Fire Rated GPO Box

Fire Rated GPO Box 

Every year, over half of accidental domestic fires in the INDIA are caused by electricity.  Most of these are caused by electrical products, either through misuse or faults. Electric Fire origin on account of electric short circuit, overheating, overloading, use or non standard appliances, illegal tapping of electrical wires, improper electrical wiring, carelessness and ignorance etc.

A fire rated detector junction box typically adheres to standards like BS 6387 (British Standard) which specifies testing categories for fire resistance, including "C" for fire alone, "W" for fire and water, and "Z" for fire with mechanical shock, ensuring the box maintains electrical integrity during a fire for a designated period, usually measured in minutes depending on the specific application and fire rating required.

GPO stands for general purpose outlet. GPOs mainly use as power outlets to supply power to your electronics. They are more commonly known as the power point or socket outlet. 

Maintaining fire ratings of walls even in back to back installations, Fire rated wall boxes are manufactured from robust galvabond to prevent distortion or corrosion, even under the toughest of conditions. All wall boxes should with ample knockouts for easy cable access. In addition, fixing boxes to plasterboard walls is easier than ever before thanks to clamping arms that quickly slide into place and tighten. FIRE RATED UP TO 2 HOURS.

·        We suggest Don’t overload electrical adaptors by plugging too many appliances into one socket, especially those with a high electrical current rating such as kettles, irons and heaters. Consider having additional sockets installed if you regularly rely on extension leads and adaptors - and use a registered electrician to carry out the installation work

Also follow detector mounting box/JB in same way. 96mm x 96mm box / jb is common measurement for all brand detectors. Similar as per your detection system product brand / size for Control Module, Monitor Module, MCP etc. FIRE RATED UP TO 2 HOURS.

অগ্নি-রেটেড জংশন বক্সগুলি আগুন লাগার ক্ষেত্রে অতিরিক্ত সুরক্ষা প্রদান করে , সার্কিটের অখণ্ডতা নিশ্চিত করে এবং অগ্নি বিপদাশঙ্কা, জরুরি আলো এবং সুরক্ষা সরঞ্জামের মতো গুরুত্বপূর্ণ সিস্টেমের জন্য বিদ্যুৎ সরবরাহ বজায় রাখে।

Key points about fire rated detector junction box standards:

·        Testing Categories:

Different fire exposure scenarios are tested, including high temperature flames with or without water spray and mechanical impact. 

·        Material Requirements:

Fire rated boxes are often made from materials like high-quality steel or ceramic with special insulation properties to withstand high temperatures. 

·        Functional Integrity:

The primary concern is maintaining electrical connectivity during a fire, ensuring critical circuits like fire alarms remain operational. 

Certified according to the rigorous standards of DIN 4102-12 for classes E30, E60, E90, and tested according to IEC 60331-1, this box is designed to  maintain critical services during a fire. Made of halogen-free technopolymer and steel, junction boxes offer complete customisation with single- and double-contact ceramic terminals, ceramic fuse holders, and signal  terminal blocks. Mandatory in high-traffic areas such as schools, hospitals, public buildings, industrial plants, and shopping centres, these boxes ensure the maintenance of electrical functionality even at extreme temperatures up to 1000°C for 90 minutes and 830°C for 120 minutes.

With high IP66/IP67 protection, this junction boxes retain functionality even in outdoor environments, maintaining fire resistance specifications from class E30 to E90 according to DIN 4102-12. Versions in technopolymer and steel offer practical and safe mounting and wiring solutions, with rails and rotating plates for easy installation of power terminals, signal terminals, and fuses. The classification according to DIN 4102-12 standard, which includes "E30," "E60," and "E90" categories,  ensures that electrical circuits remain operational during a fire, while the IEC 60331-1 test guarantees a performance equivalent to class PH120 of EN 50200, which is crucial for the fire resistance of electrical cables. This junction boxes are essential for the continuity of electrical supplies during a fire, ensuring the proper operation of safety devices such as fire alarm systems and emergency lighting.

Fire Resistance Testing enclosures

PH120

Insulation integrity (120-minute exposure) in accordance with BS EN 50200 & BS 8434-2 (>9300 C) with exposure to fire with water spray & mechanical shock. Rated voltage 600V rms.

