Unavoidable Specifications of Motor Control Centre (MCC Panel) for Fire Pump House

The Motor Control Centre (MCC Panel) is a fundamental part of the fire safety system. A fire pump supplies water to a facility’s fire protection piping. If the pump doesn’t run, not only will those conductors be damaged, but the entire facility will also be in danger of burning down. Consequently, the many requirements of Art keep the pump running.

The rules covering the installation of electric power sources and interconnecting circuits for switching and control equipment dedicated to fire pump drivers are very specific.

Some of the Unavoidable Specifications are as follow :

The LT Switchgear shall comprise of Fire station Motor Control Center (MCC) complete with all fittings and accessories as specified in this section. The Design, Manufacture, Testing, supply and performance of equipment and components thereof, included in the specification shall comply with all currently applicable Indian standard & IEC standard and specific codes &standards specified.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

The 415 V MCCs will be 50 kA, 1 sec. rating, 3 Ph, Neutral, 50 Hz, Two MCCBs i.e one as normal supply incomer and one as emergency supply incomer shall be provided of Proper rating with CU/AL bus bars. The degree of protection will be minimum IP65, weather, Vermin proof, single Front floor mounted ,self standing, suitable for mounting on Floor.

Bus bar shall be of uniform cross section throughout the length and rated for continuous and short time currents and Bus bar material shall be Alu. or Copper electrolytic grade.

The incomer feeders ACB's cubicle shall be liberally sized in order to ensure proper termination facilities.

Normal and Emergency incomer ACB's should have mechanical and electrical interlock.+

The MCCs shall be located in utility area fire pump house. Both Incomer feeders shall be provided with voltmeter, CTs, ammeter with selector switch, multifunctional meters. with test terminal blocks. Indication lamps for ACB's, Isolated, Test and Service.

The ACB (Both) and Motor status i.e., LOCAL/REMOTE/ ON/OFF/TRIP signals are required for remote monitoring and data acquisition. These signals will be wired & terminated inside MCC for future use in SCADA system.

All the motor feeders shall be provided with heavy duty switch, HRC fuse links, contactors (AC 3 duty), Bi metal relay. (The components (SFU+ O/L relay + contactor) will be rated for Type –2 Coordination. Ammeter, push buttons, Run Hour meters, indication lamps LED type for Start/ Stop/ Trip. MCB feeders for control and panel lighting shall be provided.

Control Transformer of adequate capacity for control supply voltage to be provided for as per std industrial practices.

Panel should be complete with Start and Stop push buttons, Hours run meter, panel ventilation fans, filter, Power on and fault indication lamps as applicable on incomer and outgoing feeders. The selector switches (Local / Remote) with necessary control logics to be provided on MCC for Local and remote operations. Local control push button stations (LCPB)will be provided near the motors for START / STOP necessary logic for the implementation of the same shall be incorporated.

In local Mode operation of all motors from Motor Control Center (MCC) panel as well as LCPB station shall be possible. This mode of operation will generally be for test and repair purposes. In Remote mode, the equipment can be started from control room (SCADA) only. However stop push button should operate in any Mode.

DOL starters are proposed for all the Motors. All the Motors, shall be provided with 3 no of CT’s, selector switch and ammeter. Current Transformer for metering & Protection purpose should be class 1 and 5P10 respectively with appropriate rating for burden and Current ratios. The low voltage switchgear panel shall be metal clad, totally enclosed CRCA sheet steel cubicles and compartmentalized. Minimum thickness sizes of Base frame/Base channel 3 mm, removable gland plate 3 mm Load bearing members/doors, sides and cover 2 mm CRCA.

All doors, panels, removable covers, gland plates, etc., shall be gasketed using Neoprene gaskets all round the perimeter. The MCC shall be provided with a minimum 75 mm high channel base frame. Total height shall be 2430 mm (max). The minimum operating height shall be 350 mm and maximum operating height shall be 2000 mm from finished Floor level(FFL) . Min sizes of Bus bar and Cable Chamber should be 300 MM and 350 MM respectively.

Liberal clearances shall be maintained in all panel cubicles ,bus bar chambers and cable alleys by considering availability of space for ease of installation , maintenance , adequate safety for working in one section without coming into accidental contact with live parts in the adjacent section.

Panel should confirm to 3 form segregation .The bus bar, dropper, feeder and cable in LT panel should be housed in exclusively chambers. Each vertical section of panel shall be divided into horizontal and vertical bus bar chamber, cable compartments for accommodating incoming and outgoing cables and equipment compartment in modular design for accommodating all components of each outgoing feeders.

Each vertical section of panel and Feeder shall be constructed, such that failure of one equipment does not affect the adjacent units between bus compartment and breaker compartment and Cable compartment, non perforated flame retardant partitions shall be provided.

Compartment door shall be interlocked mechanically with the switch such that the door cannot be opened unless the switch is in OFF position, also means shall be provide for releasing the interlock at any time. Relays, meters and control switches shall be located at height which shall be convenient for monitoring.

Power and Control cable alley for each module shall be covered with bolted type, sloped hylam sheet which shall be fixed after termination of power cable. Adequate number of slotted cable support arms shall be provided for cleating the cables.

All panels will be epoxy painted with exterior pebble RED Main name plate on top of the board, on front and back shall be provided. Panel number shall also be indicated on a separate label front and back. Nameplates of approved design shall be provided at the front of each cubicle. Rating plates for each instrument relay and auxiliary switch, mounted on the face shall be provided. All internally mounted components shall be identified with painting marks as per approved scheme drawings.

Panel Manufactures should be CPRI approved equivalent to Accu-Panels Energy.