Critical Infrastructure Fire Detection & Protection

Infrastructure: Strengthening the Foundations

As the most broad and comprehensive sector - and the most commonly associated application of linear heat detection - Thermocable have expansive knowledge of use within this field.

Frequently referred to as ‘facilities and systems that serve a country, city, or geography’, the infrastructure market is essential for every economy, sustaining and enhancing ‘societal living conditions’. 

With such widespread facets of infrastructure contributing to worldwide ecosystems – including highways, transport, sewers, telecommunications and electrical networks, early detection is fundamental to protecting these fixed assets from the devastating impact of fire. With LHD Fixed Activation technology being able to detect alarm location at any point along the cable’s length,

Functionality Benefits

• Can be positioned directly onto the asset being protected
• Programmable LHD provides a range of alarm temperatures to pick from, with pre-alarm options
• Fixed (digital) LHD technology can identify alarm location at any point along the length of cable from exposure to a tiny flame

Installation/Environmental Benefits

• Range of alarm temperatures available to suit a wide scope of ambient conditions
• Safe to install outdoors or in cold storage/freezers down to -40degC (-40degF)
• High temperature variants suitable for ambient temperatures up to +170degC (338degF)
• Can be subject to differing temperatures along the length of the cable
• Can be installed outdoors in direct sunlight
• Cable coating materials available to offer chemical and oil resistance
• Can resist mechanical abrasion with stainless steel braiding options

Key Applications Within the Infrastructure Sector

Car parks

LHD is ideal for the early detection of fires and overheating in car parks.

Fires in multi-storey and underground car parks are prone to spread rapidly, and burn at extremely high temperatures and with high intensity. Therefore, increased coverage, high sensitivity and reliability are all important features of any fire detection system in this application. 

Nylon coated cable may be used to provide a low maintenance, long-life option in the presence of exhaust fumes and other environmental factors. ProReact LHD cable runs perpendicular to the car park spaces to protect a large area using a single zone of detection cable. Furthermore, ProReact Programmable can provide an additional pre-alarm option to offer the most rapid response to an incident.

Cable trays

Cable trays, including multi-tier cable trays, can be protected from overheat or fire using LHD cable.

For trays up-to 0.6m (2ft) wide, a single run of linear heat detection cable should be positioned in the centre of the cable tray. For trays over 0.6m (2ft) in width, two runs of linear heat detection cable should be positioned, spaced equally apart, in the cable tray.

Found in circa 99% of commercial buildings - including power stations, hotels and retail centres - cable trays and carriers can generally be located within ceiling voids. Standard cable increases the fire risk in ceiling voids, due to knots and twists that are hard to detect. Subsequently, LHD has been identified as a smarter - and safer - solution.

Escalators

Thrown into the spotlight after the devastating Kings Cross Station fire in 1987, escalators are highly prone to fire when mistreated, damaged, or exposed to flame. In addition to this, escalators are susceptible to overheating due to being in continuous operation for long periods.

ProReact Linear Heat Detection can be located at the point of risk due to its small size and flexibility, protecting bearings, motors, rollers and other high risk areas. Care should be taken during installation to minimise the impact moving parts may have on the detection cable and for this reason, a stainless-steel braided cable should be chosen to prevent the detection cable from excessive wear.

Additionally, ProReact Programmable provides an early warning, pre alarm, option to alert the presence of an overheating component or part, before a fire develops.

Road and access tunnels

For increased coverage, linear heat detection cable may be installed in tunnels over the roadways.

An optional ProReact Alarm Point Distance Locator may be beneficial to quickly locate whereabouts along the cable the alarm has occurred. 

Alternatively, zoning the cable in separate lengths can provide discrete detection zones. An extra nylon coating is recommended on the detection cable to ensure maximum longevity in the environmental conditions likely to be encountered. Linear Heat Detection cable may also be sited at low levels in the tunnel, if practical, to improve response time in certain situations.

Additional Applications

• Warehouse racking
• Cold storage
• Temporary buildings
• Barns/hangers/silos
• Ceiling voids
• Kitchens
• Server Rooms
• Rail/Metro/Subway stations