IEC 331

Insulation integrity (180-minute exposure) in accordance with IEC (>7500 C) with exposure to fire with water spray & mechanical shock. Electrical system fully functional before, during and after test.

Electrical Junction Boxes for Safe & Hazardous Areas

·        Stainless Steel Enclosures & Junction Boxes

·        Aluminium Enclosures & Junction Boxes

·        GRP Enclosures & Junction Boxes

·        GRP Assembled Enclosures & Junction Boxes

·        Fire Rated Enclosures & Junction Boxes (IEC311 BS6387)

·        High Voltage Hazardous Area Electrical Enclosures & Junction Boxes

ZONE 1 HAZARDOUS AREA

Zone 1 is a classified hazardous area location in which an explosive atmosphere consisting of a mixture with air of flammable substances in the form of gas, vapour or mist is likely to occur in normal operation occasionally.

ZONE 2 HAZARDOUS AREA

Zone 2 is a classified hazardous area location in which an explosive atmosphere consisting of a mixture with air of flammable substances in the form of gas, vapour or mist is not likely to occur in normal operation but, if it does occur, persists for a short period only.

Fully ATEX certified junction boxes for hazardous area, high voltage and industrial applications can be designed and supplied customised to suit specific requirements.

Typical applications for the junction boxes include the distribution of low voltage electrical supply for power and lighting systems in onshore and offshore environments. Hazardous area junction boxes can also be configured as power supply boxes to control heat tracing systems including series heating, self-regulating and constant wattage parallel trace heating cables.

Ex d Flameproof Enclosures

Hazardous Area ZONE 1 2 21 22

Ex d flameproof enclosures provide power distribution in hazardous areas and can be configured with appropriate cable terminals to suit requirements – various sizes of electrical enclosures are available in aluminium, stainless steel and cast iron. For explosion protection types Ex e and Ex ia enclosures, a wide range of terminal and junction boxes is available are stainless or mild steel – GRP glass-reinforced polyester flameproof enclosures are also available.

Relays used for in Fire Alarm Systems

Relays used for in Fire Alarm Systems 

In an emergency you may wish your fire alarm system to perform a number of automated tasks – this could include grounding a lift or closing doors. To do this you will require fire alarm relays, devices which allow the automation of certain functions.

A relay is a simple electromechanical switch. While we use normal switches to close or open a circuit manually, a relay is also a switch that connects or disconnects two circuits. But instead of a manual operation, a relay uses an electrical signal to control an electromagnet, which in turn connects or disconnects another circuit.

The function of relay module in fire system control is to provide a way for a high-voltage device to be controlled by a low-voltage signal. This is done by closing a switch that activates the device when the fire alarm sends a small current to it. In practice, a relay in a fire alarm system may be used to perform the following functions:

·        Close Doors: A fire alarm relay can be used to automatically shut fire doors in a building when the fire alarm is triggered. This helps to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading.

·        Activate Sprinklers: The fire relay module can be used to activate the sprinkler system in a building when the fire alarm is triggered.

·        Sound Alarms: A fire alarm relay module is often used to activate a sound alarm in an emergency. This warns people in the vicinity of the fire and helps them to evacuate the area.

·        Switch OFF AC Systems: The stream of air coming out of an air conditioner can spread the fire in a building or even smoke and fumes. A fire alarm relay can be used to switch off the AC system and prevent the fire from spreading.

·        Switch On Smoke Exhaust Systems: The smoke exhaust system in a building helps to clear out smoke and fumes. A fire alarm relay can be used to switch it on.

·        Switch Off Loud Music: During a fire, it is important to be able to hear fire alarms and other warnings. a fire alarm relay module is often used to switch off loud music when the fire alarm is triggered so that people can hear the warnings.

Relays can be used to control voltage feeding a particular supply and either apply or drop voltage in the event of a fire activation.

Relays can be used to signal to monitored inputs, these inputs would monitor a nominal EOL resistance and in the event of a fire alarm activation would switch to pick up the trigger value resistance.

Relays can also be used to signal a simple NO/NC contact.

