Inadequate insulation due to mechanical damage of power supply cables or brittle insulation of devices and lamps due to constant heating result in insulation faults which are one of the most common fire sources. But also low insulation resistance as a result of humidity and dirt increases the risk of fire. The consequences of insulation faults are serious. They not only imply an increased fire hazard, which poses a considerable danger to people, the environment and property values. Expensive system downtimes, data loss and disturbances in computer systems and communications equipment as well as unplanned and expensive maintenance work are further consequences of insulation faults.
Preventive fire protection is becoming the key issue in the field of company security, because operational interruptions and damage to property due to fire incidences can threaten the companies' existence. No company can afford this. Therefore, all persons responsible for electrical safety should place enormous demands on preventive fire protection.
In order to effectively address the fire protection problem in electrical installations, continuous monitoring for residual currents of essential installations or installation parts and devices is the method of choice. For this purpose, residual current monitors or residual current monitoring systems are to be installed in addition to existing protective devices.
1. In section “532 Equipment for protection against fire risks”: “If in specific application cases a residual current device (RCD) in accordance with 531.3.4.1 cannot be used, because the operational current of the circuit to be protected is greater than the greatest rated current of a residual current device (RCD), for example, it is recommended to apply the following measures: “Use of residual current monitors (RCMs) according to DIN EN 62020 (VDE 0663) together with circuit breakers if their supply voltage is isolated from the supplying system.”
2. In section “532.3 Residual current monitors (RCMs) for protection against fire risks in IT systems”: “Instead of residual current protective devices (RCDs), residual current monitors (RCMs) can be used in IT systems, provided that the area is monitored by electrically skilled persons. Residual current monitors (RCMs) must be in compliance with DIN EN 62020 (VDE 0663) and must be operated in combination with a switching device suitable for isolation. Residual current monitors (RCMs) must be installed at the beginning of the final circuit. The residual operating current must not exceed 300 mA.”
3. In section “532.4 Insulation monitoring devices (IMDs) for protection against fire risks in IT systems” the use of insulation monitoring devices according to DIN EN 61557-8 and insulation fault location systems according DIN EN 61557-9 is recommended. RCMs with a residual operating current of 300 mA are required by the DIN VDE 0100-482 standard for locations prone to fire hazards.
Preventive fire protection by continuous residual current monitoring or insulation monitoring does not only mean preventive safety for the protection of man and machine against the hazards of electric current, but also high operational reliability and availability of technical installations by immediate detection and elimination of insulation faults. This allows maintenance and operating costs to be considerably reduced. The risk of failure due to unexpected operation of existing protective devices can also be reduced to a minimum.
By monitoring the residual current of systems and devices in electrical installations an insulation deterioration becomes visible immediately and can be signalled. Instead of random testing of the insulation value at long intervals, the high insulation resistance of the installation in accordance with the requirements of the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) Regulation 3 and the Ordinance on Industrial Safety (BetrSichV) can be maintained by means of continuous monitoring.
Furthermore, an important condition for the work of precautionary fire protection by the local fire brigades can be met.
In environments where an RCD cannot be used for technical reasons, RCMs meet the normative requirements and are in compliance with the Low Voltage Directive.In the event of damage, you are in a legally secure position.
You meet and exceed the directives for damage prevention of property insurers (VdS) and possibly reduce your insurance premiums.
