Honeywell has launched a first-of-its-kind solution that combines early warning smoke detection with advanced indoor air quality (IAQ) monitoring to create a safer and healthier environment.
Built on the flagship VESDA-E line of aspirating smoke detectors, the VESDA Air solution features a unique five-in-one IAQ sensor within a single box. This significantly helps improve building safety by identifying life safety, asset protection or IAQ issues before they escalate.
In combination with Honeywell’s ready now Healthy Buildings solutions, VESDA Air can help enhance occupant well-being, meet energy efficiency goals and change how occupants experience a building.
Unlike traditional detectors that wait for smoke to reach spot sensors passively, Honeywell’s VESDA technology actively samples the air to identify traces of smoke and allows for early intervention before it disrupts operations.
In the same VESDA system, Honeywell engineers have integrated a highly sensitive IAQ sensor. This measures critical IAQ parameters, including volatile organic compounds (total VOCs) listed by ASHRAE as ‘contaminants of concern,’ fine particulate matter of 1.0 micron (PM1.0) and PM2.5 or larger, CO and CO2 concentration, temperature and humidity. Ideal for premium commercial buildings, healthcare facilities, hospitality, manufacturing and schools, the new sensor delivers instrument-grade IAQ sensing for data uniformity and unprecedented accuracy.
Udaya Shrivastava, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Honeywell Building Technologies
“The emphasis on indoor air quality isn’t going away – and that’s a good thing as more organisations work to create safer, healthier environments that help boost occupant well-being and productivity,” said Udaya Shrivastava, vice president and chief technology officer, Honeywell Building Technologies. “We challenged our engineering teams to find a way to complement the capabilities of our aspirating smoke detection systems with highly sensitive IAQ monitoring. The system identifies not only the minute presence of smoke but also the presence of air quality contaminants of concern, allowing building operators to react and respond to out-of-bounds parameters quickly before they escalate into unsafe situations.”
The plug-and-play cartridge-based IAQ sensor works similarly to replacing a printer’s ink-jet cartridge, which avoids costly calibration and other maintenance. This convenience helps to minimise total cost, reduce waste and provide accurate IAQ data.
The scalable solution can be employed in both new construction and existing buildings.
In new construction, installing an integrated VESDA Air solution can lower the total cost of installation (TCI), and total cost of maintenance (TCM) compared to installing and maintaining standalone smoke detection and IAQ monitoring systems. Meanwhile, a ‘smokeless’ IAQ-only system can be installed in buildings with a fully functional smoke detection system to obtain accurate, actionable data to adjust ventilation parameters.