The relay’s load may be AC or DC, but must be within amperage rating of the relay contacts. The relays must be fire alarm listed and supplied by the FACP manufacturer, or be a Listed Fire Relay from a manufacturer.

Off-the-shelf electrical supply relays are not permitted to be directly wired to a fire alarm system. Additionally, polarity must be observed because of the integrated diode used in the relay.

Testing of the fire alarm system includes only verifying the relay changed state, and not necessarily the operational performance of the fire-safety function itself. Proper fire alarm relay operation will be verified by using a meter or by observing an activation LED on the relay.

Question 1: Will your relay be used to supply electrical power or turn it off? You are not responsible for the connection and operation of any other trade’s equipment or function, but you cannot allow the relay to be used improperly. If your relay states it has contacts rated at 10 amps and the owner wishes to turn on 20 amps of outdoor lighting, then they will have to use your relay to switch another device having the proper load rating (i.e. 20 amps or less).

While it is true that the relay, wiring, contactor or equipment could fail without causing a trouble signal on the fire alarm system, you are only responsible for the relay and circuit that you provide up to the switched contacts of the relay. All equipment after your relay contacts is the responsibility of another trade or another contractor.

 

Question 2: Will your relay be used to switch a small current and low voltage signal used by another electrical system, rather than the safety equipment load? Sometimes the load you need to switch amounts to an electrical control signal of just 5V – which another system’s data input needs in order to perform a function. Since you must supply a relay that is used to perform a certain function, you are not responsible for performing everything the owner wants to do. For example, your relay cannot pulse an illuminated street address sign.

 

Question 3: Is the safety function to be performed a code-required fire alarm feature such as controlling elevators, or is it a customer nicety such as opening a driveway gate or turning on outdoor lighting? For a code compliant relay, its wiring must be either fail-safe or cause a Trouble Signal when power to the relay fails.

For Illustrated Relay A

Power to certain emergency safety functions may need to be turned off during an alarm. Examples of these functions commonly include power to electro-magnetic door holders or electro-magnetic door locks. These two examples are normally well within the electrical rating of a fire relay, but a contactor may also be needed if you intend to cut power to a club’s DJ booth, for example, that is providing amplified sound, light and stage effects. If a contactor/relay is also needed, the electrician will supply it.

Relay A rules: Common and Normally Open relay contacts are used to supply a CLOSED circuit to keep safety equipment operational.

This relay’s wiring is “Fail-Safe,” since loss of power to the relay coil will cause the fire-safety function to be performed. No EOL resistor or power supervision relay is required if the emergency function is performed when loss of power to the relay causes the safety function to be performed.

For Relay B

Power to safety functions may need to be turned on during an alarm. This may include smoke exhaust fans and indoor/outdoor lighting. Typically, a 10 amp relay will be used to switch an additional contactor/relay that would be needed for a large rooftop fan, for example.

 

Relay B rules: Common and Normally Open relay contacts are used to supply a CLOSED circuit to deactivate safety equipment upon a polarity reversal signal from the FACP upon alarm conditions.

This relay wiring is NOT “Fail-Safe,” since loss of power to the relay will not cause the fire-safety function to be performed. Instead, this wiring method will cause a FACP trouble signal should there be a fault on the wiring supplying power to the relay.

A circuit fault or any other loss of power to operate the life safety function may need to be supervised. For example, supervision of the electrical power to operate the elevator’s shunt controller is required to ensure the 110vac power to perform the emergency shunt trip is constantly present. The modern self-contained elevator shunt-trip panels contain a set of relay contacts that will close should the shunt-trip lose its operational power for any reason. Wire a dedicated IDC with an EOL resistor across these provided open terminals. Any loss of that 110vac operating power will cause their relay contacts to close and initiate a Supervisory signal. This signal must be specifically and descriptively annunciated (ie “elevator shunt-trip power loss”).

For Relay C

Use only for non-life safety applications or as allowed by the exception (see below).

 

Relay C rules: Common and Normally Closed and/or Normally Open Relay contacts may be used to activate or to deactivate customer’s equipment. This Relay is NOT “Fail-Safe,” since loss of power to the relay will not cause the fire-safety function to be performed. Also, power wiring to the relay coil can experience a fault without causing a FACP Trouble signal.