For further information, see VdS Schadenverhütung GmbH directives (only available in German language) :
VdS 2033 - Elektrische Anlagen in feuergefährdeten Betriebsstätten und diesen gleichzustellende Risiken Richtlinien zur Schadenverhütung
VdS 2349-1 - Auswahl von Schutzeinrichtungen für den Brandschutz in elektrischen Anlagen
VdS 3501 - Isolationsfehlerschutz in elektrischen Anlagen mit elektronischen Betriebsmitteln - RCD und FU, Richtlinien zur Schadenverhütung
| Name | Category | Size | Language | Timestamp | D-/B-Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product Overview ISOMETER®/ISOSCAN® | Product Overviews | 5.3 MB | EN | 2024/02/1616.02.2024 | |
| Product Overview - Residual Current Monitoring | Product Overviews | 6.3 MB | EN | 2024/10/2929.10.2024 | |
| Wiederkehrende Prüfung nach DGUV Vorschrift 3 (BGV A3) | Flyer | 535.0 KB | DE | 2024/07/0303.07.2024 | |
| Fachbeitrag: Brandschutz in Windkraftanlagen (2021) | Technical article | 208.8 KB | DE | 2021/05/2626.05.2021 | |
| Fachbeitrag: Brandschutz in holzverarbeitenden Betrieben (2020) | Technical article | 366.7 KB | DE | 2021/06/0707.06.2021 | |
| Fachbeitrag: Holz + Möbel Brandschutz (2020) | Technical article | 241.1 KB | DE | 2021/06/0707.06.2021 |
Products
Multichannel AC, pulsed DC and AC/DC sensitive residual current monitor
Multichannel AC, pulsed DC and AC/DC sensitive residual current monitor
Multichannel AC, pulsed DC and AC/DC sensitive residual current monitor with one alarm contact per channel
Multichannel AC, pulsed DC and AC/DC sensitive residual current monitor with one alarm contact per channel
AC/DC sensitive residual current monitor (type B) with 6 integrated measuring current transformers
AC/DC sensitive residual current monitoring modules for MRCD applications
AC/DC sensitive residual current monitoring modules for monitoring applications
AC/DC sensitive residual current monitoring module with integrated split-core measuring current transformer
AC/DC sensitive residual current monitoring module for electric vehicle charging systems
DC sensitive residual current monitoring module for electric vehicle charging systems
Modular residual current device type B for additional protection (protection against indirect contact) in earthed systems (TN and TT systems)
AC/DC sensitive residual current monitor for TN and TT systems (AC, DC, pulsed DC currents)
AC/DC sensitive residual current monitor for TN and TT systems (AC, DC, pulsed DC currents)
Residual current monitor for TN and TT systems (AC and pulsed DC currents)
AC/DC sensitive residual current monitoring for AC charge stations
AC/DC sensitive residual current monitoring for AC charge stations
DC sensitive residual current monitoring for AC charge stations
AC/DC sensitive residual current monitoring module for measuring AC and DC currents up to ±100 mA
Insulation monitoring device for inverter applications and large industrial plants
Insulation monitoring device for inverter applications and large industrial plants, variant for coupled systems
Insulation monitoring device for inverter applications and large industrial plants, variant for coupled systems and insulation fault location
Insulation monitoring device tailored to the requirements of railway rolling stock applications
Insulation monitoring device especially for railway applications
Insulation monitoring device with instantaneous tripping, frequency nominal system voltage 60 Hz
Insulation monitoring device for offline monitoring of de-energised loads
Insulation monitoring device for measuring high-resistance insulation resistances up to 10 GΩ and to monitor long parallel cable
Device combination for insulation monitoring in medium-voltage systems
Insulation monitoring device for unearthed systems in photovoltaic installations up to AC 1000 V/DC 1500 V
Insulation monitoring device for mobile, insulated elevating work platforms
Insulation monitoring device for unearthed AC, AC/DC and DC power supplies (IT systems)
Insulation monitoring device for unearthed DC systems (IT systems) DC 0 V to 400 V. Suitable for DC charging stations according to CCS or CHAdeMO
Insulation monitoring device with coupling device for unearthed DC systems (IT systems) DC 0 V to 1000 V Suitable for DC charging stations according to CCS or CHAdeMO
Insulation monitoring device for railway applications up to AC/DC 440 V
Insulation monitoring device for unearthed AC/DC control circuits
Insulation monitoring device for unearthed DC systems (IT systems) up to 120 V
Insulation monitoring device for batteries up to DC 400 V
Insulation monitoring device for medical IT systems
Insulation monitoring device with an integrated locating current injector for medical IT systems
Offline monitor (earth fault lock-out) for monitoring de-energised loads in TN,TT and IT systems
Insulation monitoring device for mobile generators
Insulation monitoring device for photovoltaic systems up to AC 690 V/DC 1000 V
Insulation monitoring device for unearthed AC control circuits
Insulation monitoring device for unearthed AC, AC/DC and DC systems (IT systems) for energy storage devices up to AC/DC 400 V
Insulation monitoring device for unearthed AC, AC/DC and DC systems (IT system)
