Secure power is an essential element in building automation systems like fire protection, security and access control, emergency lighting, critical communications, and server closets. The wide range of systems require an equally wide range of highly efficient power supply types like open frame, enclosed, and DIN Rail from 35W to 600W. Those power supplies can be required to meet a range of global standards related to security and safety like the following:
• ANSI/CAN/UL 2524 Standard for In-building 2-Way Emergency Radio Communication Enhancement Systems in North America.
• EN 54-4 Fire detection and fire alarm systems—Part 4: Power supply equipment in Europe.
• GB 17945 Fire Emergency Lighting and Evacuate Indicating System, in China.
What do the standards cover?
Emergency Responder Radio Communication Systems (ERRCS) are an example of critical communications that require reliable power. First responders rely on wireless communications being available under all circumstances, and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in the US requires that ERRCS meet UL 2524. The standard covers the radio base station, repeaters, transmitters, receivers, signal boosters, power supplies, and battery charging systems.
Early detection of fires can save lives and minimize property damage. EN 54 is a family of European standards that includes product standards and application guidelines for fire detection and alarm and ventilation control systems. This EN 54-4 standard covers control panels and power supplies, including back-up batteries and chargers.
Rapid evacuation of buildings during emergencies also protects lives. Fire emergency lighting and evacuation indicating system components—such as luminaries, control panels, main power supplies, and standby power sources, including back-up batteries and chargers—are required to meet GB 17945 in China. This includes specific requirements for charging batteries. These systems typically combine a central control system with distributed controllers and power for location emergency lighting and emergency luminaire fixtures.
Functions like network connectivity for condition monitoring and control of power supplies and battery chargers and fault indicators for critical faults like AC-OK, DC-OK, Batt-low, and No-batt, plus a variety of interfaces like LED indicators, audible alarms, Form C relay, and TTL outputs can also be important considerations when meeting the various standards.
The standards cover a wide range of equipment types with power requirements from a few watts to hundreds of watts. All the power supplies must meet strict efficiency, no load power consumption, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), and safety requirements, as well as be rated for operation in harsh environments like –10 to +60°C or –30 to +70°C depending on the application.
Conclusion
To achieve powering requirements and navigate the tangle of global standards, building automation system designers can turn to MEAN WELL for secure power supplies with a wide variety of options.
These options include integrated battery chargers, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) capabilities, monitoring functions like AC-OK, DC-OK, Batt-low, and No-batt, interfaces including LED indicators, audible alarms, Form C relays, and TTL outputs and communications like Modbus, CANBus, and Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART). They are available in open-frame, enclosed, and DIN Rail packages and can deliver up to 600W.