Application Study:

Extreme Environments

Freezer
Warehouses
Freezer Warehouses, also
referred to as Refrigerated Warehouses, Cold
Stores or Cold-Storage
Warehouses in parts of the
world, present a unique
challenge in the context
of fire detection. Freezers handle a variety of
materials including types
of foods, wooden pallets,
baskets or boxes containing food, fiberboard
containers, egg cartons,
waxed paper, cloth wrapping, and grease impregnated paper or cloth
some of which are highly
combustible.
Freezers are commonly
maintained at temperatures well below the operating range of traditional
spot-type smoke detectors by ceiling mounted
chiller-fan-coil units or
ventilation systems.

As an example, blast freezers operate at

temperatures of -31F (-35C) with high
airflows while storage areas may operate at
a more moderate 39F to -4F (4C to -20C)
with reduced air movement. These low
temperatures have an adverse affect on the
smoke plume, which is cooled more rapidly
than in normal environments and hence
fires with greater intensity are needed to
generate sufficient heat to raise the smoke to
ceiling level. Under steady-state conditions,
humidity does not pose a problem; however,
moisture levels can increase due to external
air entering the area via normal movements
(ingress/egress) and perhaps more
significantly, routine frost/thaw. Any moisture
will condense and quickly freeze on thermal
transfer points such as walls and ceilings
including point-smoke detectors if used.
Experience has shown that Aspirated Air
Sampling High Sensitivity Smoke Detections
are able to provide reliable smoke detection
in freezer warehouses.

Optimal Performance
and Reliability
The ASD-160H, ASD-320 and ASD-640
detectors utilize ClassiFire - a patented
Perceptive Artificial Intelligence system
which ensures that it operates at optimum
sensitivity for the protected environment.
ClassiFire automatically configures the
detector during initial setup and in operation,
dynamically adjusts its parameters, allowing
for changes in the protected environment.
Laser Dust Discrimination (LDD) and
Elimination System makes it suitable for a
wide range of environments, including those
extremely dusty or dirty.

Efficient Detection for

Freezer Warehouses
Detectors should be sited in accessible
locations outside the freezer.

Why AIR-Intelligence?

Inside the freezer, the sampling pipe should

be routed below the ceiling and away from
thermal transfer locations.

Aspirated High Sensitivity Smoke Detectors

(ASD) have some major advantages relative
to conventional smoke and heat detectors:

Do not use capillary tubes for sampling as

condensation can form and freeze when
running back down.

They are significantly more sensitive

than spot-type smoke and line-type heat
detectors. Additionally, the ASD can be
located outside the freezer and the air
entering it can be conditioned to suit. Use
of large diameter (not capillary) sampling
pipe will preclude the possibility of internal
ice accumulation. In high-bay freezers,
in-rack sampling can further improve the
system response time since the smoke has
a reduced distance to travel to a sampling
point.

Drill sampling holes on the side of the

sampling pipe. Pipe bottom holes can get
blocked by accumulated ice.
Condition the air prior to its entry into the
detector to prevent cold shock and/or
condensation damage.
Provision should be made for pipe
expansion/contraction to allow for routine
frost/thaw cycles.
Sampling pipe should not be located near
chiller outlets which may intermittently
blow air at temperatures as low as -31 to
-40F (-35 to -40C).

Application Study:
Extreme Environments
Consideration should be given to inrack sampling to counter increased
stratification effect of low temperatures.
Recommended sampling pipe is
ABS or light gauge Stainless Steel.
Unplasticized PVC is not suitable due
to its brittleness at low temperatures.
Metallic pipe if used, should be firmly
ground to earth.

Performance Testing
Freezer Warehouses are inhospitable
environments for commissioning and
maintenance. If possible, the installed
systems should be performance tested to
verify the response to very small amounts
of pre-combustion particles. Testing
should be as described in the various
AIR-Intelligence manuals, NFPA-72 or as
required by the local AHJ.

Applications Engineering/
Technical Support
For details beyond those covered in this
guide and for any additional applications
support, please call Edwards Technical
Support at 800.655.4497.

Fig. 1 AIR-Intelligence system installed in Freezer Warehouse

USA: Bradenton, FL
www.edwardsutcfs.com
Canada: Owen Sound, ON
www.chubbedwards.com

E-AI-015

07-05-13

2013 UTC Climate Controls & Security.

AIR-Intelligence, ClassiFire, LDD 3D3 and SenseNET
are trademarks of UTC Climate Controls & Security..