ᐅ Residual current circuit breakers with arc fault detection in prefabricated houses
Created on: 29 Sep 2017 18:58
W
werners81
Hello dear forum,
We are currently building a new house with Keitel-Haus. In the additional cost invoice for the selections, we were informed that we need to install residual current circuit breakers with arc fault detection because our house will be built after December 18, 2017. After doing some research, I found out that this is due to a new VDE standard, which requires these devices to be installed, among other places, in wood-based constructions.
According to the insurance company, these are not necessary unless explicitly required by the local authorities. For the insurance, only what is specified in the regional building code regarding fire protection counts. The switches would cost almost 3,000€ for 11 circuits, which we would prefer to avoid...
Could you please clarify how necessary these are and whether they are really mandatory?
Best regards
We are currently building a new house with Keitel-Haus. In the additional cost invoice for the selections, we were informed that we need to install residual current circuit breakers with arc fault detection because our house will be built after December 18, 2017. After doing some research, I found out that this is due to a new VDE standard, which requires these devices to be installed, among other places, in wood-based constructions.
According to the insurance company, these are not necessary unless explicitly required by the local authorities. For the insurance, only what is specified in the regional building code regarding fire protection counts. The switches would cost almost 3,000€ for 11 circuits, which we would prefer to avoid...
Could you please clarify how necessary these are and whether they are really mandatory?
Best regards
B
Bau-Schmidt10 Oct 2017 15:04The DIN VDE standards are legally established. Please refer to the relevant laws.
- Low Voltage Connection Ordinance § 13
- Energy Industry Act § 49
We now have an additional €3200 suddenly added on top... and I’m not even saying the safety switches are bad. I just can’t understand where these high costs are supposed to come from.
As far as I understand, the fire safety switches are often installed together with an RCD (residual current device). These switches effectively control the RCD when they trip. Now Schwörerhaus tells us, “yes, we have up to 27 circuits, that’s why...” but wait a minute... we don’t have 27 RCDs in the distribution board, but 27 normal circuit breakers. These are mostly arranged in groups protected by one RCD, so for a single-family house there are usually about 5 to 7 RCDs.
At around €100 per fire safety switch (with a price range of around €80 to €130), I absolutely can’t see how it adds up to €3200.
I’m currently discussing this with an employee at Schwörerhaus. Either I have completely wrong assumptions or I’ll end up standing in front of our finished distribution board feeling a bit cheated because there are only 7 units inside: one for each RCD :-/
EDIT: Are there maybe homeowners here who have already installed these devices? A photo of the distribution board would be invaluable just to get an idea of how this is actually done.
As far as I understand, the fire safety switches are often installed together with an RCD (residual current device). These switches effectively control the RCD when they trip. Now Schwörerhaus tells us, “yes, we have up to 27 circuits, that’s why...” but wait a minute... we don’t have 27 RCDs in the distribution board, but 27 normal circuit breakers. These are mostly arranged in groups protected by one RCD, so for a single-family house there are usually about 5 to 7 RCDs.
At around €100 per fire safety switch (with a price range of around €80 to €130), I absolutely can’t see how it adds up to €3200.
I’m currently discussing this with an employee at Schwörerhaus. Either I have completely wrong assumptions or I’ll end up standing in front of our finished distribution board feeling a bit cheated because there are only 7 units inside: one for each RCD :-/
EDIT: Are there maybe homeowners here who have already installed these devices? A photo of the distribution board would be invaluable just to get an idea of how this is actually done.
After a colleague brought up the topic yesterday, which was new to me until now, I researched and found that this fire protection switch in single-family homes is only required for wooden houses, timber frame construction, and other structures that are highly flammable.
So, for my brick masonry house without external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS), this switch is not necessarily mandatory, right?
So, for my brick masonry house without external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS), this switch is not necessarily mandatory, right?
The switches are not installed per RCD (residual-current device), but per circuit breaker/circuit.
These devices cost around 100 euros plus installation each. A larger distribution board will also be required.
The VDE applies to timber houses / timber frame houses.
VDE is a standard, not a law.
We built without residual current devices. We only had to sign a declaration confirming that the electrician informed us about the standard. There were no issues with the power supplier.
The switches are supposed to trip if you manage to drill into a power line so deeply that the switch trips, but only slightly enough so that the circuit breaker does not trip.
The standard is to be reviewed again to determine if it is actually necessary.
These devices cost around 100 euros plus installation each. A larger distribution board will also be required.
The VDE applies to timber houses / timber frame houses.
VDE is a standard, not a law.
We built without residual current devices. We only had to sign a declaration confirming that the electrician informed us about the standard. There were no issues with the power supplier.
The switches are supposed to trip if you manage to drill into a power line so deeply that the switch trips, but only slightly enough so that the circuit breaker does not trip.
The standard is to be reviewed again to determine if it is actually necessary.
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