Big Ass Fan Company, the preeminent designer and manufacturer of huge ceiling fans for industrial, institutional, agricultural, and commercial facilities worldwide, announced a new strategic partnership with Xtralis, a leading provider of intelligent fire detection and security solutions, to provide advanced smoke detection solutions for Big Ass Fans.

The Xtralis VESDA (Very Early Warning Smoke Detection System) provides for the earliest possible warning of an imminent fire hazard. Because the VESDA system is a proven solution in high volume spaces, it is the perfect complement for a Big Ass Fan. The VESDA system works with the Big Ass Fan by detecting smoke at the earliest stages, and then sends a signal to automatically shut the fan down. This automatic shutdown feature is designed specifically as a safety precaution that will eliminate any potential effect with a facility’s ESFR (early suppression fast response) fire sprinkler system. According to the company’s press release, recent testing at a nationally recognized, independent research and development laboratory proved this point by testing a 20-ft. Powerfoil from Big Ass Fans with the VESDA VLF.

“It was extremely important for us to not only select the most trusted name in the smoke detection industry, but to select a technology that was proven,” states Carey Smith, President of Big Ass Fans. “Additionally, by detecting the earliest possible sign of smoke, customers now have the potential of early warning, providing the opportunity to address an event earlier in its cycle, ” adds Smith.