Aspirating systems have been fitted to provide early detection of fire in lift shafts at London’s Gatwick airport. The ICAM systems from Xtralis were installed by Eurofyre.

The aspirating systems are fitted in Gatwick's lift shafts

Sampling pipes are installed within each lift shaft, with the actual detection and monitoring unit fitted outside. As Eurofyre’s David Davies explains, this makes maintenance and servicing of the detection systems much easier.

“The installation works by actively drawing air through sampling holes in a network of pipes that are installed along the elevator shaft and in the elevator machine room. The air sample is then analysed by the ICAM unit that is placed within the machine room, ensuring ease of access for testing and maintenance requirements.”

The units can be connected to an existing fire alarm control panel, or can operate independently to provide alarm information via a relay output for local actions – for example to open or close smoke vents or alert an alarm monitoring station.

ICAM has been installed around the world in a variety of environments including data centres, manufacturing facilities, historic buildings and critical infrastructure sites.