An exception allows this relay’s wiring configuration to be used to perform code-required safety functions. This is when a relay output within a control unit is used to activate a function performed by another control unit. This happens when an FACP on-board relay is used to close a set of input contacts of another control panel. For example, you can trip a NAC power booster using the alarm output relay of the main control panel. This exception allows a relay circuit to connect two control units even though the relay wiring is neither monitored for integrity nor provides fail-safe operation.

This wiring exception is only permitted if both control units are located in the same room, the control units are within 20 feet of each other, and the relay wiring connecting both panels is protected against mechanical injury by running it either inside the wall or on the surface using conduit

An elevator company provides a shunt-trip panel whenever the machine room or hoist way includes sprinklers. This panel ensures the elevators will be shut down before sprinkler water can reach sensitive electrical and mechanical components. Your job will be to provide a fail-safe relay (example A) or power-supervised relay (example B), and contacts that will close upon an alarm signal from the hoist way or elevator equipment room detectors.

রিলে কি? 

রিলে একটি সুইচিং ডিভাইস। রিলে এমন একটি সুইচিং ডিভাইস যা সার্কিটে কোন ধরনোর শর্ট সার্কিট সৃষ্টি হলে নিজে ধংস হয়ে সার্কিট কে রক্ষা করে। এই জন্য রিলেকে অতন্দ্রী পহরি বলা হয়ে থাকে।  রিলের মধ্য দিয়ে যদি কারেন্ট প্রবাহিত হয় তাহলে কয়েল মেগনেটাইজ হয়ে কন্টাকের মাধ্যমে সার্কিট কে অন অফ কন্ট্রোল করে থাকে। জরুরি অবস্হায় সার্কিট পুড়ে যাওয়া বা ধংস হয়ে হাত থেকে রক্ষা করে থাকে রিলে। 

রিলে কতো প্রকার কি কি 

ভোল্টেজ অনুযায়ী রিলে দুই প্রকার 

১. এসি রিলে 

২.ডিসি রিলে 

*এসি রিলে আবার ভোল্টেজ উপর ভিত্তি করে অনেক ধরনের হয়ে থাকে

1. 5VAC,6VC,12VAC,24VAC,36VAC, 110VAC,220VAC,440VAC

 কয়েলের ভোল্টেজের উপর ভিত্তি করে এসি রিলে এতো ধরনের হয়ে থাকে।

*ভোল্টেজ উপর ভিত্তি করে ডিসি রিলে বিভিন্ন ধরনের হয়ে থাকে 

1. 5VDC,6VDC,12VDC,24VDC,36VDC, 110VDC,220VDC 440VDC

কয়েলের ভোল্টেজের উপর ভিত্তি করে ডিসি রিলে এতো ধরনের হয়ে থাকে।

রিলে কেন ব্যাবহার করা হয়

১.এসি ভোল্টেজ কে ডিসি রিলে দিয়ে কন্ট্রোল করার জন্য রিলে ব্যাবহার হয়। 

২.সার্কিটে কোন ধরনের ক্রটি বা ক্ষতির সম্মুখীন হলে রিলে হতে জানা যায়। 

৩ রিলে নিজে নষ্ট হয়ে সার্কিট রক্ষা করে।

৪.সার্কিটে কোন ফল্ট হলে রিলে থেকে জানা যায়।

রিলে ব্যাবহারের নিয়ম

প্রতিটি রিলেের গায়ে ডায়াগ্রাম দেওয়া থাকে,  কতো ভোল্টেজ কতো এম্পিয়ার,  কোনটা কোন কন্টাক।

যদি রিলের বডিতে কিছু লিখা না থাকে তাহলে ভিতরে কয়েলের মধ্যে ভোল্টেজ এম্পিয়ার লিখা থাকবে।সেই ভোল্টেজ এবং এম্পিয়ার দেখে কোন জায়গায় ব্যাবহার করা যাবে তা নির্ধারণ করতে হবে। 

রিলে প্রকারভেদ 

সাধারনত তিন প্রকার রিলে হয়ে থাকে 

1.SPST  (Single Pole Single Throw)

