LPS 1237 Issue 1.1 Requirements for control panels for electric motor driven pumps used in automatic sprinkler installations
Fire pump set – An assembly comprising at least a pump, driver or motor, partial wiring loom, drive coupling and a mounting and/or base, which is intended to supply water to an automatic sprinkler installation.
Electric Pump Controller – The control panel that monitors demand for sprinkler system water, controls the electric motor start-up sequence when called upon, allows testing of pump set and monitors specified pump set system fault & alarm conditions.
Environmental protection
The control panel housing shall be in non-flammable material and provide a degree of protection at least equal to IP 54 (BS EN 60529:1992 – Specification for degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP code)), or be suited to its environment where the conditions are more demanding.
Access to control panel
The enclosure door shall be fitted with a suitable locking device, requiring the use of a key or special tool, in order to restrict access to authorised personnel only. It shall not be possible to open the panel door without having first isolated the AC main supply.
Location
Controllers shall be located as close as practicable to the pump sets they control, and shall be within sight of the pump set. The controller must not be mounted directly on the pump set and must not be exposed to any undue sources of vibration.
Power supply
Mains feed
The main AC supply switch operating handle shall be outside the housing of the equipment, and interlocked with the enclosure door. The switch shall be capable of being locked in the on position.
This switch shall be clearly labelled as follows:
Lettering for the above shall be at least 10mm high and shall be white on a red background.
The metal earth for the enclosure shall be connected directly to a terminal which provides for connection to an earthing point. This terminal shall be labelled- earth symbol.
The fuse or circuit breaker ratings shall be clearly shown at a point near the devices.
Main switching components
- Main contactors shall be selected for utilization category AC3 according to IEC 60947 – Low- voltage switchgear and control gear.
- Isolators/Fuse switches shall be selected for utilization category AC23.
- Starters employing the Autotransformer method of reduced voltage starting shall be rated for a minimum of 15 starts per hour.
Electric circuit protection devices
High rupturing capacity fuses shall be fitted to the controller to protect the sprinkler pump circuits.
Fuses shall be capable of carrying the stalled motor current for a period of not less than 75% of the period needed for the motor windings to fail.
The fuse-ratings shall be clearly shown at a point near the fuses themselves.
Any no-volt release mechanism shall be of the automatic resetting type so that on restoration of the supply, the motor can be restarted automatically if the trunk main pressure falls.
Operational parameters
The control panel shall ensure the automatic and manual operation, control and monitoring of:-
- Motors in the pump assembly
- Its own logic and components
Normal operation must be ensured at temperatures between 0°C and 50°C or over a wider temperature range if specifically requested by the designer.
The controller shall be provided with a stop pushbutton. When released, if a low pressure or emergency manual start demand condition is present, the pump shall restart.
Automatic starting system
Automatic start-up shall be by means of a contact which opens to initiate a start. This shall be triggered by a de-energised pressure switch signal.
The controller shall start the fire pump automatically on receipt of a signal indicating pressure drop in the fire protection system and the pump set shall continue to run until shut down manually.
Emergency manual starting system.
An over-ride emergency manual start facility shall be provided, protected by means of a hinged or frangible cover.
Test facility for manual starting
A control shall be provided to enable the pump set to be periodically tested without breaking the frangible element or receiving a pressure drop signal. This control shall not interfere with the ability of the pump to operate as specified in 3.4.1 & 3.4.2.
Stopping the pump
Consistent with BS EN 12845 10.7.5.2 it shall only be possible to stop the pump by manual intervention.
Indicators
Visual indication is to be provided by solid state indicators having clearly visible labels with relevant data, as shown in Table 1.
The principle of visual indication used for safety equipment is to be as follows:-
Green indicator Healthy condition
Amber indicator Fault – the device in question is
defective and is not able to operate normally. Action required.
Red indicator Alarm- Immediate action required.
As an alternative, healthy, fault & alarm information may be given by an alpha numeric display, together with a Red, Amber and Green LED to identify status of current display.
In addition, the following data shall be capable of being transmitted over a given distance:
- ‘PUMP ON DEMAND’ output signal, signifying that the system pressure switch requires the pump to start.
- ‘SUPPLY FAILURE’ output signal, signifying a phase failure
- ‘PUMP RUNNING’ output signal, signifying the operation of the pump.
- ‘START FAILURE’ output signal, signifying low discharge pressure.
Meters – measurement indication
The following parameters must be measured independently to an accuracy of ±5% with the actual measurements being displayed:- The full load running current of the motor, by means of an ammeter having an overload scale of 6 times full load current.
– For all the measuring equipment, the normal functional ranges and units (eg. “A” for Amperes or “v” for volts) must be stated, preferably by direct display on the dial.
