Case Study: Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre achieves reliable early‑warning smoke detection in a dusty, high‑ceiling venue with Xtralis VESDA VLI

Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre - Customer Case Study

The Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre (AELEC) in Tamworth, NSW is a large, state‑of‑the‑art venue for equine and livestock events that hosts thousands of animals and competitors each year. The facility needed a fire detection solution that met Building Code of Australia performance requirements without sprinklers, but its original analog addressable system (heat and ionisation point detectors) produced constant nuisance alarms and maintenance faults in the dusty, high‑ceiling, naturally ventilated environment and therefore failed to perform reliably.

Independent consultants recommended and trialed a VESDA VLI aspirating smoke detection system, and seven VLI units were installed with extended pipe runs, advanced filters and BACnet connectivity. The new system eliminated dust‑related false alarms, meets regulatory performance requirements, has been operational since March 2011, and delivers improved detection, easier maintenance and lower total cost of ownership.

Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre

Mike Rowland

Acting Venue Manager