Battery Backup - Tec Trek Web Site

Tip of the Week

NOW FOR THE NEWSLETTER

We need Backup!!!

When performing quarterly inspection and maintenance on Fire Alarm Panels the integrity of the secondary or back systems requires specific attention.

In the State of Louisiana and State Waters it is required that testing be done using this technique.  The State requires that for a local system, the design criteria are 24 hours of stand-by power with an additional 5 minutes of alarm power.

In Federal Waters, The Code of Federal Regulations, API RP14 C, G, & F recognize NFPA 72 as a guide to installation, maintenance, and testing of Fire Detection Panels. With that said, they are also required to be tested on the secondary power source (Batteries). The Code also requires that in Federal Waters the local system should be designed to provide at least 08 hours of stand-by power with an additional 5 minutes of alarm power.

This is a great way to determine of the batteries are good or not, during normal use, it is not often that the secondary system is used.  By performing the testing using the batteries, the system load is placed solely on the battery bank. If the batteries are bad, the system will power down instantly.

I would also like to state that just as the Fire Alarm Panel is required to have a dedicated primary source of power, the battery backup for the Fire System must be exclusive to the Panel. This means that the battery bank can not be shared with other systems.

For Technicians: This a good time to check the current draw of the system. If a DC Clamp Amp Meter is used, you can determine the stand-by current draw of the system. After a period of time, put the system into alarm and monitor the current draw. With the two readings, you can determine, with a little mathematics if the system batteries have been sized correctly or if additions and modifications to the original system have not been taken into consideration and more backup is needed.

Batteries used for secondary power should dated when installed/replaced and should be replaced every 5 years.

Remember, always practice care when dealing with electricity, especially DC Current. The Clamp Meter is the safest way to check current.

If you require more information regarding the terms and explanations above, contact me by email or phone for assistance.

The above information is covered in the following Tec Trek class segments: Awareness Training (FG-01A), Basic Technical Training (FG-01)

For more information regarding training schedules and course curriculum, please visit our Web Site at www.tectrek.org

or Contact Todd Olivier at (337) 298-7959.

To be removed from receiving Tec Trek Tip of the Week, click on the address below and in the subject line type remove. To add a person to the mailing list click on the address below and type in the email information of that person(s).

Email: todd@tectrek.org