Fire Detection in Transport Infrastructure

Fiber optic Linear Heat Detection (LHD) is the standard for detecting fires where distances or environments challenge electrical detection systems. Designed to provide fire detection, they can also give precious insight into the condition of assets (condition monitoring) and environmental changes.

The optical fiber sensor, immune to electromagnetic interference and maintenance-free, is intrinsically safe in hazardous environments. It detects and locates temperature events and sends the data to wherever it is needed. Alarm thresholds can be set using different criteria in zones (1000 zones are available per interrogator), minimizing the risk of nuisance alarms in environments with dynamic temperature ranges.

  • Is there a fire?
  • Where is it?
  • Which direction is it travelling in?
  • How intense is it?
  • What else can temperature tell us?
  • Contact us
fire safety in subway underground metro stations
SUBWAY STATIONS, TRANSPORT TUNNELS AND INFRASTRUCTURE

The lightweight, flexible sensing cable can be installed in unseen places (e.g. voids, tunnels, escalator housing). It withstands high temperatures and requires no maintenance. Incipient fires, or areas which are overheating are identified and located, even in the presence of dust, smoke and electro-magnetic interference. The magnitude and direction of the fire spread can be seen, and the fire source located.

Six miles of infrastructure can be monitored continuously and in real time, from a single interrogator. Interrogators are available with 1, 2 and 4 channels to provide cost-effective solutions for most projects. Redundancy options are available.

In the case of a fire, its evolution and direction can be monitored. Communication with SCADA, other fire and security management systems, such as fire panels, fans, sprinkler systems and cameras is provided.

fiber optic LHD tunnel safety road highway
Communication

The system uses standard protocols to connect with SCADA, DCS or fire alarm panel. Temperatures and alarms can be visualized on a graphical user interface, available (with different user security levels) anywhere within a given network. The system’s design provides inherent cyber security.

rail tunnel fire safety temperature sensing monitoring
Metro stations, transport tunnels and infrastructure

Incipient fires, or areas which are overheating, are identified and located, even in the presence of dust, smoke and electro-magnetic interference. The light, flexible sensing cable can be installed in unseen places (e.g. voids, tunnels, escalator housing). It can withstand high temperatures and requires no maintenance. Six miles of infrastructure can be monitored continuously and in real time, from a single interrogator.

SCADA fire panel alarm communication
Condition monitoring with Fire detection

In addition to fire detection with industry compliant alarm and connectivity, fiber optic LHD provides condition monitoring. Developing hot- (e.g. overheating bearings or motors) and cold spots (e.g. water ingress) is seen on the temperature trace enabling early action to be taken. The hottest and coldest area in any of the up to 1000 user-programmable zones can be seen, in addition to alarm activity.

Download the Linear Heat Detection Technical Information Sheet

Contact VITAlink (RSCC, Marmon EWC)