Sensis Azure 2000s selected for Aspirating Smoke Detection upgrade
The first Sensis Azure 2000s installation in the UK and Europe has been completed at Waitrose Leyland Distribution Centre. The project replaced obsolete aspirating smoke detection units with Sensis Azure 2000s detectors, helping support long-term reliability and minimise disruption in a live distribution environment.
Key Facts
- Waitrose Leyland Distribution Centre is a major logistics hub covering more than 420,000 sq ft. Operated by GXO, the site supports Waitrose branches across the North of England and Scotland, making reliability and minimal disruption especially important in such a large, live distribution environment.
- Six obsolete ASD units were replaced with Sensis Azure 2000s detectors. Once power was down, each replacement could be brought online in around 40 minutes, helping reduce disruption during the upgrade.
- The upgrade was driven by ageing aspirating smoke detection units becoming obsolete and repeatedly failing, which was creating maintenance issues, service costs and disruption to site operations.
The Challenge
The warehouse had 12 ASD units installed in the ambient part of the building, using a mix of 2-pipe and 4-pipe configurations. With the existing units now obsolete, the customer needed a reliable replacement that could support the same application requirements, including a 4-pipe option. This was important to ensure that the existing network of sampling pipes could be used with minimal modification.
The priority was to identify a solution that met the operational needs of the site, was straightforward to install and commission, and offered a stronger long-term commercial fit. Ongoing maintenance and service call-outs were also creating additional cost through lost labour and disruption to order fulfilment, so any replacement solution needed to help minimise this impact over time.
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The Solution
The customer selected the Sensis Azure 2000s for the replacement units because it offered the required functionality and made a strong impression when presented to the team. It also provided a more commercially sustainable solution for the site, not only in terms of its capability but also through a forecasted reduction in the servicing burden and minimal disruption during replacement.
From the moment of installation, feedback from installers, commissioning engineers and the client was positive. The team also responded positively to the design and modular format of the unit.
Six Sensis Azure 2000s units were installed in early 2026. As part of the agreed approach, the removed units were retained as spares for the remaining obsolete units still in operation elsewhere in the warehouse.
The Sensis Azure 2000s units for the project were supplied by Illumino Ignis.
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Sensis Azure 2000s control panel connected to sampling pipe network in distribution centre. Courtesy of Frocester Fire & Security.
The Result
For Frocester Fire & Security and the end user, the move to Sensis Azure 2000s is about more than simply replacing obsolete devices. It is about improving reliability, reducing the maintenance burden, delivering a stronger commercial proposition and supporting a more sustainable long-term fire detection strategy.
The project also demonstrated the importance of minimising downtime in a live distribution environment. According to Frocester Fire & Security, once power was down, the old unit could be removed and the new one brought online within around 40 minutes, helping to reduce disruption during the upgrade process.
As the first company to install Sensis Azure 2000s in the UK and Europe, Frocester Fire & Security has helped demonstrate how the system can provide a practical and reliable upgrade option for warehouse operators looking to modernise legacy ASD infrastructure.
Customer quote
“After installing the Sensis Azure 2000s on site, the feedback from our installers, commissioning engineers, and the client was very positive. It is user-friendly, straightforward to set up, and has given us confidence as a reliable replacement for obsolete ASD units. New is not always better, but this is.”
James Joyce, Fire Director at Frocester Fire & Security
About Frocester Fire & Security
Frocester Fire & Security is a specialist provider of fire detection and alarm systems, supporting commercial, industrial and logistics sites across the UK. From assessment and system design through to installation and ongoing support, the team delivers practical fire safety solutions tailored to complex environments.
