Maximum safety in buildings for people and valuable assets

Arc fault detection devices (AFDDs)

Each year over two million fires erupt all over Europe. More than one third of these due to faults in the electrical installation which prevailingly occur as a result of dangerous arc faults. S-ARC1 and DS-ARC1 provide maximum safety in all buildings, thus protecting people and valuable assets. By early detecting arc faults and disconnecting the affected circuit they offer reliable and complete protection in any type of building.

Highlights

Inherent fire hazards are reliably detected and prevented
Protection gap against arc faults is closed
Recommended in different applications acc. to IEC 603644-4-42
Quick and simple installation using standard System pro M compact® busbars and accessories
Family feeling in the System pro M compact® range
Safety thanks to a continuously running internal self test in order to check the arc detection circuit and a test push-button to verify the correct functioning of the arc fault detection device

Did you know...

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Product range

S-ARC1 & S-ARC1 M

1P+N AFDDs with integrated MCB in 6kA and 10kA breaking capacity respectively, with rated current up to 20 A. In only 2 modules width, they provide protection against arc faults and overcurrents.

DS-ARC1 & DS-ARC1 M

1P+N AFDDs with integrated RCBO in 6kA and 10kA breaking capacity respectively, with rated current up to 20 A and sensitivity 30mA. In only 3 modules width, they provide protection against arc faults, overcurrents and earth fault currents.

Case studies

Preventing fire at Aachen Cathedral

Keeping windmills turning with ABB's AFDDs

AFDDs to protect historic townhall in Dordrecht against the consequences of arc faults

Learn more about

Arc faults

Recommended applications

Easy installation

Different levels of protection

Which types of arc faults can occur?

The majority of fires in buildings erupt from faults in the electrical installation. These fires are mainly caused by dangerous arc faults. An AFDD (Arc Fault Detection Device) according to the product standard “IEC 62606 - General requirements for Arc Fault Detection Devices” is a device intended to mitigate the effects of arcing faults by disconnecting the circuit when an arc fault is detected. S-ARC1 and DS-ARC1 close the protection gap against arc faults and thus extends the fire protection in various types of buildings – protecting people and valuable assets against series arc faults, parallel and earth arc faults.

Series arc faults occur when a conductor is disrupted, parallel arc faults in the case of contact between phase and neutral conductors or in the case of contact between phase and protective conductors.

The most frequent causes of the development of arc faults are:

Damaged insulation, e.g. by screws or nails
Trapped cables in doors and windows
Cable breakage due to incorrect installation
UV radiation and rodent damage to cables in outdoor areas
Loose contacts and connections, for example in poorly installed switches/outlets or multiple sockets
Snapped plugs and cables, e.g. due to carelessly moved furniture

Simulation of an arc fault: comparison between MCB and AFDD

Protection for people and irreplaceable goods

Maximum safety in all kinds of applications

The global wiring regulation IEC 60364-4-42 gives advice on special measures to protect against the effects of arc faults in final circuits. According to this regulation, the use of an AFDD is strongly recommended for the following applications:

Rooms with sleeping accommodation
- Home and day care centers, nurseries
- Retirement homes, care homes and homes for the elderly
- Asylums
- Handicap-accessible areas

Locations with risks of fire due to flammable constructional materials
- Wooden buildings
- Carpentries, paper manufacturing plants, printing shops
- Gas stations
- Barns

Locations with risks of fire due to fire propagating structures
- Skyscrapers
- Combustible buildings
- Forced ventilation systems

Locations that contain irreplaceable goods
- Museums, libraries, galleries, archives or architectural monuments
- R&D centers
- Laboratories

The use of an AFDD is additionally recommended in any rooms with sleeping facilities in private apartments, houses, hospitals (does not apply for medically used areas) and hotels. This also includes places with a fire-disseminating structure, such as the chimney effect in high-rise buildings or final circuits with high connected load, e.g. dishwashers, washing machines or dryers.

Quick and easy wirings without any additional cables

Easy installation and comprehensive protection in serial and parallel arc faults – an AFDD combines everything that is needed for extended fire protection in all types of buildings.

Installation both with cables and busbars and supply is possible either from top or bottom terminals according to the different countries installation habits. With ABB’s busbars of System pro M compact® range the installation can be handled very quickly and easily without any additional cables. Furthermore, our AFDDs are also compatible with System pro M compact® accessories that can be mounted directly on the product in just a few steps.

Protection offered by MCBs, RCDs and AFDDs

RCDs are recognized efficient to reduce the risk of fire by detection of leakage current and arcing to ground. During a series and parallel arc fault, there is no leakage to ground therefore RCDs can’t detect such a fault. RCDs (with sensitivity ≤ 300 mA) can only detect earth arc faults.

In case of parallel and series arc faults MCBs and fuses can trip only if their intervention time and current curves are compatible with the values of the current of the arc faults, thus intervention is not guaranteed. MCBs cannot detect earth arc faults.

To ensure a complete protection against arc faults, thus against fire risks, the installation of an AFDD is required.

Downloads

AFDD brochure

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