2.SPDT (Single Pole Double Throw)

3.DPDT (Double Pole Double Throw

       *SPST রিলে মূলত ৪ পিনের হয়ে থাকে 

       *SPDT রিলে মূলত ৫পিনের হয়ে থাকে 

       *DPDT রিলে মূলত ৮ পিনের হয়ে থাকে

রিলে পিন পরিচিতি 

রিলেতে মূলত তিনটি পিন থাকে 

1.Common 

2.NO 

3.Nc 

1.Common: কমন কয়েলে সার্কিটের সুইচিংয়ের মান অনুযায়ী ভোল্টেজ প্রবাহিত করা হয়। রিলে কয়েলে কোন পজিটিভ নেগেটিভ প্রান্ত নেই তাই এটি পজিটিভ নেগেটিভ যে কোন প্রান্তে সংযোগ করা যায়। রিলের পরিচিত প্রকাশ পায় মূলত তার কয়েল ভোল্টেজ উপর ভিত্তি করে। যে ভোল্টেজে রিলে চালু হয় সেটি রিলের ভোল্টেজ ধরা হয়। 

2.NO: NO এর ফুল মিনিং Normally Open,  অর্থাৎ রিলে যখন নরমাল অথবা কয়েল না ধরা অবস্হায় থাকবে তখন Common এবং NO প্রান্ত বিছিন্ন অবস্হায় থাকবে।  যখন রিলে কয়েল ধরবে তখন অথবা রিলে কয়েল এবনরমাল হবে তখন Common এবং NO প্রান্তটি নিরবিচ্ছিন্ন অবস্হায় কাজ করবে। 

 3.NC: NC এর ফুল মিনিং Normally Close, অর্থাৎ রিলে নরমাল অবস্থা বা কয়েল না ধরা অবস্হায় Common এবং NC প্রান্ত নিরবচ্ছিন্ন অবস্থায় থাকবে বা সংযোগ থাকবে। যখন রিলে কয়েল ধরবে বা রিলে এবনরমাল অবস্হায় থাকবে এখন Common এবং NC বিচ্ছিন্ন অবস্হায় থাকবে। 

রিলে কয়েল পরিচিতি:

রিলে কয়েল ভোল্টেজ অনুযায়ী অনেক ধরনের হয়।  আমরা যে রিলে ব্যাবহার করবো তার কয়েল ভোল্টেজ অনুযায়ী ভোল্টেজ সাপ্লাই দিলে কয়েলটি ধরবে এবং রিলের উপরে থাকা ইন্ডিকেটর লাইটি জ্বলে উঠবে। আবার যখন ভোল্টেজ সাপ্লাই বন্ধ হয়ে যাবে ইন্ডিকেটর টি বন্ধ হয়ে যাবে এবং কয়েলটি বন্ধে হয়ে আগের অবস্হানে চলে আসবে।

Connect two fire alarm panels together

Connect two fire alarm panels together

LARGE NETWORK SYSTEMS will usually require two conductor twisted shielded cable in a Class "A" configuration.

OPTION: 1

We would suggest that hooking TWO CONVENTIONAL PANELS together so that they monitor each other for "trouble", "supervisory" and "alarm" conditions (all of which are required under the present Building Code) requires two separate runs of five conductor cables.  You'll also require two spare initiating zones and unused alarm/trouble relay contacts in each common control.  Mark each five conductor cable end with "FA Interconnect-A" and "FA Interconnect-B" respectively.

At the designated "B" panel, remove the end of line resistors from the two spare zones.  The fire alarm should indicate a "trouble" condition on both zones.  Take the "A" cable and connect the red and black wires to the first spare zone (this will become "A Panel Alarm").  Connect the blue and brown wires (of the same cable "A") to the second spare zone (this will become "A Panel Supervisory").  Reserve the green. Now connect the "B" cable red and black wires to the "common" and "normally open" terminals of the free "alarm" relay.  Take one of the end-of-line resistors you removed from the "A" panel spare initiating zone and connect one end to the "common" terminal of the free "trouble" relay.  Connect the other end of the resistor to the "normally closed" terminal of the "alarm" relay.  Connect the "normally open" terminal of the alarm relay to the "normally closed" terminal of the "trouble" relay with a short piece of wire.  Take the blue and brown wires from "B" cable and connect them to the "common" and "normally open" terminals of the "supervisory relay".  Connect the second "A" panel end of line resistor between the "normally open" and "normally closed" terminals of the same "supervisory relay".

