SPONSORED FEATURE
|
SPONSORED FEATURE
EN12101-3:2015 – full compliance delivers safer buildings Full compliance with this enhanced smoke and heat-control systems standard will drive increased safety for building occupants, says Andy Cardy
O
n 8 April 2017, the smoke and heat-control systems standard changed to include the option to use frequency converters during a fire event. This revision, we believe, is a real game changer, as it offers designers more solution possibilities and significantly improves building occupant safety. Full compliance with this revised standard means that we can offer all three solution choices defined within the standard. So the designer can choose from the following: • Fully tested and certified hightemperature fan/VSD range (ducted and thrust fan variants) • Bypass the VSD during a fire event • De-rate fan-drive motor by 20% and fit voltage waveform filter
“run tested” every day. Dedicated firemode fans are typically only tested a few times a year. As full compliance requires fan manufacturers to undertake extensive third-party fan testing with VSDs as an integral part of the solution (rather than being just an accessory), this HT fan certification revalidation process represents a significant time and resource commitment. To ensure delivery of the best possible customer solution, Fläkt
Woods teamed up with leading VSD manufacturer Danfoss Drives. Both companies, with a total of 150 years’ experience within the HVAC industry, are passionate about quality, excellence and fire safety. When delivering a robust and reliable smoke-extract fire-safety solution, there are two significant factors to consider. First, correct axial fan design is critical, especially related to its core component, the impeller, as this is vital to ensuring overall product integrity
and reliability. One key factor here is the gap between the fan casing and impeller blade tip (to allow for material expansion at elevated temperatures), but accurately assessing operating component stress levels is the most significant factor when ensuring durability of any powered smokeextraction solution. The fan-drive motor design and specification (especially bearings) is another very significant design factor that influences overall product reliability. The second solution element is the VSD. Historically, system designers have often opted to switch out or bypass the VSD during a fire event, but using a VSD during an emergency smoke extraction event is becoming more desirable, as they add more control flexibility to ensure that smoke control and extraction performance is optimised.
Bypass the VSD during a fire event Bypassing the VSD during a fire event does, on the face of it, provide a more robust solution, but doing this would force the fan to run at full speed. If
the fan is used within a pressurisation system, then doing this could cause component damage, by overpressurising them. Worst still, overpressurising stairwell pressurisation systems would have very serious consequences, as this may then make it impossible for occupants to open escape-route doors. In addition, not using a VSD would make it much more difficult for the system designer to achieve desired smoke-control and extraction strategies.
Using a non-certified fan and VSD package during a fire event EN12101-3:2015 allows VSD speed control for a dual-mode fan, even during a fire event, but unless the fan, drive motor and VSD have been third-party tested and certified, the drive-motor rating must be increased 20%. In addition, the installer must fit a voltage waveform filter between the VSD and motor. The issue here is mainly cost and practicality, as voltage waveform filters are very expensive, often costing more than the VSD. In addition, as these should be housed inside a remotely
|
mounted control panel, the enclosure needs to be larger, while extra wiring would also be needed. As the fan-drive motor must also be larger, fan cost will increase, while higher amp ratings could impact on wiring and controlequipment ratings and costs. Our Fläkt Woods and Danfoss Drives packaged solution is a fully certified axial fan range with matched VSDs and offers enhanced protection, reduced risk and lower installation costs. ■ Andy Cardy is product manager Axial Fans at Fläkt Woods Limited UK. For further information, visit www.flaktgroup.com
FIRE SAFETY Car park jet-thrust fan - hot smoke test
SOLUTIONS
Fully tested and certified hightemperature fan and VSD range Having successfully completed thirdparty testing of our core fan range, we are proud to confirm that Fläkt Woods, together with Danfoss Drives, are the first to announce a fully certified EN12101-3: 2015 packaged HT fan and VSD solution in the UK and Europe. This VSD fan-control solution is the most practical, flexible and costeffective one as it removes the need for oversizing fan-drive motors and having to fit a voltage waveform filter (although this could still be considered). Reliability of a dual-mode fan and matched VSD package is also higher, as fire-mode fans are effectively
40 February 2019 www.cibsejournal.com
Our extensive range of tested ed and CE E certified products are made to ensure en re ote tected d in n people and buildings are protected case of fire. All of our HT fans have been independently endently tested to the new European standard EN 12101-3:2015, creating the widest range of approved ved smoke extract fans with invertors.
For more information visit www.flaktgroup.co.uk tgroup co uk or email uksales@flaktgroup.com
www.cibsejournal.com February 2019 41