The picture shows some Aspirating Smoke Detection Pipe located above an air handling unit. It is not unusual for unsupervised and inexperienced painters to paint over the pipe, blocking the microscopically small aspirating holes. These holes are used to suck samples of room air into a detection unit that can act as an early smoke detection system.
If the holes are pained over it won’t work!
Two of our regular readers, Mike Crovo from Airsense and Scot Wilson from Xtralis have both made some great comments and I want to pick up on this theme in a later article.
Comment by Mike Crovo on 8 July 2008:
I would suggest utilizing a sample point label on each sampling point. This will deter the pipe painting. Please visit the web site below for pipe products and details.
http://www.airsense.us
http://www.airsense.us/Products/Pipe
Comment by Scott Wilson on 14 July 2008:
As Mike has said, a sample point label (shown at the following link http://www.xtralis.com/opencms/opencms/system/modules/com.vfsportal/default_bodies/apac/int_en/products_fire_accessory_04_pipe.html ) can be used to deter such painting. However, the key requirement is to ensure that the Air-sampling Smoke Detector has the best quality air-flow monitoring to detect if one or more holes has been blocked and raise a fault indication. The link below describes some of the issues in high airflow envionments http://www.xtralis.com/opencms/opencms/system/modules/com.vfsportal/default_bodies/apac/int_en/applications_vesda_highairflow.html
Comment by Mike Crovo on 16 July 2008:
As Scott has said, quality airflow monitoring is key to detecting airflow problems in a particular area. With Air Sampling Smoke Detectors that have four or more pipe inlets it is imperative that you have the capability to monitor airflow per pipe inlet. This will allow you to adjust your flow parameters per pipe inlet and provide superior flow monitoring. For more information see link below. http://www.airsense.us