Science Museum of Minnesota Deploys Aspirating Smoke Detection Technology

  • Jun 06, 2011

The Science Museum of Minnesota recently installed the System Sensor FAAST Fire Alarm Aspiration Sensing Technology to provide early warning of fires in an adjoining equipment and volatile materials storage area.

FAAST proved to provide the ideal combination of high sensitivity, nuisance immunity, and flexibility to meet the mission critical requirements of this challenging space.

"The storage area's unusual concrete ceiling," Don Hedin, assistant director of facilities at the Science Museum of Minnesota said "consists of 18 pre-cast double tee ceiling panels that are roughly 3 ft. x 4 ft. x 25 ft. each."

Smoke easily could collect in the concave-shaped ceiling before an alarm would be signaled. Further complicating fire detection, the storage facility can be a dirty and dusty environment.

"We researched various methods of detection and needed a very early warning system," Hedin said. "We didn’t want to trigger unnecessary false alarms, disturb our visitors or possibly endanger our priceless exhibits. We chose aspiration technology not only for the safety factor, but for cost savings. The museum couldn’t jeopardize its mission-critical exhibits by triggering nuisance false alarms because of the storage room’s dusty environment."

Hedin relied on Dan Westberg, vice president of Low Voltage Contractors (LVC) of Minneapolis, to select a fire alarm aspirating system.

"We recommended System Sensor’s FAAST system for a primary reason, to ensure that the high nuisance dust factor in the storage area does not cause an alarm state," Westberg said..

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