Louis-Philippe Gagnon
Alarm System Auditor
UNDERWRITTERS LABORATORIES OF CANADA
December 17, 2014
UL and the UL logo are trademarks of UL LLC © 2012
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GOALS OF INSPECTING AND TESTING
POWER SUPPLIES

Verify/inspect the main power source for the fire alarm control unit.
Suitable AC power circuit as per CSA C22.1, Canadian Electrical
Code, identified, red & lock. Reference CAN/ULC-S524-06, clause
3.2.1.5.

Confirm that the power supply operates adequately. Appropriate
voltage, current present and power supply correctly switches to the
emergency backup power when AC power is removed.

Confirm that the batteries are in good condition and able to support
the required loads. 24h supervisory load followed by the full alarm
load for the required duration ( 2h, 1h, 30min ou 5min.).

Confirm that the batteries are properly sized. Calculated battery
capacity requirement as per formula. See CAN/ULC-S537-04,
appendix D3 / CAN/ULC-S536-04, appendix F4.

Confirm that the battery charging circuit of the power supply is
working properly.
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F1 SILENT TEST
F.1 Selection of resistors for the battery tests should be:
A Supervisory Load Resistor:
RS = V
Ex.: 24v = 24ohms
Is
1a
and its power rating shall be: Ps ≥ IsV
Ex.: 1a(24v) = 24watts
Where
Rs = Supervisory load resistance in OHMS
V = Nominal battery terminal voltage, e.g. 24 V
Is = Supervisory current measured at battery terminals, AC off
B Alarm Load Resistor:
Ra = V
Ex.: 24v = 8ohms
Ia
3a
and its power rating shall be: Pa ≥ IaV
Ex.: 3a(24) = 72 watts
where
Ra = Alarm load resistance in OHMS
V = Nominal battery terminal voltage
Ia = Alarm current measured at battery terminals, AC off.
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F2 SILENT ACCELERATED TEST
F2.1 The silent accelerated test in this Subsection is intended as an alternate to
Subsection F1, Silent Test, for small conventional system in which the
service person would be able to complete all of the requirements prescribed
in this Standard in 1 d or less. It avoids returning the following day to
confirm the end point condition of a 24 h battery test.
F2.2 The formula in Clause F2.4 prorates the time that the Alarm Load (Ia) is
applied to the battery, based on a combining of ”Alarm and Supervisory
Current” multiplied by an acceleration figure. The formula recognizes that
the higher discharge rate will reduce the effective amp-hour battery rating. It
is based on a 5 min alarm (bell) requirement.
F2.3 Large systems with two-stage operation and/or voice communication or
with signalling during other than 5 min should follow the tests described in
Subsection F1, Silent Test.
F2.4 Full load conditions should be applied for a period of time not less than
that calculated by the following formulae. Battery voltage should not be less
than 85% of rating during the test. The duration of the test should be
determined as follows:
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Hr = [(IsxD)+(Iax0,5)](1,2)
Ex.: [(1ax24h)+(3ax0,5)](1,2) = 10,2Hr
Ia
3a
Where:
Hr = hours
D = Required system supervisory time (normally 24 h)
Is = Supervisory Current
Ia = Alarm Load Current
The resistor should be determined as follows:
RL (OHMS) = V/Ia
Ex.: 24v/3a = 8ohms
PL (WATTS) = V(Ia)
Ex.: 24v(3a) = 72watts
RL should be connected directly across the battery terminals for the time
duration determined above.
F2.5 As an alternate to the calculation in F2.4, the battery may be discharged in
accordance with the battery manufacturer’s capacity chart for the specific
battery using suitable sized load resistors.
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F3 BATTERY CAPACITY METER TEST
F3.1 The capacity should not be less than the calculated A•h requirements of the system
after the test, otherwise, replace batteries:
A Disconnect test battery from system;
B Connect the capacity meter across the battery in accordance with the meter
manufacturer’s instructions; and
C Note the capacity of the battery.
F4 BATTERY CAPACITY CALCULATION
F4.1 Perform battery capacity calculation as follows:
A [Supervisory current as per Appendix E2.5 Item D] x [Supervisory Requirement (h)]=
A•h
Ex.: 1Ax24h = 24Ah
B [Full load current (A) as per Appendix E2.5 Item E] x [Alarm Requirement (h)] = A•h
Ex.: 3Ax0,5h = 1.5Ah
C System Battery Capacity Requirement A•h = (F4.1 Item A result) + (F4.1 Item B result)
Enter the result into Appendix E2.5 Item Q of the report.
Ex.: 24Ah+1.5Ah = 25.5Ah
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F5 EMERGENCY POWER FOR FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS – NBC 1995
3.2.7.8 Emergency Power for Fire Alarm Systems
1) An emergency power supply conforming to Sentences (2), (3) and (4) shall
be provided for fire alarm systems.
2) The emergency power supply required by Sentence (1) shall be supplied
from
a) a generator,
b) batteries, or
c) a combination thereof.
3) The emergency power supply required by Sentence (1) shall be capable of
providing
a) supervisory power for not less than 24 h, and
b) immediately following, emergency power under full load for not less than
i) 2 h for a building within the scope of Subsection 3.2.6.,
ii) 1 h for a building classified as Group B major occupancy that is not
within the scope of Subsection 3.2.6.,
iii) 5 min for a building not required to be equipped with an
annunciator, and
iv) 30 min for any other building.
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4) The emergency power supply required by Sentence (1) shall be designed so
that there will be automatic transfer to emergency power in the event of a
failure of the normal power source.
5) An emergency power supply shall be provided for the voice communication
system required by Article 3.2.6.8.
6) The emergency power supply required by Sentence (5) for the voice
communication system shall be capable of
a) full operation immediately upon the failure of the normal source of power,
and
b) maintaining operation of the system for not less than 2 h.
7) If the emergency power supply required by Sentence (5) is provided by
batteries, the batteries shall be sized to provide the total energy consumed
by the maximum possible electrical supervision current plus the trouble
signal current for a period of 24 h followed by 30 min of continuous voice
communication.
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Thank you !!!