Electrically driven pump sets - VdS CEA 4001en

Note: For VdS-approved controllers the safety requirements specified in this clause may be regarded as fulfilled.

9.8.1 General

9.8.1.1 Where two electric motor driven pumps are used, Clause 8.8 on the choice of water supply also specifies certain power supply requirements.

Where a sprinkler pump is supplied by several electric power sources, each power source shall have its own electrically interlocked controller. Where a water rate is delivered by several pumps, each pump shall have its own controller.

9.8.1.2 The electric supply system shall be available at all times.

9.8.1.3 Documentation, such as installation drawings, main supply and transformer diagrams and connections for supplying the pump controller panel as well as motor, control alarm circuits and signals shall be kept available in the sprinkler valve or pump room and be up to date at all times.

9.8.1.4 The pump shall operate at nominal capacity within 15 seconds of the beginning of any starting sequence.

9.8.2 Electricity supply

The operating voltage of public electricity networks and private power generators at nominal operation of pump sets shall not fall below the motor nominal voltage by more than 5%.

Where the sprinkler system is powered by two electrical networks, these shall be merged only if the voltage is 110kV minimum.

9.8.2.1 The supply to the pump controller shall be solely for the use of the sprinkler system and separate from all other connections. Where permitted, the electrical supply to the pump controller shall be taken from the input side of the main switch on the incoming supply to the premises and where this is not permitted, by a connection from the main switch.

The fuses in the pump controller shall be delayed-action fuses, capable of carrying the stalled motor current for a period of not less than 75% of the time needed for the motor windings to fail and thereafter be able to carry the normal current plus 100% for a minimum of 5 hours.

This may also be achieved by:

using high capacity fuses for the fuses in the pump controller, capable of carrying high voltage current for 20 s minimum. The nominal current of the protection equipment shall be greater than the operating current of the circuit.

The sprinkler controller shall only supply the equipment required for operating the sprinkler system. This includes:

a) sprinkler pump b) filling pump

c) booster pump for sprinkler pipework d) air compressor

e) heating elements or heating bands of low capacity (3kW max.) used for keeping the sprinkler system or parts of the pipework free of frost

f) motor driven slide valve

g) bildge pump (part of sprinkler system) h) lighting of sprinkler equipment room i) ventilation of sprinkler equipment room j) monitoring panel

9.8.2.2 All cables shall be protected against fire and mechanical damage.

Cables to the terminal board of the motor or to the connection of submersible pumps shall be laid in one piece. Connection points outside the controller for sprinkler systems and the low voltage main distribution are not permitted. A terminal box shall be located in the direct vicinity of the pump motor, if – in the case of two power sources – the cables from the controllers to the sprinkler pump motor are outside the sprinkler equipment room, not buried and separate.

To each cable one load only (controller, equipment, etc.) shall be connected.

The cables shall be flame-retardant and have a burning behaviour in accordance with DIN EN 60332-3-22 A or DIN EN 60332-3-24, type C, e.g. cables of type NYY (DIN VDE 0276-603), halogen-free cables with improved behaviour in the case of fire in accordance with DIN VDE 0276-604. The diameter of the conductor shall be 2,5 mm² Cu minimum.

Cables required for operating the sprinkler system shall be selected and laid so as to keep them functional in the case of fire.

Flame-retardant cables (see above) (e.g. NYY) may be used without any further requirements, provided that they are laid as follows:

a) buried with a covering of 70 cm minimum;

b) in floors and walls made of non-combustible materials with sufficient covering, e.g. in concrete with a covering of 10 cm;

c) in sprinkler equipment rooms;

d) in electrical operating rooms in accordance with 4.1.1 o).

Otherwise the cables shall be laid as follows:

e) in “Cable systems with structural separations and busbar distributors” in accordance with DIN 4102-12 (e.g. fire protection enclosures), if active parts, e.g. by structural separations, are protected from water

− of class E 30 in rooms that are sprinklered or permitted exemptions from sprinkler protection in accordance with 4.1.1 b), c), g), h), i), m) and n)

− of class E 90 in non-sprinklered areas or the following is used:

f) fire-resistant cables of class E 90 in accordance with DIN 4102-12 with additional functionality test under exposure to water after exposure to flaming by VdS and protection against mechanical damage, designed as follows:

− in false ceiling spaces in accordance with 4.1.1 n) immediately underneath the rough ceiling;

− in enclosed flues and ducts made of non-combustible materials;

− in installation flues and ducts in accordance with DIN 4102-11;

− directly underneath rough ceilings;

− in false floors;

− on cable trays that are fully covered by non-combustible building materials.

Where E 90 cables in accordance with DIN 4102-12 are used, they shall be laid in accordance with the certificate of suitability by the building control authorities.

Where sprinkler systems are powered by two electrical power sources, the cables to the controller and to the motors shall be laid at a distance of 3m minimum from each other, unless the controller and the sprinkler pump system are located in the sprinkler equipment room or the cables are buried.

For each cable the approved hangers shall be used in compliance with the installation instructions (see certificate by material testing institute).

Note 1: All wiring associated with the electric motor driven pump, including the monitoring circuits, should be in accordance with the appropriate regulations for electrical installations. To protect cables from direct exposure to fire they should be run outside the building or through those parts of the building where the fire risk is negligible and which are separated from any significant fire risk by walls, partitions or floors with a fire resistance of not less than 60 min, or they should be given additional direct protection.

Note 2: It is strongly recommended that the cables be buried.

9.8.2.3 Standby supply generators

Standby supply generators shall be powered by diesel engines.

If the operating parameters to be monitored are exceeded or fallen below, select the first option “alarm” (no silencing) of DIN ISO 8528-4 Cl. 7.3.

The energy transfer from the standby supply generator to the sprinkler pump motor shall not take place until the generator has reached its nominal operating data.

The standby supply generators shall be designed in consideration of the pump start specifics (starting current behaviour).

In the case of a power failure standby supply generators designed for a sprinkler system plus further loads shall start irrespectively of the operating condition of the sprinkler system.

Standby supply generators supplying the sprinkler system only, shall start only if there is a power failure at the sprinkler controller and the sprinkler system operates. Once the first power source returns and is activated automatically, standby supply generators shall continue to operate for 10 min.

The control panels for automatic standby supply and mains transfer shall be designed at least as follows:

a) for mains operation

− 1 voltage monitoring equipment (three-phase) b) for generator operation

− 1 voltage meter

− 1 ammeter per phase conductor

− 1 selector switch with the following positions:

− “automatic”

− “test” (with no load, but automatic load transfer in case of power failure)

− “generator” (manual load connection for testing)

− “disabled” (key switch inhibits start)

− 1 signal lamp “mains on”

− 1 signal lamp “generator on”

9.8.3 Switchboard

9.8.3.1 The main switch and power distribution for the premises shall be situated in a room with at least fire-resistant separation made of non-combustible materials used for no other purpose than for electrical power supplies. Door openings between this room and any adjacent rooms shall have at least fire-retardant closures. Any other location shall be approved by the authorities.

The circuit shall not have a ground fault circuit interrupter. The connection to the controller of the sprinkler system shall be fused in the low voltage main distribution.

Before this fuse only one more shall be fitted up to the low-voltage-lateral point of delivery.

The electrical connections in the main switchboard shall be such that the supply to the pump controller is not isolated when isolating other services.

e1 = main fuse