DEBUNKING THE MYTHS & COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT BATTERY/POWER SUPPLY TESTING!

By Frank Kurz

Common Myths and Misconceptions:

#1 - I don't have to test the batteries.

#2 - I must only replace the batteries with the same type and rating as originally supplied at the time the system was installed and verified.

#3 - I only have to document the test of the common control (base panel) power supply and battery.

#4 - I don't ever have to perform adjustments to the systems battery charger.

#5 - The building has an emergency generator so the stand-by batteries only have to provide sufficient capacity to ensure a smooth transition.

Some "Battle-Field" Examples:

Example #1:

This is an Edwards "Quickstart" panel located in a small strip mall in Chiliwack. I think we can safely assume the batteries were replaced in 2007. With the power "off", I show a supervisory current draw of 450 mA.

Example #2:

This is a Simplex 4000 networked system located in a twin high-rise complex equipped with an emergency generator. The batteries in the cabinet are date coded for 2009 (which means they were probably replaced during the last inspection in December). The meter reading here is 2.878 Amps - that's the supervisory current for the main control and display module you're looking at. Testing was pretty easy here. Notice the switch installed in the cabinet next to the batteries. This is a common occurance in large networked systems because it makes testing and set-up "easy". It's normally NOT ALLOWED. In order to get at this particular switch, you have to remove the panel "dead-front". The amplifier cabinet is next to this one. The same 18AH batteries are installed there. Supervisory current on that particular pair was 5.18 Amps.

Example #3:

This is a Chubb-Edwards EST-3 command centre with a graphic annunciator in a high-rise building in Burnaby (it's also the subject of "the discussion" I outlined in the introduction to this Series (it's unfortunately escalated to a full blown complaint now). In this example the supervisory current is 998 mA (close enough to be 1 Amp). The 26 AH batteries were replaced last year. I was told that this was the size of the batteries originally supplied with the system (that Edwards had "engineered the system this way"). The common control (located in the basement) had the same size batteries with a supervisory current of 790 mA.

INSPECTION STANDARD REQUIREMENTS

Let's review the relevant sections of CAN/ULC-S536-04 as they apply to battery and power supply testing. Section 5.3 is entitled POWER SUPPLIES and it states:

"5.3.2 Each battery shall be inspected and tested to confirm operability, including the following functions, as applicable (Refer to Appendix E2.5, Emergency Power Supply Test and Inspection):

What do the first two Sentences mean?

"A" refers to "battery type" which means it's either a sealed lead acid (SLA), wet lead, ni-cad, or some other "type" as "recommended by manufacturer".

"B" means you have to ensure battery is rated correctly to ensure the system's full load capacity meets the requirments of the relevant sections of the Building Code (or local ordinance) for the type of occupancy and "P" of the referenced Standard.

BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS:

Let's review the British Columbia Building Code Division "B" Part 3. Because it's based on the National Building Code I'm pretty sure the wording and references are good for other provinces. It is where we'll find:

"3.2.7.8 Emergency Power for Fire Alarm Systems

DISPELLING THE MYTHS (AND SOME SUGGESTIONS):

As you can see, the stand-by requirements (and associated testing criteria) for a fire alarm system are fairly stringent and should leave you with no doubt as to what you should be looking for. If the building is equipped with a generator, for instance, you must determine whether it meets the required supervisory and full load capacity for the fire alarm system. This means you must examine any relevant onsite documentation to ensure it's CERTIFIED to provide the rated back-up power. If you can't find the appropriate documentation (or have doubts with respect to the condition of the generator, its maintenance or testing), you MUST ensure that the back-up batteries can meet the demand instead.

Both the Testing Standard and Building Code reference the phrase "fire alarm system", not a "control" or a "portion" of a system. This means you must test EVERY battery and power supply associated with it. It's one of the reasons why our testing forms are designed so that it makes this aspect of the inspection requirement easy to document. More-over, it makes expanding the report to include additional power supplies and batteries easy to do as well (you just have to remember to re-number the appropriate sections).

DO NOT RELY on the Verification documentation or the bill of material which may be appended to it. It's important for you to realize that the individual who performed the Verification cannot be relied upon anymore than the last technician that performed the annual test on the system before you can (or anyone else involved in the original build-out). The manufacturer stipulates the type of battery and may even set limits on the size of battery a particular power supply can handle (they also provide the means to calculate the stand-by requirements of the system). Some older common controls enable (and may even require) you to "trim" the charger to more closely fit the recommended parameters of the battery you're installing (or servicing). This makes having access to the installation manuals for the system you're testing absolutely essential.

TIPS AND RESOURCES:

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