Insulation monitoring device for unearthed AC, AC/DC and DC systems (IT systems) up to 3(N)AC, AC 400 V, DC 400 V
Insulation monitoring device for unearthed AC, AC/DC and DC main and control circuits
Insulation monitoring device for mobile generators
Insulation monitoring device for unearthed DC drive systems in electric vehicles
Insulation monitoring device for unearthed DC drive systems in electric vehicles
Insulation monitoring device for photovoltaic systems up to AC 793 V/DC 1100 V
Insulation monitoring device for unearthed systems up to 480 V
Insulation monitoring device for installations with a low-resistance insulation level
Multichannel AC, pulsed DC and AC/DC sensitive residual current monitor
Multichannel AC, pulsed DC and AC/DC sensitive residual current monitor
Multichannel AC, pulsed DC and AC/DC sensitive residual current monitor with one alarm contact per channel
Multichannel AC, pulsed DC and AC/DC sensitive residual current monitor with one alarm contact per channel
AC/DC sensitive residual current monitor (type B) with 6 integrated measuring current transformers
AC/DC sensitive residual current monitoring modules for MRCD applications
AC/DC sensitive residual current monitoring modules for monitoring applications
AC/DC sensitive residual current monitoring module with integrated split-core measuring current transformer
AC/DC sensitive residual current monitoring module for electric vehicle charging systems
DC sensitive residual current monitoring module for electric vehicle charging systems
Modular residual current device type B for additional protection (protection against indirect contact) in earthed systems (TN and TT systems)
AC/DC sensitive residual current monitor for TN and TT systems (AC, DC, pulsed DC currents)
AC/DC sensitive residual current monitor for TN and TT systems (AC, DC, pulsed DC currents)
Residual current monitor for TN and TT systems (AC and pulsed DC currents)
AC/DC sensitive residual current monitoring for AC charge stations
AC/DC sensitive residual current monitoring for AC charge stations
DC sensitive residual current monitoring for AC charge stations
AC/DC sensitive residual current monitoring module for measuring AC and DC currents up to ±100 mA
Insulation monitoring device for inverter applications and large industrial plants
Insulation monitoring device for inverter applications and large industrial plants, variant for coupled systems
Insulation monitoring device for inverter applications and large industrial plants, variant for coupled systems and insulation fault location
Insulation monitoring device tailored to the requirements of railway rolling stock applications
Insulation monitoring device especially for railway applications
Insulation monitoring device with instantaneous tripping, frequency nominal system voltage 60 Hz
Insulation monitoring device for offline monitoring of de-energised loads
Insulation monitoring device for measuring high-resistance insulation resistances up to 10 GΩ and to monitor long parallel cable
Device combination for insulation monitoring in medium-voltage systems
Insulation monitoring device for unearthed systems in photovoltaic installations up to AC 1000 V/DC 1500 V
Insulation monitoring device for mobile, insulated elevating work platforms
Insulation monitoring device for unearthed AC, AC/DC and DC power supplies (IT systems)
Insulation monitoring device for unearthed DC systems (IT systems) DC 0 V to 400 V. Suitable for DC charging stations according to CCS or CHAdeMO
Insulation monitoring device with coupling device for unearthed DC systems (IT systems) DC 0 V to 1000 V Suitable for DC charging stations according to CCS or CHAdeMO
Insulation monitoring device for railway applications up to AC/DC 440 V
Insulation monitoring device for unearthed AC/DC control circuits
Insulation monitoring device for unearthed DC systems (IT systems) up to 120 V
Insulation monitoring device for batteries up to DC 400 V
Insulation monitoring device for medical IT systems
Insulation monitoring device with an integrated locating current injector for medical IT systems
Offline monitor (earth fault lock-out) for monitoring de-energised loads in TN,TT and IT systems
Insulation monitoring device for mobile generators
Insulation monitoring device for photovoltaic systems up to AC 690 V/DC 1000 V
Insulation monitoring device for unearthed AC control circuits
Insulation monitoring device for unearthed AC, AC/DC and DC systems (IT systems) for energy storage devices up to AC/DC 400 V
Insulation monitoring device for unearthed AC, AC/DC and DC systems (IT system)
Insulation monitoring device for unearthed AC, AC/DC and DC systems (IT systems) up to 3(N)AC, AC 400 V, DC 400 V
Insulation monitoring device for unearthed AC, AC/DC and DC main and control circuits
Insulation monitoring device for mobile generators
Insulation monitoring device for unearthed DC drive systems in electric vehicles
Insulation monitoring device for unearthed DC drive systems in electric vehicles
Insulation monitoring device for photovoltaic systems up to AC 793 V/DC 1100 V
Insulation monitoring device for unearthed systems up to 480 V
Insulation monitoring device for installations with a low-resistance insulation level
