Minimax HELIOS AMX5000 Aspirating Smoke Detector

Overview

The Minimax HELIOS AMX5000 is an aspirating smoke detector series from Minimax, described by the manufacturer as a highly sensitive, active smoke detection system able to identify even the smallest smouldering fire. Instead of waiting for smoke to drift to a ceiling detector, it draws air continuously from the protected area through a network of suction pipes and analyses it in a central evaluation unit. Besides a main alarm, the detector provides pre-signals and contamination assessment, and its sensitivity can be adjusted to suit the area in which it is used.

Seven Star LLC supplies the Minimax HELIOS AMX5000, its smoke detector inserts and extension modules to fire protection contractors and facility operators in the Sultanate of Oman and across the GCC, with engineering support in Muscat. We support both replacement of existing HELIOS units and new aspirating systems planned around Minimax control panels.

Measurement Principle

The Minimax HELIOS AMX5000 consists of one or two independent suction lines with suction openings and one highly sensitive smoke sensor. A high-power fan draws air from the area or device being monitored through the suction line to the evaluation unit, where the smoke sensor evaluates it constantly. Each suction line is monitored by an air stream monitoring system, which identifies pipe breaks and blocked suction openings, so the integrity of the sampling network is supervised as well as the smoke level. The display and operating fields on the unit show the smoke concentration in the aspirated air together with alarm, fault and status messages.

Because the Minimax HELIOS AMX5000 sensor sees air from many sampling holes and is far more sensitive than a conventional point detector, an increase in smoke concentration is identified extremely quickly. The manufacturer’s product sheet compares the alarm threshold of the HELIOS unit with that of a conventional detector and shows the aspirating system responding much earlier in a slowly developing fire. Three pre-signals and one main alarm can be programmed, and they can be transferred to the fire alarm loop through a potential-free relay or module. As general engineering knowledge, this early warning gives operators time to investigate and isolate equipment before a fire grows large enough to require extinguishing.

Engineering Design of the Minimax HELIOS AMX5000

The Minimax HELIOS AMX5000 range is built from basic devices, plug-in smoke detectors and optional extension modules. The basic devices are the AMX5001 with one aspiration pipe and smoke detector, the AMX5002 with two aspiration pipes, the AMX5101 with one aspiration pipe, and the AMX5102 with two aspiration pipes and smoke level indication. Three smoke detector inserts set the achievable sensitivity: OMX5005 for 0.5 to 10 %/m, OMX5010 for 0.1 to 10 %/m and OMX5020 for 0.02 to 10 %/m. The MMX5005 module adds a memory card connection with an SD card, and the KMX5005 RK relay module adds five relays.

The Minimax HELIOS AMX5000 housing measures 397 × 265 × 146 mm with insertions and achieves IP 54. The fan generates more than 400 Pa of negative pressure at power level 5, which supports long pipe runs, while suction noise is 43 dBA at the standard fan level 3 and 32 dBA at fan level 1, in line with ISO 11690-1 for low-noise workplaces. Pipe networks can be designed asymmetrically with the VdS-tested HELIOS PipeCalc software, standard devices can be configured and started up with HELIOS EasyConfig, and the detector can be completely integrated with the Minimax FMZ 5000 fire alarm system.

Key Features

The key features of the Minimax HELIOS AMX5000 listed by the manufacturer are:

• Alarm sensitivity from 0.02 to 10 %/m, with three pre-signals programmable from 0.002 to 10 %/m in 10% levels.
• An auto-learning function, listed by Minimax among the main advantages of the series.
• Separate air stream monitoring of one or two suction lines to detect pipe breaks and dirty suction openings.
• Strong suction power of more than 400 Pa negative pressure for extended pipe networks.
• Highly sensitive smoke detectors with contamination balance for use in critical areas.
• VdS-tested HELIOS PipeCalc software for efficient, asymmetrical pipe layout.
• Simple configuration and start-up of standard devices with HELIOS EasyConfig.
• Complete integration with the Minimax FMZ 5000 fire alarm system, plus optional SD memory card and five-relay modules.

Industrial Applications

For the Minimax HELIOS AMX5000, the manufacturer names high-bay warehouses and distribution centres, false ceilings and raised floors, IT and computer centres, telecommunication centres, clean rooms, high- and low-voltage distribution panels and CNC controllers as typical areas of use. Because the pipe system is largely invisible once installed, the detector also suits heritage buildings, prison cells and architecturally demanding spaces. In Oman this translates into data centres and telecom switching rooms in Muscat, control and switchgear rooms at power, desalination and oil and gas facilities, cold stores and logistics warehouses in Sohar and Duqm, and cabinet-level monitoring of electrical panels where a fire must be caught at the smouldering stage.

Seven Star LLC supplies the Minimax HELIOS AMX5000 for these applications and can match it with the right smoke detector insert for the required sensitivity. Engineers comparing aspirating technologies may also review the Xtralis VESDA VLI Industrial Aspirating Smoke Detector and the Xtralis VESDA-E VEP Aspirating Smoke Detector, and Minimax users can find the Minimax MxSysCon Fire Control Configuration Software with Dongle in our catalogue.

Technical Specifications

The following data for the Minimax HELIOS AMX5000 is quoted from the manufacturer’s product sheet attached on this page.

How to Order

For a quotation on the Minimax HELIOS AMX5000, tell Seven Star LLC the area to be protected, the number of pipes and the sensitivity you need. Our Muscat team will recommend the basic device and detector insert, share the attached product sheet and arrange delivery to your site in Oman or anywhere in the GCC.