The ZENiX Monitoring & control System

The ZENiX system is a full-fledged monitoring and controlling system for fire dampers, smoke control dampers and shutters, for inputs and outputs. It is permanently monitoring the status of all components in the network, adapting if required. In case of a fire alarm, it will execute defined scenarios and will report changes in various ways. The ZENiX system is very flexible: it can be used for basic fire scenarios using a pre-programmed solution, but also for matrix-based complex fire scenarios.

The ZENiX controlling system allows to:

• monitor both motorised (24 to 230V) and mechanical dampers
• monitor and control fire dampers, smoke control dampers and shutters
• generate outputs to other systems (like f.i. a BMS) and to other HVAC components

The ONE-X is probably the most unique component of the ZENiX system: it is a fire damper actuator with an integrated field module. It is supplied mounted on the fire damper and doesn’t need any addressing nor configuration. It is ready to be connected.

The ZENiX-100 controller (master) is the core of the ZENiX system: it contains the programming and operation software, and is the starting point of the bus network. It communicates with all field devices on the bus and manages all inputs and outputs. The ZENiX-100 can act as a gateway to a building management system (via BACnet IP), but it can also work independently as a standalone solution. Bus and bus cabling Master and field devices (participants) are connected via a 4-wire bus cable. This cable provides both bus communication and power supply for the communication system itself. The master is providing the power supply for the bus system. That way the bus monitoring remains active in the event of a power failure at the field devices. It also allows to perform a data point check and validate the bus communication without power on the dampers. You just need to supply 230V to the ZENiX controller.We recommend installing the bus cabling in a ring to ensure redundancy. In that case, the bus cable starts and ends at the controller. In a ring set-up, the controller will communicate with the participants in both directions. If communication is interrupted somewhere along the bus, the controller will reroute the communication so that all components remain operated. However, a line set-up for the bus is also possible. The total length of the bus and the number of participants depends on the chosen controller.

Data point check

Once the bus wiring has been completed, the controller can be used to start the data point check: the controller reads out the network, identifies all participants on the bus, checks for cabling errors, and indicates where they are. External power to field modules and dampers is not required. The data point check validates the correct operation of the bus network at an early stage, for the entire building or in phases, for parts of the building.

Field devices and components
Different field modules allow integrating fire and smoke control dampers in the ZENiX system. These modules are automatically recognized, and no addressing or configuration is required. There are modules for fire dampers, for smoke control dampers or shutters, for 24 or 230V actuators, but also for mechanical dampers, for digital inputs and relay outputs (eg. to air handling units).The ONE-X actuator is unique: it is a fire damper actuator with an integrated field module. 

The ONE-X spring return

actuator can be mounted on all Rf-Technologies fire dampers. Because it is integrated, there is no need to provide a connection between the actuator and the field module. This saves time and reduces the risk of errors. The IP54 casing of the actuator also protects the integrated field module. 3 LEDs on the casing of the ONE-X indicate the damper’s status, the bus communication, and any error messages. The ONE-X comes in 4 versions: a 24V and a 230V, with optional IP68 wire-to-wire connectors preassembled.

Standalone or integrated into the BMS.

The ZENiX system can work independently with permanent network monitoring and control of components when and where necessary.The controllers have a built-in BACnet IP connection. This allows the ZENiX controller to be included in a higher-level system, usually the building management system (BMS). The ZENiX software can produce a list of BACnet objects for the different components on the bus that, in turn, can be monitored by the BMS.