Smoke exhaust and ventilation systems play a key role in the fire safety of buildings. Their reliability in critical situations depends not only on mechanics or control logic but primarily on a stable and secure power supply. It is precisely this area that became the starting point for collaboration between a manufacturer of fire protection systems and the R&D team of Nordes EMS.
The project concerned an intelligent buffer power supply with a UPS function, designed for smoke exhaust and ventilation control panels used in public utility and industrial buildings. Its task is to ensure the continuity of power supply for the entire system both under normal operating conditions and in the event of a mains voltage failure, which is particularly probable in a fire scenario.
Why the client decided on their own power supply?
Previously, the fire protection system manufacturer utilized power supplies purchased from external suppliers. Such an approach limited business flexibility, hindered production planning, and exposed the company to risks related to component availability, price volatility, or product modifications implemented outside its control.
An attempt was made to design a proprietary power supply internally; however, the solution did not meet functional and qualitative requirements. Challenges concerned, among others, component selection, operational stability, and resistance to power supply parameter fluctuations. At that moment, the company approached Nordes with a clear objective: either the existing design would be rectified, or a completely new device would be created – designed from scratch.
A new project instead of compromises
Following a technical analysis, the Nordes R&D team proposed creating a completely new power supply. Modernizing the earlier concept would have required changes that were too extensive, which would not have resolved the key limitations of the project architecture anyway. The new concept allowed for the design of a universal, future-proof device that was fully adapted to the client’s fire protection system ecosystem.
“At this stage, we knew that fixing the existing project would be a constant compromise. Designing a new power supply from scratch gave us full control over the architecture, component selection, and functionality, and most importantly, allowed us to create a solution ready for the client’s future needs,” – emphasizes Bartłomiej Kasiewicz, R&D Manager at Nordes.
The key assumption was to design a power supply with a wide input voltage range, resistant to unstable power conditions, and fully integrated with the communication system of the control panels. The device was intended not only to power the system but also to actively monitor the state of the accumulators, assess their health, log events, and signal irregularities via system messages and LED indicators.
The design process: from concept to certification
The project was executed comprehensively, from the analysis of business and normative requirements, through hardware and software design, to prototyping and testing. It was crucial to thoroughly understand the specifics of fire protection systems, their functions, and the standards they must meet, including CNBOP [Scientific and Research Centre for Fire Protection] requirements and electromagnetic compatibility.
The resulting prototypes underwent functional and environmental tests at the Nordes technology park, and were subsequently verified on the client’s side as well. Iterative corrections were introduced based on the test results. The next stage was validation in a certified external laboratory, which confirmed the device’s compliance with applicable standards for fire protection systems.
A new product as a real technological advantage
Ultimately, the client received a fully functional, certified power supply: a product designed exclusively for the needs of their systems. The device acts as a buffer energy source and UPS, automatically switching between mains and battery power, caring for battery health, and delivering detailed diagnostic data to the entire system.
“Nordes ceases to be exclusively a contract electronics manufacturer. We are becoming a design partner that takes responsibility for the product from the first concept right through to serial production,” emphasizes Bartłomiej Kasiewicz.
For the client, this means full control over a key system component, independence from external suppliers, and the possibility of further product development. The realization of this project resulted in a cohesive ecosystem of devices, designed according to a single technological philosophy and communicating with each other in a predictable manner.
R&D and EMS in one place – the foundation of long-term cooperation
A significant element of the project’s success was the close cooperation between the R&D and production teams within a single organization. Direct communication, rapid consultations, and the ability to immediately verify solutions on the production line significantly shortened the implementation time and limited the risk of errors.
The client received not only a finished product but also full technical documentation: hardware, software, bills of materials, and design documentation. The business partner therefore remains the owner of the project and retains full business independence, while simultaneously having access to an external R&D team that can develop, update, and scale solutions in the future.
This project demonstrates that a strategic approach to R&D, combined with EMS competencies, allows companies to focus on their core business while simultaneously building a lasting technological and operational advantage.
