Indoor air quality and ventilation manufacturing specialist Nuaire is pleased to announce its latest CPD, which addresses High-Temperature Axial Fans & Variable Speed Drives (VSDs).
This new CPD has been introduced to clearly explain the standard ‘BS EN 12101-3:2002 Smoke and heat control systems – Specification for powered smoke and heat exhaust ventilators’, and advise on compliance.
Various smoke applications
Simon Plummer, Nuaire Axials Divisional Manager and one of the UK’s pioneering fire safety experts, has written the CPD to provide clarification: “Frequency converters have been permitted for use during a fire event since 2015, enabling dual mode fans (those used for both day-to-day ventilation and high-temperature smoke extraction) to be controlled by VSDs, even during fires.”
“Prior to this, the VSD had to be bypassed during a fire event, with the fan running at 100%. However, there remains some confusion in the industry about how high-temperature fans and VSDs can be certified and used for the various smoke applications within buildings. Our new CPD directly addresses this, explaining the standard in detail and the flexibility it offers Consultant and Smoke Designers when it comes to designing solutions.”
Importance of opting for a fan
In addition to explaining the standard, the CPD covers the test conditions that high-temperature axial fans and VSDs must undergo, before moving on to best practice in high-temperature fan design. The importance of opting for a fan/VSD that has been tested as a package is stressed, along with an explanation of why a VSD “Fire Mode” (smoke clearance function is needed).
As with all Nuaire CPDs, the High-Temperature Axial Fans & VSDs CPD can be delivered free of charge at Nuaire’s head office in Caerphilly, South Wales, online via Teams, or at a customer’s premises. All those attending will gain full CPD credits and certificates.
