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C.H. Erbslöh GmbH & Co. KG, Germany

Safe electrical supply in the chemistry lab

Discover how C.H. Erbslöh improves electrical safety in its chemical laboratory with Siemens SENTRON arc fault detection devices, protecting employees and equipment from electrically caused fires.

Customer objectives

C.H. Erbslöh GmbH & Co. KG is an internationally recognized distributor of specialty chemicals and industrial minerals, serving industries including food, cosmetics, plastics, and electronics. At its facility in Krefeld, Germany, thousands of tons of chemicals and minerals are stored in state-of-the-art warehouses and tanks, where safety is a top priority.

Following a smoldering fire incident in a laboratory in 2014, the company identified a previously undetected vulnerability in its electrical installation. Loose outlet terminals had caused excessive heat generation, leading to damaged insulation and the development of hazardous serial arc faults. Traditional protective devices such as miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) and residual current circuit breakers (RCCBs) were unable to detect these faults.To further strengthen laboratory safety, C.H. Erbslöh sought a solution capable of identifying dangerous arc faults at an early stage and preventing electrically caused fires before they could develop.

Thanks to the arc-fault detection units that are only available from Siemens, we were able to significantly improve the electrical installation.
Roland Köhne, Köhne Elektrotechnik

Solution and services

After consulting external experts, C.H. Erbslöh selected the Siemens SENTRON™ 5SM6 Arc Fault Detection Device (AFDD) to address this critical safety gap.The SENTRON 5SM6 automatically detects hazardous serial and parallel arc faults that conventional protection devices cannot identify. When a potentially dangerous arc fault is detected, the device immediately disconnects the affected circuit, helping to prevent fire hazards caused by electrical faults.To enhance protection throughout the laboratory, the company retrofitted:

  • All laboratory workstation socket outlets
  • The power outlet serving the laboratory washer

A total of 13 Siemens SENTRON 5SM6 AFDDs were installed:

  • 8 units combined with miniature circuit breakers (MCBs)
  • 5 units combined with residual current operated circuit breakers with overcurrent protection (RCBOs)

The AFDD installation complements existing electrical safety measures and provides an additional layer of preventive fire protection for laboratory operations.

The 5SM6 AFD unit is a sophisticated product that is well integrated into the complete product spectrum. It protects against serial and parallel arcing faults and is now required in branch circuits up to 16 amperes in many areas.
Norbert Schaefer , Promoter for electrical installation technology , Siemens AG

Customer benefits

By implementing Siemens SENTRON 5SM6 Arc Fault Detection Devices, C.H. Erbslöh achieved significant improvements in electrical safety.Key benefits include:

  • Early detection of hazardous arc faults that conventional protection devices cannot identify.
  • Enhanced fire prevention through automatic disconnection of affected circuits before fires can develop.
  • Improved protection for laboratory personnel working in environments with sensitive and potentially hazardous materials.
  • Safeguarding of valuable laboratory equipment against damage caused by electrical faults.
  • Closure of a previously undetected safety gap within the laboratory's electrical installation.
  • Compliance with high safety standards required in the chemical industry.
  • Greater operational security and peace of mind through proactive electrical fire protection.
Product visual – Fehlerstrom-Schutzeinrichtung 5SV1 und Brandschutzschalter 5SV6 – 1920x1080px

Outcome

With the installation of 13 Siemens SENTRON 5SM6 Arc Fault Detection Devices, C.H. Erbslöh successfully strengthened the safety of its laboratory facilities and eliminated a previously unidentified electrical risk. The solution provides reliable protection against electrically caused smoldering fires, helping to protect employees, laboratory equipment, and critical operations while supporting the company's commitment to the highest safety standards in the chemical industry.

Fire Safety

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