ABB : introduces the new S-ARC1 Arc Fault Detection Device

With recent estimates putting the number of fires caused by faulty electrical installation in Europe at over two million, costing over €126 billion in fire damage, the need to deliver better fire protection for residential and commercial installations, has never been higher.

Germany will be the first country in Europe to prescribe the installation of an AFDD as mandatory (from 18 December 2017) and drawing on its extensive experience in home and building safety, ABB has launched its new S-ARC1 series to provide complete protection for people, buildings and irreplaceable goods. With the new series, most common hazards triggered by disruptions in electrical installation can be detected in advance, minimizing the risk of fire damage.

According to the product standard IEC / EN 62606, an AFDD is a device intended to mitigate the effects of arcing faults, by automatically disconnecting the circuit when an arc fault is detected. The causes of Arc Faults include damaged installations, trapped cables, cable breakage, UV radiation and rodent damage, loose contacts and connections, incorrect installation or broken plugs and cables.

Commenting on the launch, Piero-Giorgio Schiannini, Global Product Group Manager DIN rail Products, said: 'Protecting our customers is at the forefront of our product innovation, and is central to ABB's product philosophy and global mission, and we are committed to reducing the number of unnecessary fires. The new S-ARC1 series is an easy way for installers to minimize potential issues and provide peace of mind for their customers. It offers maximum safety and easy installation and is a positive step forward in our building protection solutions.'

ABB's new 1P+N Arc Fault Detection Devices with integrated Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB), S-ARC1 and S-ARC1 M, are available in 6kA and 10kA breaking capacity respectively and provide protection against over- currents and arc faults.

When combined with a Residual Current Circuit Breaker (RCCB) as an upstream device, the S-ARC1 series provides the best solution for complete switchboard protection.
Equipped with double slots for easy connection with cables or busbars, the new series is 50 percent quicker to install. It can also be used with ABB's System Pro M compact® busbars, removing the need for additional wiring cables. Supplied from both top and bottom terminals, the S-ARC1 is ideal for use across all European countries.

Its LED function monitoring shows the current status of the device and identifies the potential cause of any tripping. This reduces maintenance time and allows for easy troubleshooting of the network.

ABB's new S-ARC1 series is also continuously self-testing, thanks to the addition of an internal electronic unit. To guarantee continuity of service and avoid unwanted tripping if the internal self-test fails, the LED will switch off or start blinking green and red alternatively, and won't trip the system. In addition, a test push-button is present, to verify the correct functioning of the AFDD.

S-ARC1 and S-ARC1 M are ideal for use in a range of installations, from sleeping and common rooms in schools, nurseries and care homes, to rooms and buildings with high fire risks, such as production facilities, printing shops or manufacturing plants. Other applications include buildings made with prevailingly flammable building materials, such as wooden houses or forced ventilation systems and culturally important venues including museums, libraries and art galleries.

ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a pioneering technology leader in electrification products, robotics and motion, industrial automation and power grids, serving customers in utilities, industry and transport & infrastructure globally. Continuing more than a 125-year history of innovation, ABB today is writing the future of industrial digitalization and driving the Energy and Fourth Industrial Revolutions. ABB operates in more than 100 countries with about 136,000 employees. www.abb.com