Basics

BASICS

Special features

Fire protection closures as part of track bound and pneumatic conveyance systems are called “conveyance system closures (CSC)”. These are machine parts based on the close technical control unit linking with the conveyance system. By fulfilling their actual fire protection task, they act as components of the building.

Based on the higher requirements of these dual functions, a conveyance system closure is clearly different from a common fire protection door or a fire protection gate and therefore has been tested for Europe since 2004 in accordance with a dedicated standard “EN 1366-7 Fire resistance tests for installations – part 7: Conveyance systems and their closures”. Since 9183, Germany already had the product-specific “Guidelines for the approval of fire protection closures as part of track bound conveyor systems”.

Legal regulations

Based on legal construction regulations, fire resistant, self-closing closures are required for walls or ceilings that are used for the technical fire protection separation in buildings (“firewall”). This situation occurs if track bound or pneumatic conveyance systems penetrate firewalls. The self-closing closures required in accordance with the construction laws and the close-off systems required in this connection must provide proof for their qualification through the European Technical Assessment (ETA) or a general building-authority approval (abZ). In case of major deviations from the usability proofs or for special constructions, an “approval in an individual case” of the highest building supervisory board of the respective federal state may be required in Germany. Outside Germany, this must be looked at country by country.

Application prerequisites

The approval notices state that the fire protection closures may only be used if the following conditions are met:

The closures must be equipped with a hold-open device that is approved for use with conveyor system closures. It must be ensured that when the hold-open device is triggered, the closing of the fire protection closures is not obstructed by the conveyed goods. It must also be ensured that the closed fire protection closure is not damaged by the conveyed goods.

When the triggering device is activated by fire, smoke, or power failure, the closing of the fire protection closure must be delayed until the conveyed goods in the closing area have passed through the closing area, possibly using an independent power supply (e.g., an emergency power supply system for the conveyor drives).

Acceptance test

After the operational installation of the conveyor system closure in Germany, its proper functioning in conjunction with the hold-open device and the conveyor system must be determined through an acceptance test.

In Germany, the acceptance test must be arranged by the installer of the system and conducted by a publicly appointed testing agency. Our offers include the organizational preparations and professional supervision of the acceptance test.

BASICS

Periodic monitoring and maintenance of the system

Each conveyance system closure in Germany must be inspected for operational readiness at least once monthly by the operating company. In addition, the operating company is obligated to execute or to assign the execution and annual test for the failure free working of the conveyance system closure in connection with the close-off system and the conveyance system. The test results will be recorded in a test book. A non-approved system is operated if the above applications are not fulfilled. The above obligations are fulfilled by establishing a qualified maintenance contract with us as the manufacturer of the system.

As described above, these regulations are established in the building law and they are completely independent of the insurance company that the respective operating company has selected. A functional system can only be assumed if the regulations for usage, upkeep and maintenance are adhered to and therefore we also recommend a maintenance contract for projects outside Germany.

Contact

Feel free to contact us anytime via phone, email, or contact form for personalized advice and a custom quote – we look forward to your challenge!

Fault report via email to:
support@abs-brandschutz.de

abs Sicherheitstechnik
Vertriebs- und Service GmbH
Robert-Koch-Straße 19b
D-55129 Mainz