Sigma ZXT control panel from Kentec achieves UL listing

The news means that the ZXT platform, which has a strong track record of reliability, can now form the foundation of compliant early warning fire detection and suppression systems globally, including across the Americas, the Middle East and South East Asia.

Sigma ZXT builds on the legacy of Kentec’s Sigma A-XT range with additional features and compliance relating to the latest standards. It’s designed to protect critical assets as well as support uninterrupted business operations.

These panels can be configured to provide dual extinguishing outputs, supporting main and reserve cylinders to ensure minimal post-event downtime following a release. The dynamic LCD display – complete with green, red, blue and amber indication – enables clear real-time status updates on system conditions such as fire, faults and releasing stages.

In addition, the Sigma ZXT panel has the capacity to store 1,000 event logs in a downloadable log, providing historical alarm and disablement data for diagnostics and investigation.

The panels are particularly suited to high-growth, high-risk applications involving battery energy storage systems (BESS), where events that might lead to thermal runaway and devastating fires are identified quickly and reliably.

Key features and benefits

Coincidence activation

Three initiating device circuits (zones) provide the alarm stimulus required to activate the release of extinguishant. Any combination of multiple zones can be configured to provide confirmation of a fire event before release

Synchronised NAC outputs

Three NACs allow for the connection of horns, strobes and combination horn/strobe devices from multiple suppliers and configuration with three patterns to indicate the different stages of extinguishant release

Customisable input and output configuration

Six programmable volt-free relay outputs and two programmable inputs allow customised function control to meet the needs of the facility

Event log

Sigma ZXT UL records all events, including alarms and disablements, in turn providing historical data for diagnostics and investigation

Sigma ZSi Status Units

Provides remote indications and control for the extinguishing system at additional points of access and egress for the protected area with up to seven units on a monitored RS485 data bus

Ancillary output card

Additional fixed function and volt-free relay outputs can be added via up to seven Sigma ZXT UL ancillary boards

Single or dual extinguishing outputs

The Sigma ZXT UL can be configured to provide a secondary extinguishing output by reconfiguring one of the panel’s NAC outputs, enabling dual-system extinguishant release where required

Major step forward

Derrick Hall, director of sales at Kentec Electronics, informed Fire Safety Matters: “Achieving UL certification for the Sigma ZXT is a major step forward for Kentec. It allows us to bring a proven and trusted platform to a much wider global audience, particularly so in regions where UL compliance is essential.”

Hall continued: “Over the last five years, the ZXT has already demonstrated its reliability in the field. This certification ensures customers in new markets can benefit from the same high standards of performance and safety.”

In conclusion, Hall observed: “As industries such as BESS continue to expand, the need for intelligent early warning fire detection and releasing of fire suppression agents has never been greater. The ZXT platform provides a powerful solution to help protect both assets and operations.”

*Further information is available online at www.kentec.co.uk/product/sigma-zxt-ul/