Define the required design output
Concept selection, tender requirements, construction drawings and commissioning records need different levels of information. State whether the current stage must produce a candidate model, protection zones, a PipeFlow report, a bill of materials or complete construction information.
Protection objective and alarm strategy
Define very early warning, main alarm, equipment, room, return-air or multi-layer protection. Connect every alarm level to a human response and any fire-system interface.
- Protected asset and acceptable loss
- Pre-signal and alarm response time
- Staff verification procedure
- Extinguishing, ventilation, access control and fire-panel interfaces
Plans, sections and airflow
Collect plans, sections, clear height, beams, ceilings, floor voids, equipment and fire zones. Record HVAC normal, standby, incident, night and seasonal modes. Sampling positions must follow the real smoke path.
Sampling network and ASD PipeFlow inputs
Model every main pipe, branch, bend, tee, end cap, capillary and sampling point. Record detector position and any return-air arrangement. The current ASD PipeFlow calculation must verify hole diameters, pressure, transport time and airflow balance.
- Main, branch and capillary lengths
- Bends, tees, end points and topology
- Sampling elevation, quantity and candidate diameter
- Detector position and air-return condition
Environment, accessories and materials
A compliant detector temperature range does not mean the system can be installed without treatment. Dust, moisture, deep-freeze, corrosive, high-velocity or pressure-differential environments may require filters, water separation, heating, blow-through, return air or special materials.
Power, interfaces and installation space
Confirm power and standby capacity, earthing, relays, network interfaces, fire-panel integration, detector service space and permanent pipe labels. In two-channel systems, define each channel and interface boundary separately.
Commissioning, testing and handover
Retain the PipeFlow version and report, final hole record, baseline airflow, functional smoke tests, alarm and fault checks, interface records, filter specification and maintenance interval. Recalculate after any material network or operating change.
Common questions
What drawings are required for ASD design?
At minimum, provide a plan and section or accurate clear-height information, with equipment, beams, ceiling and floor voids, air supply, return air, fire zones and candidate detector positions. Complex airflow projects also need HVAC drawings and operating sequences.
Can model selection be based only on area and height?
Only a preliminary shortlist is possible. Airflow, environmental conditions, pipe routes, independent channels, alarm interfaces, destination market and approval scope are also required before the model and system structure can be confirmed.
When must ASD PipeFlow be recalculated?
Recalculate whenever the detector model, topology, length, sampling position, hole size, zone, accessory or a material environmental condition changes. Save the updated report as part of the project record.