Honeywell FAAST
approved by nuclear power plant
Honeywell’s FAAST is the
first aspiration detection system to be approved by one of Europe’s leading
nuclear power plant (NPP) operators for installation in their facilities’ most
demanding locations, the reactor building.
Understandably, equipment installed in
enterprise-critical locations in NPPs has to conform to extremely stringent
specifications, requirements which have recently been significantly tightened
in the wake of the Fukushima disaster. For the fire detection system, fast
response and approaching 100% immunity to false alarms are the most critical
operational requirements. Taking a single reactor off line for a day can cost
upwards of €2m in lost output, even before the additional costs of powering
down and re-commissioning the reactor core are considered.
According to Honeywell, the FAAST
devices were subjected to nine extended extreme environmental tests covering
vibration, temperature and humidity – achieving a 100% pass rate.
The tests included seismic testing to
Richter scale 9, high frequency vibration testing, extreme temperature test at
+65 °C and -28 °C, rapid temperature changes fluctuating from -25°C to
+70°C , dry heat endurance at +70 °C, damp heat endurance at +70 °C with 95%
condensing humidity, cold test, -25 °C, radiation test, exposure up to 140 Gray
and multiple power up/power down tests.
David Coffinet, Honeywell Life Safety’s
Project Manager, commented, “Honeywell has a great deal of experience in
nuclear facilities. Having FAAST in our portfolio has extended our ability to
offer a robust fire detection solution that can withstand some of the toughest
environmental challenges in one of the most regulated industries. The tests
were extremely challenging and made even more so due to the impact of Fukushima
so it’s a great testament to the device’s ability to stay in operation through
any potential disaster.”
Gintare Budriunaite, System Sensor
Marketing Manager, said, “FAAST is designed to deliver 100% business uptime and
the earliest and most accurate fire detection. These tests are a great
confirmation of FAAST’s endurance in even the most arduous conditions. The
ability to prevent downtime in an industry where every lost minute of operation
result in the loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars, is critical and is
where the value of the technology really comes to the fore. It is no surprise
that power generation and large industrial facilities are key markets for
FAAST.”
