Smoke Switch systems - why are they so important?
Buildings are divided into fire sectors to assist structural fire safety. Municipal building authorities stipulate that door openings in fire compartments must be closed with fire doors. However, doors that are kept closed all the time often interfere with work processes. Keeping fire doors open is only permitted if they are equipped with hold-open systems. Such a hold-open system for fire doors consists of:
 Smoke or Heat Switches for detecting a fire and automatically triggering the hold-open
system,
door holding magnets or electromechanical door closers to hold the fire doors open,
push-buttons for manual triggering of the fire door,
a power supply or Smoke Switches and holding magnets.
In normal operation, hold-open systems
hold fire doors open with a retention device (e.g. retention
magnet). If the Smoke or Heat Switches detect a fire, they
provide an impulse to the retaining magnets which then release
the fire door, thus closing it. Smoke is limited to a fire
sector for a considerably longer time.
Regulations and guidelines
HEKATRON has good reason to refer to
its hold-open system as a Smoke Switch system,
of which the first generation was developed and used in
1967. HEKATRON's smoke and heat detectors have been functionally
modified in such a way that they can take on important switching
and control functions as Smoke or Heat Switches - independent
of fire alarm systems. There is no need for external
switching devices or control units to control the hold-open
equipment. The Smoke or Heat Switches take on this task.
The suitability test
A Smoke Switch system in Germany must be approved by the German Institute of Building Technology (DIBt). The requirements to be met by a Smoke Switch system are defined in its regulations. Fulfilment of these requirements is proved by a suitability test which is carried out by the VdS (the Association of Property Insurers). Fundamentally, only complete Smoke Switch systems are tested because it is not enough if a component alone is DIBt-approved. All the parts of the system must be tested and approved together. A single component without approval would mean that the entire system failed to receive approval.
The acceptance test
The installed system must be inspected for perfect function and correct installation according to the regulations. After the acceptance test, an approval sign must be put up near the installed Smoke Switch system.
Regular inspection
The Smoke Switch system must be kept in proper working order by the user and checked for perfect function at least once a month, whereby it is particularly important for the connected Smoke and Heat Switches to be tested by simulating fire characteristics (e.g. with test gas). Futhermore, the user must test all the devices to check that they interact with one another properly and without any trouble, and do maintenance work (or have it done) at least once a year, unless shorter periods are stipulated in the approval certificate.
These inspections and maintenance activities may only be carried out by a specialist or a person who has undergone special training. The scope, resuls and timing of the regular inspections are to be documented. These records are to be kept by the user. A maintenance report is available from HEKATRON.
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