At the designated "A" panel, the fire alarm should indicate a "trouble" condition on both "spare" zones (you have relocated the end-of-line resistors to the "B" panel).  Take the "B" cable and connect the red and black wires to the first spare zone (this will be designated "B Panel Alarm").  The zone trouble will clear when "B" panel is restored to normal "trouble free" condition.  Take the brown and blue "B" wires and connect them to the second spare zone ("B Panel Supervisory").  This zone trouble should clear.  Now take the red and black wires from designated "A" cable and connect them to the "common" and "normally open" terminals of the free "alarm" relay.  Connect one of the "B" panel end-of-line resistors to the "common" terminal of the the "trouble" relay.  Connect the other end of the end-of-line resistor to the "normally closed" terminal of the "alarm" relay.  Connect a short piece of wire between the "alarm" "normally open" and "trouble" "normally closed" terminals.  Connect the remaining "A" cable blue and brown wires to the "common" and "normally open" terminals of the "supervisory" relay.  Connect the last "B" panel end-of-line resistor between the "normally open" and "normally closed" terminals of the same relay.

See diagram (they say a picture's worth a thousand words, after all):

NOTE: This is a suggested method that ensures both fire alarm systems monitor each other for "trouble", "supervisory" and "alarm" events.  In this example, a common "trouble" (i.e. zone fault) on one panel will result in a zone fault on both.  The "originating" panel will have two zone faults in this instance.  As long as the wiring between the two panels remains intact an "alarm" condition will always over-ride a "trouble" (Additional zone programming may be required).  Older panels may not be capable of providing a separate "supervisory" output but it's important that both common "trouble" and "alarm" conditions are shared between them.

Both panels should now be trouble free.  If they're not, check that you've connected everything as noted above.  If the terminal blocks on either panel's "alarm", trouble" or "supervisory" relays are of the "unpluggable" variety, removing any one block will cause a "trouble" condition to appear on both panels.  What do you do with the two pairs of "green" wires left?  Terminate them to the respective panel ground, of course.

Resetting after an alarm event is fairly simple.  Most modern panels allow you to "bypass" or "disable" the alarm relays.  You'll have to do this on only one of the panels (the one that initiated the alarm).  Reset the "follower" first, then come back to reset and re-enable the alarm relay on the initiating panel.

OPTION: 2

When two conventional fire panels have to be interlinked so that when the first fire system activates the second system will also activates, the on board relay contacts can be used in conjunction with an additional external relay.  It is extremely important to prevent ring around, this is where the first system signals the second and then the second signals the first, and can only be reset by resetting both panels at the same time, which is both inconvenient and impractical for the user.

How does it work?

I will base the explanation on the assumption that FAP 1 is the first to activate.

The drawing only shows zone one, therefore assuming zone two or above activates, the sounder circuit on FAP 1 operates, which drives the external relay 1.  The normally open contacts on external relay 1 changes state to the closed position which via the fire resistor (normally 470 ohm) triggers zone one on FAP 2.  When the sounders operate on FAP 2, external relay 2 will be operated.  However, although the relay 2 contacts will change state, the firing resistor will not be seen by zone one on FAP 1 as the connection wiring goes through the normally closed of FAP 1 aux relay which because FAP 1 was the first to activate are now open and hence the circuit is broken.

If possible, make zone one on both panels none latching.  By setting this configuration, when FAP 1 is silenced FAP 2 will automatically reset and then when FAP is reset both panels will return to their quiescent state. However great care has to be given to making the zones none latching.  For example, if the systems are within the same building and either panels are controlling auxiliary equipment such as door release, you must ensure that the doors only lock again on reset and not silence alarms, therefore in our set up if both panels were controlling access doors, the zones would have to remain as latching and then the panels would have to be reset with the following process:-

FAP 1 silence
FAP 2 silence
FAP 2 reset
FAP 1 reset