Products according EN 54 for the use

in different application standards

Stefan Kratzmeir, VdS Schadenverhütung

© VdS
Content

Who is VdS?
General philosophy or European standardization
and VdS approvals
EN 54 standard series for fire detection products
General differences of the US and European
approval and planning & installation scheme
The use of EN approved products for other planning
& installation standards

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 Profile

VdS is an independent institution which has been

ensuring safety and trust in the fields of fire
protection and security for many decades.
Its customers include industrial and commercial
enterprises, leading manufacturers and systems
houses, service providers, specialist firms and
insurance companies.
VdS is the preferred partner in matters of fire
protection and security.

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Areas of expertise

Fire protection
Security
Electrical engineering
Management and information
systems
Cyber security

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Fields of activity

Inspection of fire protection facilities on site

Testing and certification of products
Certification of service providers, experts and
management systems
Training courses, conferences and publications
Information systems for weather data, property and
liability risks

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Content

Who is VdS?
General philosophy or European standardization
and VdS approvals
EN 54 standard series for fire detection products
General differences of the US and European
approval and planning & installation scheme
The use of EN approved products for other planning
& installation standards

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 Integral concept for reliability and efficiency

Practical guidance for

effective fire protection:
VdS Guidelines

Initial and follow-up Approved

inspections products
and systems

Approved installers
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 The „old days“ of European Standardization

Each country had its own

standards and regulation (e.g.
DIN, BS, etc…)
Different requirements for each
country
Trade barriers had negative
influence on the economy

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 European Standards (EN) Today

Product & System Standards Application Standards Service Standard

EN 54-X series + EN 54-13 CEN TS 54-14 + prEN 16763

National standards

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 The CE mark

 Required in the European Union as confirmation of

standard conformity
 Products fulfill the essential safety requirements.
Intrinsic safety of products is ensured
 Electrical safety
 Electromagnetic compatibility
 EN 54-Series  functional product requirements as
safety functionality
 Product certification and factory production control by
a indented notified body, e.g. VdS
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Content

Who is VdS?
General philosophy or European standardization
EN 54 standard series for fire detection products
General differences of the US and European
approval and application scheme
The use of EN approved products for other
application standards

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 Products standards of the EN 54 - series

 Every product is unambiguously described in its functionality and its

interfaces
 Every standard describes clear requirements, interfaces and test methods
 No mixture between functionalities and solutions
 No design restrictions, if the functionality is ok
 Cyclic revision of all standards (every 5 years) guarantees state of the art
 Testing and certification is done by independent bodies (e.g. VdS)
 No dependency to any national standard or code of practice!

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 FDAS System approach (EN 54 and VdS)
Standard Name
EN 54-2 Control and indicating equipment
Power Supply EN 54-3 Fire alarm devices. Sounders
EN 54-4 Power supply equipment
EN 54-5 Heat detectors. Point detectors
Smoke detector. Point detectors using scattered light,
Fire Alarm Control Panel EN 54-7
transmitted light or ionization
EN 54-9 Methods of test of sensitivity to fire
EN 54-10 Flame detectors. Point detectors
Initiating Devices Alarm EN 54-11 Manual call point
 Smoke detectors Transmission EN 54-12 Smoke detectors. Line detectors using an optical light beam
 Heat detectors Components for fire alarm voice alarm systems. Voice alarm
EN 54-16
 Manual call points control and indicating equipment

 … EN 54-17 Short circuit isolators

EN 54-18 Input/output devices
EN 54-20 Aspirating smoke detector
EN 54-21 Alarm transmission and fault warning routing equipment
EN 54-22 Line type heat detectors

Notificaton Appliances EN 54-23 Fire alarm devices. Visual alarms

 Sounders EN 54-24 Voice alarms - Loudspeakers

System compability tested  Flash lights EN 54-25 Components using radio links and system requirements

and confirmed (EN 54-13)  … EN 54-26 Point fire detectors using Carbon Monoxide sensors
EN 54-27 Duct smoke detectors

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 How to use VdS certificates?

www.vds.de/en  certifications  Fire detection and alarm systems

 List of approved components according to VdS and EN (If applicable: VdS
approvals always includes EN conformity)
 Smoke detector 1: G2XXXXX /system bound
 Heat detector 1: G2XXXXX / system bound
 List of approved systems (Combination of
Components with seperate G-Numbers)
 System 1: S2XXXXX
 System 2: SYYYYYY
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Content

Who is VdS?
General philosophy or European standardization
EN 54 standard series for fire detection products
General differences of the US and European
approval and application scheme
The use of EN approved products for other
application standards

