Functional Integrity

IP 65 Cable Junction Boxes with Functional Integrity!!!

Are you safe???

In a world where hazards are constantly on the rise due to rapid growth, industrialisation, globalisation, day-night constructions, and threat of terror – the challenges before the Fire and Rescue services are being increased day by day.

It is so vital to ensure no stone left unturned to achieve efficiency and effectiveness in handling the most severe emergencies.

The fire and rescue department face big challenges when there are fire accidents in multi-storeyed buildings, or fires in congested and over-populated urban areas with difficult access. Hence, in this modern world, it is very important to keep the safety circuits operational for a sufficient period in accordance with the national regulations governing the fire protection requirements for cable installations during exposure to fire.

In addition to a standard power supply, populated buildings like Departmental stores, Sports facilities, Hospitals, Airports, Railway Stations, Marriage Halls or Theatres etc generally also require an emergency power supply.

Study 1 : An international Standard testing curve based on real fire temperatures:

 Besides Oxygen, burning material and heat, a fire needs time to develop. After a first fire has shown, the heating period is only 5 to 15 minutes when fire creates a flash over point at approx 500 deg. C which causes a huge air pressure, the fire ignites all surfaces in the room causing explosion.

The temperature during fire can exceed more than 1000 deg. C. and therefore a fire proof installation with functional integrity must withstand the air pressure and temperature more than 1000 deg. C.

In the event of fire, the functional integrity of emergency power supply must be guaranteed for a specific period of time such that emergency lighting, lifts, smoke extractors, alarms etc remain operational for a minimum of 30 minutes to a maximum of 90 minutes so that people can leave the building before the emergency or rescue operations start. 90 minutes are maximum since after that there is no necessity of  any emergency…

Study 2 : An example of a wrong but typical fire protection installation in a building ;

 The above installation is from a public building. In this example, the fire proof cables ( orange colour) are installed between the normal cables. In case of fire, the plastic material used for normal cables may also burn the fire proof cables. The installation is completely against the rules and gives no security in case of fire.

Commonly, Brass and Alluminium Junction boxes are used for buildings with fire protection requirements however they are completely unsafe.Both these metals are having melting temperatures lesser than 1000 deg. C and they wont give any security when the temperature reaches above the 60 minutes barrier.

Hensel  introduces FK cable junction boxes which are IP 65 ( Jet water proof & dust proof ) according to IEC 60 998 – 2 – 5 , tested for functional integrity in the event of fire.FK cable junction boxes comply with these requirements when used together with type approved cables as well as suitable cable clamps or mounting devices.

The Fk range of functional integrity boxes are offered in two different material of construction;

FK 7 series in Duroplast

and,

FK 9 series in Sheet Steel

 FK 7 Cable Junction boxes with functional integrity : Duroplastic

FK9 Cable Junction Boxes for Function Integrity : Sheet Steel

 All the Functional integrity junction boxes carry special terminals made of Ceramic as they are suitable to withstand temperatures more than 1200 deg. C.

In the event of fire, the Hensel FK functional integrity boxes ensure everything is in place and the power supply remains functionally intact as shown below;

To conclude,