Hello. If you manage a warehouse, data hall or other high-value site, review how your fire detection strategy will identify a developing fire and how you will confirm system performance over time.
Two recent developments make this timely for North Wales. In October 2026, the Welsh Government received a request to call in the planning application for a proposed AI data centre beside the Menai Strait. Separately, the Fire Industry Association (FIA) has published a revised Aspirating Smoke Detection (ASD) Code of Practice: the first full revision since 2012.
The planning request had not been granted when reported; the application remained with Cyngor Gwynedd to determine unless Welsh Ministers decided otherwise. The debate is a reminder that critical infrastructure needs careful planning. Fire strategy and security should be considered at the start of a project, not added after the building, plant and operational requirements have been fixed.
What is aspirating smoke detection?
Aspirating smoke detection uses a network of small-bore pipes to draw air samples from a protected area to a central detector. The detector analyses the samples for smoke particles and can provide an early warning, depending on the system design and the site conditions.
Unlike a conventional point detector, the detection unit can be located in an accessible position while sampling points are arranged across areas that may be difficult to reach. That can help where high ceilings, airflow, equipment or building layouts make detection and routine access more challenging.
ASD is not automatically the right choice for every building. The design must reflect the fire strategy, the environment, airflow, layout, operational conditions and the level of warning required.
Where can ASD be useful?
ASD may be considered for environments such as:
- Data halls and server rooms, including high-airflow spaces and cold aisles where air movement may affect how smoke travels.
- High-racking warehouses, where ceiling height and storage arrangements can complicate detection and access.
- Inaccessible voids, where conventional detectors may be difficult to install, inspect or maintain.
- Lift shafts, where specialist detection arrangements may be needed.
- Other critical areas where early warning and continuity of operations are important.
The revised FIA guidance expands recommendations for warehouse and high-rack applications, reflecting research and introducing a design and risk assessment resource for these settings. It also reviews guidance for lifts and high-airflow environments.
Why very early warning matters
A fire in a data hall or warehouse can affect more than the immediate area. It may threaten equipment, stock, business continuity, staff safety and the operation of connected services. In a data centre, even a developing incident can create pressure to isolate equipment or interrupt services while the cause is assessed.
Early warning gives responsible teams more time to investigate and follow their planned response. It does not replace suppression, compartmentation, evacuation procedures or other fire precautions. It should form part of a coordinated fire strategy that accounts for the site’s risks and operating needs.
For facilities managers, the practical question is not simply whether a system can detect smoke. It is whether the chosen arrangement can provide suitable warning in the actual environment, and whether the system’s performance can be checked and maintained as the site changes.
What does the revised code mean for site owners?
The FIA’s 2026 edition is the first full revision of its ASD Code of Practice since 2012. It brings the guidance into alignment with BS 5839-1:2025 and includes updated material on high-airflow conditions, warehouses, lift applications, testing methods, product marking and other system considerations.
For clients, the update highlights the importance of getting the design and commissioning right from the beginning. A system’s future checks need a reliable point of comparison. Commissioning records establish that baseline.
Those records should document the installed system and relevant test results, including the layout and configuration needed to understand how it was designed to perform. The FIA guidance places emphasis on site verification and testing, including airflow and smoke transport-time checks. Keeping results and records together allows future inspections and maintenance teams to compare measured performance with the commissioned design.
This matters because conditions do not always stay the same. Racking can move, room layouts can change, airflow patterns can be altered, and equipment loads can increase. If the original configuration and test results are missing, it becomes harder to assess whether a later result indicates a system fault, a changed environment or a difference from the original design.
Good commissioning is therefore not just a handover task. It supports maintainability and informed decisions throughout the system’s service life.
Treat fire and security as part of the design brief
The Menai Strait data centre planning debate has brought attention to the scale and wider impact of critical infrastructure proposals. For developers and operators, it also underlines the value of addressing building safety and security early.
Set out the intended use of each area, operational constraints and relevant risks during the design stage. Coordinate fire detection with building services and the wider fire strategy. Consider how access to sensitive spaces will be controlled, how incidents will be managed and how maintenance can take place without avoidable disruption.
Retrofitting can limit design options or introduce additional work. Early coordination can help identify suitable detector locations, routes for sampling pipework, access requirements, power needs and interfaces with other systems. It also helps ensure that fire alarm systems and commercial security are planned to support the site’s real operating requirements.
What should facilities teams do next?
Use these steps to review your current or proposed arrangements:
- Review the fire strategy. Confirm what risks and operational requirements the detection system is intended to address.
- Assess the environment. Record airflow, ceiling height, racking, voids, lift layouts and any changes to the building or equipment.
- Check the design and commissioning records. Confirm that system drawings, configuration information and relevant test results are available.
- Plan performance checks. Ask how airflow and transport-time results will be assessed and compared with the original commissioned baseline.
- Schedule suitable maintenance. Keep inspection and servicing records current, and reassess the design when site conditions change.
- Coordinate related work. Consider fire detection alongside electrical infrastructure, access arrangements and commercial security requirements.
Electrical testing services can also support the wider site review by checking relevant electrical installations and associated infrastructure. Keep the evidence in one accessible place so that facilities teams and maintenance providers can use it when assessing changes or investigating issues.
Fire alarm support in North Wales
Dragon installs and maintains fire alarm systems, including aspirating smoke detection, and can advise whether ASD is suitable for your site. Our team can discuss system design, installation, commissioning and ongoing maintenance for commercial and industrial premises.
Dragon is NICEIC and SSAIB accredited. We provide free surveys to help you review your requirements and next steps. Find out more about our fire services or contact Dragon to arrange a conversation.
For practical background, read the FIA’s announcement of the 2026 ASD Code of Practice and the Code of Practice. For the North Wales planning context, see the North Wales Live report on the Menai Strait data centre application.
Call Dragon on 01492 330330 to discuss fire detection, maintenance or a free survey.
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