Case Study: Cutty Sark achieves ultra-early smoke detection and EN54-20 compliance with Xtralis VESDA

Cutty Sark - Customer Case Study

The Cutty Sark, a 19th-century British clipper and Grade I–equivalent historic attraction in Greenwich, faced a major fire in 2007 and subsequent restoration that included raising the ship into a new glazed museum space beneath the hull. That redesign, combined with past alarm failures and limited access points, created a challenge: the museum needed a discrete, highly sensitive early-warning smoke detection system capable of protecting fragile exhibits and meeting EN54-20 standards.

Trinity Protection Systems installed Xtralis VESDA aspirating detectors (VLP for the glazed surround and VLC units on the ship) with a 68-point sampling network discreetly routed out of sight. The Class B EN54-20 solution provides very-early smoke detection, programmable sensitivity to reduce false alarms, easy maintenance without scaffolding, and continuous protection of the restored Cutty Sark—completed in 2012—helping safeguard the ship and its visitors.

Cutty Sark

Rob Holliday

Director