RZN 4404-M Smoke and Natural Ventilation Control Panel

Compact smoke and natural ventilation control panel

The D+H RZN 4404-M is a battery-backed 24 V DC smoke and natural ventilation control panel for small to medium automated window, louvre and roof-opening systems.

It provides 4 A total drive current, two ventilation groups and two monitored fire lines. This allows separate operating groups and fire inputs to be coordinated within a compact standard panel arrangement.

During normal building operation, the panel can provide day-to-day natural ventilation using wall switches, weather sensors, temperature controls, BMS contacts or other compatible inputs. When a fire signal is received, fire-mode operation takes priority and the connected openings move according to the agreed cause-and-effect sequence.

Typical applications

• Small to medium smoke ventilation systems
• Automated windows, louvres and roof openings
• Systems requiring two ventilation groups
• Systems requiring two monitored fire lines
• Combined smoke control and day-to-day natural ventilation
• Natural ventilation systems requiring battery-backed close on loss of mains power
• Local wall-switch operation with weather protection
• Fire-alarm and low-level BMS interfaces

Key features

• 24 V DC output
• 4 A total drive current
• Two ventilation groups
• Two monitored fire lines
• Monitored standby battery operation
• Fire-alarm and manual smoke-control inputs
• Natural ventilation control
• Wind and rain sensor compatibility
• Low-level BMS interface capability
• Automatic close on loss of mains power where configured

Technical information

Fire-mode operation

The RZN 4404-M can receive fire-alarm, smoke detector or compatible manual smoke-control inputs.

When a fire signal is received, the panel gives priority to the programmed fire-mode operation and commands the connected windows, louvres or roof openings to move to their required smoke-control position.

The two monitored fire lines allow separate fire inputs or zones to be incorporated where this suits the project fire strategy and system arrangement.

The final fire-mode sequence must be established through the project fire strategy and coordinated with the relevant fire, mechanical, electrical and façade requirements.

Natural ventilation operation

The panel can also provide normal day-to-day ventilation through its two ventilation groups.

Compatible control inputs can include:

• open and close wall switches;
• rain sensors;
• wind sensors;
• temperature controls;
• low-level BMS contacts; and
• other approved external control signals.

Fire-mode commands retain priority over normal ventilation controls.

Standby batteries and mains power failure

The RZN 4404-M uses monitored standby batteries to maintain the control system when the normal 230 V AC mains supply fails.

Where automatic close on loss of mains power is required, the panel remains powered from its standby batteries and commands the connected openings to close.

The panel then remains available to respond to a subsequent fire signal and operate the openings to their required smoke-control position.

The final battery capacity must be selected for the connected actuator load, required standby period, operating sequence and applicable project requirements.

Typical system arrangement

Drive capacity and system selection

The total connected actuator load must remain within the panel’s 4 A output capacity.

Panel selection should account for:

• the selected actuator models;
• the rated and starting current of each actuator;
• the number of actuators connected to each group;
• the total connected load;
• simultaneous operating requirements;
• cable length and voltage drop;
• the number of ventilation groups;
• the number of fire inputs or monitored fire lines;
• the required standby period; and
• the approved cause-and-effect sequence.

Housing selection

The RZN 4404-M is typically installed in a separately selected GEH-KST or GEH-S-RWA enclosure.

The appropriate enclosure should be confirmed against:

• the selected panel configuration;
• standby battery size;
• internal component requirements;
• installation environment;
• cable-entry arrangement;
• mounting location; and
• access for testing and maintenance.

System coordination

The control panel forms part of a complete smoke-control and window automation system.

The project team should coordinate:

• the fire strategy and required smoke-control function;
• fire-alarm inputs and monitored fire lines;
• normal ventilation groups and controls;
• the required opening and closing sequence;
• window and actuator selection;
• weather-sensor operation;
• BMS and mechanical-services interfaces;
• standby battery calculations;
• field-cable type and routing;
• voltage drop;
• panel and enclosure location;
• termination responsibilities; and
• commissioning and maintenance requirements.

Information for builders and electrical contractors

• Allow for the required 230 V AC supply to the panel.
• Allow for the selected enclosure and mounting location.
• Allow cabling between the panel, actuators, switches, sensors and fire-alarm interface.
• Confirm any fire-rated cabling or protected cable-pathway requirements.
• Confirm the fire-alarm interface and manual control locations before wiring.
• Provide suitable access for testing, commissioning and future maintenance.
• Confirm termination and commissioning responsibilities before installation.

Information for aluminium joiners

• Confirm actuator compatibility before window fabrication.
• Allow suitable fixing points for the selected actuators and brackets.
• Provide concealed cable pathways within the framing where practical.
• Confirm the required actuator colour and cable-tail length.
• Coordinate window hardware, opening geometry and actuator requirements with EBSA.
• Confirm how the openings will be divided between the two ventilation groups.

Compatible equipment

The RZN 4404-M can be used with suitable:

• D+H 24 V DC window drives;
• fire-alarm interface contacts;
• manual smoke-control switches;
• open and close ventilation switches;
• rain and wind sensors;
• temperature controls;
• low-level BMS contacts;
• GEH-KST or GEH-S-RWA enclosures;
• mounting brackets;
• field cabling; and
• compatible smoke and natural ventilation accessories.

Compatibility must be confirmed against the selected drives, connected load, group arrangement, fire inputs and required operating sequence.

When to consider another control panel

A different panel arrangement may be more suitable where the project requires:

• greater than 4 A total drive current;
• more than two ventilation groups;
• more than two monitored fire lines;
• high-capacity roof or industrial opening systems;
• multiple software-defined smoke-control zones;
• cascading operation between levels;
• smoke protection link logic;
• advanced BMS or mechanical-services integration;
• ACB drive networks and diagnostic feedback; or
• project-specific cause-and-effect logic.

A larger RZN panel may suit standard systems requiring additional current or groups. CPS-P provides higher-capacity packaged configurations, while CPS-M supports larger and more project-specific smoke-control systems.

Compare smoke control panels

The RZN 4404-M is one of several smoke and natural ventilation control-panel options available from EBSA.

Compare the RZN 4404-M with other RZN, CPS-B, CPS-P and CPS-M smoke control panels

Inspection, testing and maintenance

Smoke-control systems should be inspected, functionally tested and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s requirements, the project maintenance regime and the building’s life-safety system procedures.

EBSA provides inspection, testing, fault diagnosis, repairs and planned maintenance for new and existing D+H smoke and natural ventilation systems throughout New Zealand.

EBSA technical support

EBSA can assist with actuator selection, connected-load calculations, panel and enclosure selection, fire and ventilation interfaces, field-cabling coordination, cause-and-effect development, commissioning support and ongoing maintenance.