Auxiliary and Supplementary Functions
Any device or function of a supplementary nature provided in the equipment and not covered by this present specification shall not interfere with the functional requirements set out by the specification and referenced documents; they shall further comply with the data relating to them.
General Requirement for guidance:
- All schematics and drawings shall be numbered and indexed.
- Any modification carried out to the equipment, to the schematics and/or to the drawings must be covered by a change to the revision level (letter or number). LPCB must be notified of all changes which may affect the approval)
- A list of all the drawing and schematic numbers must be provided.
- All documents must be in the English language.
The following shall be provided:
- A technical operating sheet
- Detailed explanation of the operation of each of the circuits (monitoring, surveillance, start-up, etc.)
- Description of electrical characteristics : mains power voltage, breaking capacity of contacts available to the user, power consumption, etc)
- Description of possible external connections (indicators, inputs, etc)
- Description of how to start the electric pump
- Commissioning instructions
- Operating instructions (explanation of indicator lamps, trouble-shooting instructions, in the event of an alarm or malfunction)
- Instructions covering checks, maintenance and storage
- Electrical and key component schematics
Manufacturers recommended functional test procedures (routine
- Manufacturing drawings
- Drawings showing views of the panel from the front, from above and from the side, showing the indicator lamps, pushbuttons and inscriptions (a photograph shall also be provided of the front face)
- Sectionalised drawing of the panel, showing the positions of the various items and devices (these shall be labelled)
- Drawing showing the positions of the terminal blocks and cabling, labelled with cross- reference to the schematics. Each drawing shall have the dimensions marked on and be accompanied by a listing of all the items making up the equipment and protection, where this is appropriate (paint, varnish, etc)
- Means to safely disable motor & panel for service and maintenance activities.
- Test certificates, where applicable, showing compliance with Directives listed on page three.
The manufacturer shall submit a complete panel to the LPCB, including:- • Cabling – test harness to enable testing;
The designer shall also provide a technical dossier covering the items listed in 3.7.
Function tests
Verification tests shall be carried out to confirm that all the functionality required by this standard and referenced documents is provided by the controller.
While carrying out the functional test, the controller shall be connected to a test motor, in order to prove phase rotation is correct.
Finally with the motor disconnected, a functional test is to be carried out at 85% of rated voltage.
Simulation of power failure
Simulation of power failure, followed by restoration to ensure false starts do not occur, (test to be repeated 5 times).
Vibration testing
The purpose of this test is to evaluate the ability of the components of a controller to withstand mechanically and to function formally when they are subjected to vibrations, which may occur under normal operating conditions in the installation, or during transportation.
This test is carried out with a vibrating device, used at a frequency of 20 Hz with a peak-to-peak amplitude of 0.8mm – that is, an acceleration equivalent to 0.64g.
The equipment, positioned in its normal operating plane, is subjected to vibrations for a period of 30 minutes, perpendicular to its plane of attachment and then for thirty minutes in two orthogonal directions parallel to this plane.
In the course of this test, the equipment must remain stable. At the end of the test, the equipment must:- satisfy the necessary functional tests.
– reveal no defect or change which might, in time, affect its performance.
Temperature tests
The temperature test is intended to verify operability of the controller at extremes of specified operating temperature range.
The equipment shall be placed in an environmental test chamber, with AC supply connected. A complete functional check should then be performed.
The chamber shall then be brought up to a temperature of 50°C, which must be maintained for a period of 24 hours continuously.
During the course of the test the equipment must continue to operate as specified. At the end of the test, when brought back to ambient temperature, the equipment must:- not reveal any defect or change which might affect operation in the course of time.
- satisfy the necessary functional tests, which should be carried out at 85% & 110% of nominal voltage.
Electrical safety checks (AC Circuits)
- Perform an insulation resistance test at 1000 volts DC, between the incoming terminals and Earth.
- Using Dielectric high voltage test equipment, apply a voltage of 2500 volts between the incoming terminals and Earth, for a period of one minute.
NO BREAKDOWN SHALL OCCUR
- Perform an insulation resistance test at 1000 Volts DC, between the outgoing terminals and Earth.
THE INSULATION RESISTANCE MUST EXCEED 10 MEGOHM
- Using Dielectric high voltage test equipment, apply a voltage of 2500 volts between the outgoing terminals and Earth, for a period of one minute.
NO BREAKDOWN SHALL OCCUR
- Perform an insulation resistance test at 1000 Volts DC, between the outgoing terminals and Earth.
THE INSULATION RESISTANCE MUST EXCEED 10 MEGOHM
- Using Dielectric high voltage test equipment, apply a voltage of 2500 volts between the outgoing terminals and Earth, for a period of one minute.
NO BREAKDOWN SHALL OCCUR
- Remove any links fitted in the above tests.