and SIL), confirming its safety and performance under severe conditions.
SmartVision Software
Our comprehensive asset visualization software, SmartVision, provides a clear and intuitive overview of e.g. warehouse configurations or production facilities and system information. With SmartVision, users can visually monitor the entire facility, accessing real-time data and system statuses to ensure effective fire detection and safety management across all assets.
Key Takeaways
- Wide temperature range
- Precise location of multiple fire events
- Fire size and spread monitoring
- Immune to EMI, dirt, dust and humidity
- Fully certified and in compliance with internationally recognized standards
- Usable in EX environment zones 0 and 20
With a proven track record and continued innovation, AP Sensing offers a completely integrated, end-to-end solution made in Germany. Our team works together with you to select the right combination of technologies to fit your requirements. We also provide onsite services, hotline and online support, maintenance and product training.
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