Reliable and fast fire detection in elevator shafts and machine rooms

Elevators are vital to the operation of tall buildings, as they transport people efficiently throughout buildings. In many advanced large buildings, elevators are considered to complement stairwells as evacuation route. In the event of a fire, however, both stairwells and elevator shafts transport smoke chimney-like across multiple floors. Machine rooms contain equally critical infrastructure to the operation of a building and are mostly limited-access rooms. In addition operation disruption to elevators and machine rooms are costly. For these reasons, they require critical consideration when designing the fire protection, evacuation and maintenance scheme. Early Warning Fire Detection, based on smoke aspirating detectors, offer multiple alert levels to allow for a staged response to a fire incident and a high serviceability.

Aspirating smoke detectors are the best option when it comes to protecting elevator shafts, offering early warning and actively sampling the air in the shaft continuously to ensure the slightest problem is immediately reported.

Causes of fires in machine rooms

• Failure in electrical equipment
• Frictional heating of moving mechanical parts

Challenges for the fire protection in elevator shafts and machine rooms

• High and fast changing airflow
• Obstructed accessibility for maintenance and inspection

Key benefits of Early Warning Fire Detection in elevator shafts and machine rooms

• Multi-level warning allows for a staged response according to fire development
• Fast and highly sensitive reaction to incipient fires
• Simple handling due to detectors being mounted in easily accessible areas
• Low maintenance requirements, low maintenance frequency and long service life