Saft’s emergency lighting batteries achieve registration under the ICEL 1010 scheme
Saft’s new VHT 7/5 Cs U Ni-MH (nickel-metal hydride cell) claims to be unique in achieving registration under the ICEL 1010 E55 designation – the highest level in the scheme based on measured performance at ambient temperatures up to +55°C. The new registration for Saft also covers its D size and Cs size Ni-Cd (nickel-cadmium) cells.
As the sole source of power during a main power failure, rechargeable batteries are critical to the safe and reliable operation of self-contained emergency lighting units (ELUs). ICEL (The Industry Committee for Emergency Lighting) introduced the registration scheme to bridge the gap between the reliability established by current international standards and the reliability required for emergency lighting.
The performance of any battery gradually degrades over its lifetime. But the high temperatures and continuous overcharge prevalent in ELUs are particularly harsh and accelerate the degradation process. Current standards for emergency lighting require a battery life of four years, and up to that life the battery must have sufficient residual capacity to provide autonomous power for the ELU for its full rated duration – up to three hours for the ICEL 1010 E55 registration.
“We are extremely proud to be the only battery to carry the ICEL 1010 registration logo and it is a very significant development for Saft in the UK market, as it enables manufacturers and specifiers to have complete confidence that their ELU batteries will perform exactly as required, even after years of service,” said Stephane Senyarich of Saft’s Specialty Battery Group. “It is also a vital differentiator between our own batteries and the cheaper and inferior batteries produced by our competitors in China. These cheap batteries would probably perform adequately on the initial high temperature test. However, they could never survive the long life duration test. That is because they are built to meet a price point, while Saft ELU batteries are engineered using the best quality materials to deliver on performance and reliability.”
To achieve the ICEL 1010 registration, Saft submitted samples of its cells for a rigorous year-long testing programme carried out by an independent test laboratory. The tests including verification of their charge and discharge performance at + 55°C as well as a permanent charge endurance test intended to simulate the ageing of the cells over four years. Although the registration lasts for five years, Saft is also required to maintain it on an annual basis by submitting samples for testing.
Saft is currently unique in nickel-metal hydride technology with the development of a Ni-MH cell capable of meeting the ICEL 1010: NiMH E55 registration criteria by delivering the required performance at + 55°C. The VHT 7/5 CS U cell is designed to allow a reduction in the energy consumption of ELUs, it has a typical capacity of 4200 mAh and can provide a maximum discharge current of 15 A (at +20°C) and a peak current of 130 A. Ni-Cd cells
Saft has also obtained ICEL 1010: NiCd E55 registration for its two new Ni-Cd (nickel-cadmium) cells aimed at ELU applications – the D size VNT DU HC and the Cs size VNT Cs U.
Visit Saft at www.saftbatteries.com
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