In the Bosch fire testing laboratory.
Last summer, Bosch Security Systems partners had a unique opportunity to visit the fire testing laboratory and the company's headquarters in Germany. The Russian delegation was accompanied by representatives of the company's Moscow office, and among the invitees were distributors of Bosch equipment, experts in the field of fire alarms, representatives of specialized research institutes and specialized magazines. The fire testing laboratory is located in Ottobrunn, a suburb of Munich. The eventful visit began with a visit there. The delegation was met by Thomas Hansez, the project manager for the development of fire detectors. His group is responsible for the development of automatic fire detectors: addressable, traditional (non-addressable), invisible, as well as peripheral devices (interface modules). The guests were shown the premises for test fires and electromagnetic tests, and were told in detail about the methods used and the testing procedure. The laboratory simulates test fires of the TF1-TF6 and TF8 types.
The laboratory's arsenal includes an optical density meter for the environment, a control ionization chamber (CIC). These instruments can be used to measure the optical density of the environment, i.e., light attenuation, and determine the concentration of smoke particles. The test fire sources comply with European standards. Smoke, heat, and combined detectors are tested in these conditions. Since the Bosch line includes detectors with Dual Ray technology that can detect open burning of wood («invisible smoke» produced by the TF1 test fire source), the laboratory also provides for such a test, although this study is not required by European standards. The TF2 test source produces smoke that is larger particles. In both cases, wooden blocks serve as the burning material. The TF3 test source produces white smoke. In this case, a bundle of cotton rope is burned. When testing with a TF4 type fire, polyurethane is burned, with TF5 — heptane (something close to alcohol), with TF6 — a mixture of ethanol and methanol, with TF8 — decalin. TF6 does not produce any particles, so the emitted heat is examined. This model of a test fire is used to check heat detectors. Additionally, the laboratory equipment allows to examine the gas channel of the detectors, which detects the concentration of CO. This is necessary for testing combined detectors that have a gas channel (CO) in addition to the smoke and heat channels. Special measuring chambers allow mixing different gases and testing the operability of the gas channel of the detectors under special conditions. The laboratory also performs tests for corrosion, electromagnetic compatibility, environmental impact — heat, temperature, moisture, lightning strikes, etc. The test for the resistance of technical equipment to the effects of electromagnetic fields and for measuring the electromagnetic fields that the electrical equipment itself produces in space are carried out in two specially equipped chambers. In addition to the above, fire alarms are tested for reproducibility, stability and repeatability.
Thomas Hansez also spoke about how new detectors are developed (using the example of the creation of a two-LED smoke detector FAP-DO 420 with Dual Ray technology), what tests are carried out during development, what role they play in the creation of new and modernization of existing products.
Today, the laboratory conducts fire tests under conditions that simulate standard test fires and situations that often occur during fires. It is possible to simulate conditions typical for rooms with cigarette smoke, steam, dust, or aerosols — this is important when testing detectors for false alarms. As you know, the company supplies equipment not only to Europe, but also all over the world. That is why, during testing, not only the requirements of European standards are taken into account, but also the features of the standards of other countries. For example, detectors are tested according to American standards, using the appropriate measuring equipment.
At the company's headquarters in Grasbrunn, Alex Squarize, Head of Product Marketing, gave a general presentation of the company and a presentation of Bosch Security Systems, mentioning the most significant projects. The report of his colleague Andre Hoer, Head of Software Development and Testing for Control Panels, contained detailed information about the features and capabilities of Bosch fire control panels. A logical continuation of the report was an introduction to a unique laboratory that simulates the operation of a large-scale distributed fire alarm system. Here it is possible to simulate various alarm situations and thereby check the reliability of the system as a whole, as well as evaluate the design, technological, circuit features of the central equipment and the clarity of its interaction with the periphery. The laboratory is a room with several rows of racks. Each row has 32 fire panels, which can support up to 32,000 detectors. 250 detectors are connected directly in the laboratory. In order to actually connect 32,000 detectors, a room the size of half a football field would be needed. But, nevertheless, the entire laboratory fits into a room of about 20 square meters. What's the secret? The company's developers have created a simulator that can simulate the operation of 254 detectors. It fits in the palm of your hand and replaces a real addressable loop. This solution allows you to simulate the operation of truly large-scale systems.
Manfred Sorge, Quality Management Process Coordination Manager, spoke about Bosch quality management. «Quality without compromise» is an ideology laid down and voiced by the company's founder Robert Bosch back in 1918. Manfred Sorge spoke about how the company follows this ideology today. «Made in Bosch» means a single quality standard worldwide and at all stages of a product's life. The company is certified according to ISO9001 and ISO14001, and the use of the CMMI quality standard, Six Sigma and the DFSS methodology in the development process provides confidence that quality is implemented from the very beginning of the development stage. Quality management affects all stages of product creation and implementation, from the selection of components and their supplier, product development, its manufacture to its implementation. Klaus Caspari, Head of the Group for Interaction with Standardization and Certification Institutes, introduced the guests in detail to the features of the European EN54 standards, which define the methods for conducting fire tests in Europe. Anja Huchthausen, an employee of the product marketing department, spoke about innovations in the field of fire detection and the use of these innovations in installations in large shopping and entertainment centers.
A visit to the BMW World center gave guests the opportunity to see with their own eyes the Bosch fire alarm system installed there and learn about the features of the construction and operation of this unique large-scale system. The busy working day ended with a friendly dinner, during which conversations and discussions did not stop until late in the evening.