Case Study: Richards Bay Shipping Terminal achieves robust early-warning fire protection for conveyors with Xtralis VESDA VLI

The right fire detection for the right space – VESDA VLI protects the Richards bay shipping terminal

Richards Bay Shipping Terminal, a large multi-purpose cargo facility in South Africa handling coal, wood chips and other bulk materials across extensive covered and open storage areas, faced a high-risk environment where conveyor belts and handling equipment were exposed to dust, debris and past fire incidents. The site required a reliable early-warning smoke detection system capable of coping with harsh conditions and protecting personnel, product and critical equipment; Xtralis supplied more than 65 VESDA VLI units for conveyors, 40+ VESDA VLP detectors across the site, and uses Xtralis VSM4 software for configuration and monitoring.

The VESDA VLI solution — an IP66-rated aspirating detection system with a fail-safe Intelligent Filter and clean-air optics barrier — provides absolute smoke detection and long detection chamber life without re-calibration, making it well suited to the terminal’s demanding environment. The installation has repeatedly demonstrated reliable early warning, reducing risk to plant, cargo and staff, and was delivered in collaboration with the local distributor to achieve the required protection levels.