Xtralis VESDA providing fire prevention for the new Abu Dhabi Airport Midfield Terminal

Jan. 8, 2016
Xtralis VESDA smoke detectors are relied on to protect UAE super structures, including the Burj Khalifa, Emirates Palace Hotel, and Dubai & Abu Dhabi International Airports

Dublin, IRELAND - January 7, 2016 - Xtralis VESDA VLS aspirating smoke detectors will provide fire prevention at the new Abu Dhabi International Airport Midfield Terminal Building (MTB), scheduled to open in 2017. The MTB will be the largest in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and one of the region’s most architecturally impressive structures. Xtralis VESDA & VESDA-E aspirating smoke detectors (ASD) now protect many of the United Arab Emirates super structures, including the Burj Khalifa, Emirates Palace Hotel, and Dubai & Abu Dhabi International Airports. Xtralis VESDA brand is the world’s most dominant aspirating smoke detector, with greater than 65 percent ASD worldwide market share, according to estimates from IHS Technology.

The new Midfield Terminal Complex (MTC) will have 700,000 sq-m of internal space for a passenger terminal (MTB), cargo facility, and restaurant and retail space. The size of the MTC is so impressive that it will be visible from 1.5 km away. The facility can accommodate 8,500 passengers per hour and up to 30 million per year. The central space of the terminal building could hold three full-sized football (soccer) pitches and features a ceiling 52 m tall at its highest point, taller than the Emirates Palace and will include 28,000 sq-m of retail outlets and restaurants.

Chief among the challenges with protecting the MTB was the massive open space where smoke will be diluted, an effect compounded by air-conditioning systems. VESDA’s early and reliable detection combined with the VLS capability of monitoring the protected space by sectors were key factors that resulted in the selection of the Xtralis solution. Additionally, temperatures in the terminal could range from hot to cold, depending on the weather, and VESDA was the only detector that could ensure early and reliable detection under these conditions. Xtralis provides comprehensive safety and security solutions for airports, including smoke and gas detection, perimeter security, and intrusion detection. To learn more, visit www.xtralis.com/airports.

The VESDA LaserScanner (VLS) is similar to the VESDA LaserPlus (VLP) detector, but also includes a valve mechanism in the inlet manifold and software to control the airflow from the four sectors (pipes). This configuration enables a single zone to be divided into four separate sectors, for example, distinguishing between separate voids within a room. The VLS draws air from all sectors in use. If the smoke level reaches the Adaptive Scan Threshold, the VLS performs a Fast Scan of each pipe to identify which pipe is carrying smoke. If more than one pipe is transporting smoke, the sector with the highest smoke concentration is scanned first. Once Fast Scan is completed and the sector with the highest smoke concentration is identified, the VLS continues to closely monitor all four sectors (pipes) to monitor fire growth and maintain full protection of the area. There are four alarm levels (Alert, Action, Fire 1 and Fire 2) for each sector (pipe) and the sensitivity for each alarm level can be set to ensure the optimum alarm thresholds are applied for each sector. Learn more about the entire line of VESDA detectors, visit www.xtralis.com/VESDA.

About Xtralis

Xtralis is the leading global provider of powerful solutions for the early detection and visual of fire, gas and security threats. Our technologies prevent disasters by giving users time to respond before life, critical infrastructure or business continuity is compromised. We protect high-value and irreplaceable assets belonging to the world's top governments and businesses. Our brands include VESDA® and VESDA-E - the world's No.1 very early warning aspirating smoke detection (ASD) systems; ICAM for flexible ASD; ECO - Gas detection and environmental monitoring modules for VESDA and ICAM systems; OSID® - easy to use smoke detection for open areas; ADPRO® and ADPRO-E - advanced, intelligent access, perimeter and intrusion detection solutions for multi-site & enterprise security; HeiTel - digital video remote monitoring; and, ASIM® - intelligent traffic detection. To learn more, please visit us at www.xtralis.com/criticalinfrastructure