TAC Offers UL-Certified Open System Smoke Control Products

DALLAS – TAC, a world leader in Open Systems for Building IT^®, security systems and energy solutions, announces that its TAC Xenta line of controller products are certified for smoke control applications by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL), the independent, not-for-profit product safety certification organization. TAC offers the only complete end-to-end LonWorks^®-based heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) management system to receive UL 864 certification for smoke control.TAC’s Xenta product family provides a broad assortment of LonWorks controllers and LonWorkscommunications options with UL864 certification. Featuring an open, future-proof system architecture, these products include fire/smoke alarm reception, programmable controllers performing HVAC and smoke control applications, and smaller application specific zone controllers. UL certifies the Xenta products meet the reliability standards of UL864 for use in smoke control applications using a building’s comfort system. These controllers join previously listed legacy products from TAC, such as I/NET^® Seven, in receiving UL864 certification.“Increasingly, local building codes are requiring UL-listed smoke control systems in high rise government and office buildings,” said Lonnie Laue, director of marketing for TAC Americas. “TAC’s approved smoke control products enable the HVAC system to be used for smoke containment in the event of a fire.”According to Laue, TAC’s system is approved for dedicated (e.g. stairwell pressurization) and non-dedicated (e.g. air handling units and variable air volume drives) smoke control applications. “By pressurizing and/or exhausting air from different zones of the building, pressure differences are achieved that help contain and manage the migration of the smoke,” he said. “The goal is to keep escape routes clear and safe for occupant evacuation. A reduction of smoke damage to the facility and the associated faster restoration and recovery of the facility’s operations is also assisted,” noted Laue.“By meeting UL’s stringent requirements and achieving UL864 certification, TAC offers building owners and managers greater confidence in the reliability of their complete fire safety system,” said Laue.The products covered by the UL864 Smoke Control Listing (UUKL Category) are intended to be used in an engineered system designed to manage a facility’s HVAC equipment and dedicated air moving equipment to form a complete smoke control system. This smoke control system operates as a companion to the standard UL listed Fire Alarm and Annunciation System which handles the monitoring and activation of devices such as smoke and fire detectors, emergency lighting, audible alarms and emergency services notification. The smoke control system receives a zoned smoke/fire alarm signal from the listed fire alarm system and activates an automated smoke control response within the facility. In a UL864 listed system, subsequent smoke control operations functions are performed from the Fire Fighters Smoke Control Station (FSCS), also managed by the Xenta LonWorks^®controllers.“In addition, TAC’s UL 864 certified controllers offer the benefits of a LonWorks-based open system architecture that gives building owners and managers flexibility – and freedom – in their ability to choose, install and operate a variety of building management systems,” said Laue. “TAC’s open system solutions for building management provide full integration of environmental controls as well as facility and energy management in a single software package, allowing it to be customized for any building management application. TAC’s building solutions fit seamlessly with other open architecture products for complete interoperability.”About TAC TAC helps people feel and function better, as a direct result of improved indoor climate. This is made possible by TAC's concept of Open Systems for Building IT^®, which utilizes information technology to provide clients with advantages such as indoor climate optimization, energy savings, flexibility, security, reduced expenses and user-friendly operation.TAC is owned by Schneider Electric, the world's leading specialist in power and control. TAC has subsidiary companies and partners in more than 70 countries throughout the world. The company has nearly 2,000 employees and generated revenues of approximately SEK 3 billion (USD 400 million) in 2003. Corporate headquarters and European business activities operate out of Malmö,

Sweden

. Regional headquarters for the

Americas

is located in Dallas and for the Asia-Pacific market, in Sydney,

Australia