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 Differences between Europe and US systems

Europe
Product & System Requirements
 Harmonized standards are like European Law
 CE mark required
 Same product quality in all countries
US
Product & System Requirements
 Product standards of private organizations
(e.g. UL or FM)
 Partly also in application standards

Application
 Different standards in some countries to
cover specific requirements (e.g. VdS 2095,
BS 5839-1)
 No product requirements
Application
 Local building codes
 NFPA 72 (applicable in various versions)

Service Standard Service Standard

 prEN 16763, VdS 3422, VdS 3403 or DIN  …
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 Similarities / Differences between UL / EN (VdS)

EN UL

Separate entities for standard development, testing
laboratory and certification body
ISO 9001 necessary (annual surveillance).
Further annual factory production control.
Stringent EMC requirements regulated by
harmonized EN standards (European Law)
EN 54 products comply with European application
regulations, ISO 7240, NFPA 72 and other
UL serves as standard developer, testing laboratory
and certification body in one entity
No ISO 9001 QMS necessary. Quarterly on-site audits
(files) by UL.
Minimal rudimentary EMC requirements.
Significantly less stringent than EN requirements
Usually not compliant EN requirements (manly due to
EMC); Comply with NFPA 72 (US national fire alarm
and signaling code)

Products according to EN provided at least the same or higher quality level as

products according UL in combination with NFPA 72.
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 Similarities / Differences between UL / EN (VdS)

Criteria UL 864 EN 54 – 2 / EN 54 - 4
Temperature -5 to 45°C 0 to 49 °C
Relative Humidity 5 to 95 % 85 %
Alarm Signal 10 s 10 s
Alarm Indication Zone Zone
Fault or trouble signal < 100 s < 200 s
Sprinkler supervisory condition Plant Alarm Yes
Alarm verification Yes Yes
System fault Yes Yes
Silencing of sounders Yes Yes
Disablement (deactivation Yes Yes
EMC requirements Minimal Stringent
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Content

Who is VdS?
General philosophy or European standardization
EN 54 standard series for fire detection products
General differences of the US and European
approval and application scheme
The use of EN approved products for other
application standards, e.g. NFPA 72

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 Standards for application of FDAS

VdS 2095 / VDE 0833-2 Automatic Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems,
Planning and Installation
BS 5839-1: Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings. Code of
practice for design, installation, commissioning and
maintenance of systems in non-domestic premises
CEN/TS 54-14: Fire detection and fire alarm systems - Part 14: Guidelines f
for planning, design, installation, commissioning, use and
maintenance
NFPA 72: National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code
ISO 7240-14: Fire detection and alarm systems -- Part 14: Design,
installation, commissioning and service of fire detection and
fire alarm systems in and around buildings
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 VdS 2095 / CEN TS 54-14 / ISO 7240-14
National level Regional level International
e.g. Germany e.g. Europe

Level of
standards

e.g. VdS 2095

Application CEN TS 54-14 ISO 7240-14
BS 5839-1

Products EN 54-X ISO 7240 - X

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 EN 54 products to be used in NFPA 72

NFPA Chapter 10.3 Equipment:

 Equipment shall be listed…
 All devices and appliances…shall be listed for use
with the control unit.

Listed: Equipment, materials or services included in a

list by an organization that is acceptable to the AHJ…

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 EN 54 products to be used in NFPA 72

As EN 54 products are not linked to a application standard, they can also be

applied to NFPA 72!
Example 1: Sounders
NFPA requires at least 10 dBA above ambient sound level, with a maximum of
100 dBA (+ ISO 8201)
 EN 54 sounders are also fulfilling this requirement
Example 2: Beam Detector
NFPA requires a fault signal in case of abrubt interruption of the beam
 EN 54 products could provide either fire alarm or a fault signal
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 EN 54 products to be used in NFPA 72

 Most EN 54 products can be used according to

NFPA 72
 Minor adaptions or restrictions could be necessary
(e.g. I/O modules, marking, etc.)

 NFPA requires more extensive documentation

 NFPA requires more extensive field testing
 Could be omitted in agreement with the AHJ

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 Summary

EN 54 approved products are safe and are complying with

harmonized EN standards (European law)
EN 54 approved products are of the same or higher quality
level as UL listed products
EN 54 standards are fully describing requirements and
interfaces for products. No other specifications (e.g. from
application standards) are necessary
EN 54 approved products can be used in NFPA 72 applications.
Some adjustments (e.g. I/O modules, documentation, etc.)
might occur

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 Thank you very much
for your attention!

contact: skratzmeir@vds.de