Master Control Systems, Inc.

Fire pump controllers must comply with current codes.

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National Fire Protection Association (Pamphlet #20).

Underwriters Laboratories.

Factory Mutual.

Local ordinances. (AHJ)

But… do any of these standards address the long-term reliability of the system?

NFPA Pamphlet #20

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Provides minimum requirements for functionality of equipment.

Provides minimum requirements for field performance.

Relies on “listed” equipment to verify conformance.

Underwriters Laboratories and Factory Mutual

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“List” or “approve” fire pump controllers in compliance with NFPA 20, but they don’t evaluate quality or long term reliability issues such as:

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Transients immunity

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Electro-magnetic Interference

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Circuit Board Protection

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Product Life Cycle

So who is responsible for quality and long term reliability...?

YOU...

... are in complete control

of product quality & long term reliability!

Let’s look at the critical design elements that should be part of your specification to increase long term reliability.

Master EC Series MASTERfully Engineered for Reliability.

The EC Series controller was developed for large companies who desire to protect their billion dollar properties with the most reliable fire pump controller in the world. Let’s look at it’s Critical Design Considerations that make this true.

Critical Design Considerations Transient Protection and Control Circuit Control logic circuits are prone to transient damage when continuously connected to the power line.

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Master EC Uses “Air-gap” isolated circuitry to keep power off of critical control circuits until the fire pump start sequence is initiated.

Others – Connect the control circuitry to the power line all the time leaving the the controller susceptible to damaging power spikes from utility grid.

Critical Design Considerations Phase Loss and Transient Protection: Phase monitors are prone to damage due to uncontrolled transients typically found with service entrance equipment.

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Master EC – Monitors phase loss downstream of three electro-statically shielded, high dielectric strength, control transformers to prevent power line spikes from damaging the controller.

Others – Monitor phase loss at the incoming power line voltage. Phase loss detectors are their most common service item.

Critical Design Considerations Transient Protection and Dielectric Strength: Transients will find the weakest path to ground.

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Master EC – Has the highest dielectric (high potential test) strength available. It’s rated at 5000 volts .

Others – Do not published this information but the testing agencies only require a dielectric strength of 2500 volts .

Critical Design Considerations Electro-magnetic Interference

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Radio Frequencies from fire radios, cellular telephones, arcing motors and the like can “upset” micro-processor designs.

Master EC - Separates critical and non-critical functions. It uses electronics in the critical path that are certified to be immune to RF interference by a third party testing agency and marked as EMC compliance in accordance with International standards. Others – Use microprocessor designs in the critical path that have not been tested by a third party to establish immunity. No EMC Mark of compliance is provided.

Critical Design Considerations Circuit Board Protection Printed circuit boards can be damaged during installation when large power cables are pulled or afterwards when corrosion develops in high humidity conditions.

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Master EC - Printed circuit boards are enclosed to prevent mechanical damage and conformal coated to prevent corrosion.

Others – Leave circuit boards un-protected and un-coated.

Critical Design Considerations Product Life Cycle Capital equipment is expected to last 20-30 years but does it anymore?

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Master EC - Controllers are designed to last 20-30 years and parts are always available. Our warranties and guarantees say it all.

Others or less.

– Obsolete products after 10 years

Critical Design Considerations

Phase Smart ™ • •

Master EC

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Intelligent control logic prevents the fire pump from starting due to local or area-wide single-phase condition; but allows it to continue running if the phase loss occurs while already running. Meets NFPA 20 (1999) Others

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Not provided

Critical Design Considerations Phase Loss and Control Power: To operate under a single phase condition, control power must be taken from all 3 phases since you never know which phase will be missing.

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Master EC - Takes control power from all three phases. Loss of one of three phases will not affect control.

Others – Takes power from only a single phase. Loss of this phase results in loss of all control functions.

Critical Design Considerations Phase Loss and Locked Rotor Protector: For the locked rotor protector to trip under single phase conditions, the shunt trip must be powered from all 3 phases.

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Master EC – Uses a DC shunt trip coil powered from all 3 phases. The locked rotor protector will still operate under a single phase condition.

Others – Uses an AC shunt trip coil powered from only a single phase. Has a 2 out of 3 chance that a loss of phase will disable the locked rotor protector leaving the motor vulnerable to destruction during manual operation.

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Critical Design Considerations Restart Time Delay Master EC - Controllers utilize a re-start timer to delay the instantaneous re start of the controller. This allows electromagnetic fields in the motor to decay.

Others – Don’t provide this feature. Without it the circuit breaker may trip unintentionally during a fire. The fire pump is then out of service for the duration of the fire, or until manually reset.

Critical Design Considerations Instant On

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Master EC - All controllers are capable of starting instantly as soon as power is applied.

Others – Take 10, 20, or 30 seconds to power-up before they are capable of starting. Many Fire Marshals will not accept this kind of delay, especially on transfer switch controllers.

Critical Design Considerations Low Voltage Ride-thru

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Master EC - Controllers will continue to operate if the voltage drops by as much as 35% of rated voltage. This can be critical when starting the fire pump on emergency power.

Others – May not operate if the voltage drops below only 15% of rated voltage.

Critical Design Considerations Diagnostics Demonstration of over-current device.

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Master EC - Provides a test-switch to demonstrate the timed and instantaneous settings of the over current device.

Others - Not available from other manufacturers.

Critical Design Considerations Controller Enclosure

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Master EC - Provides no less than a NEMA 12 dust-tight enclosure. All enclosures also pass the watertight hose test required for a NEMA 4 rating.

Others - No other manufacturer of Fire Pump Controllers offers more than a NEMA 2 Enclosure as standard.

Critical Design Considerations Paperless Pressure/Alarm Recorder

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Master EC - Paperless Pressure and Alarm Recorder developed by MCS can record all events leading up to and throughout a fire. Custom PC Software is provided which can analyze and view the data graphically.

Others - No other manufacturer of Fire Pump Controllers offers a truly medialess Pressure/Alarm Recorder.

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Built-in dial-up modem

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12 hour battery back-up

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Totally independent of controller

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Password protected over the modem

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4000 Data points in non-volatile memory

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350 Alarm conditions

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Watch check-in switch

Critical Design Considerations 5 Year Warranty/Lightning Protection Guarantee

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Master EC (Written) 5 Year Warranty!

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2 Years Labor Expense!

$5000 Lightning and transient damage Guarantee!

Others

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1 Year Warranty.

No Labor.

No Lightning Protection.

NFPA 20 Summary

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To be compliant today with NFPA 20, a manufacturer needs only to prove that the controller performs the basic functions as laid out in the code.

UL/FM verifies this functional performance, but leaves quality and long term reliability up to you!

Master EC Series - Summary

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Superior performance and reliability Air gap isolated control circuit All phase monitoring performed downstream of control transformers 5000 volt dielectric strength EMC certified by third party testing lab Conformal coated printed circuit boards 20-30 year product life cycle

Master EC Series - Summary

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PhaseSmart DC control power taken from all 3 phases DC locked rotor protection circuit.

Restart time delay Instant On Low voltage ride-thru Demonstration of over-current device NEMA 12, dust-tight, enclosure

Master EC Series - Summary

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Paperless Pressure and Alarm Recorder that is unequaled 5 year warranty that is unsurpassed $5000 Lightning guarantee that is unprecedented A reliability record which cannot be touched by any manufacturer!