What is Fault Managed Power? Why Now?
The National Electrical Code's creation of Class 4 power in 2023 (NEC Article 726) emerged from critical industry challenges that existing power solutions couldn't adequately address. Traditional power-limited circuits (Class 1, 2, and 3 (see Table 1)) and RFT-V (Remote Feeding Telecommunication – Voltage) technology, which relied on limiting maximum power and voltage, were becoming insufficient for modern power demands, particularly with the emergence of Telecom 5G small cells and the insatiable demand for data center power. In 2020, ATIS (Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions), along with UL (Underwriters Laboratories) and Cisco, spearheaded an initiative to develop a new classification that could safely deliver higher power levels over longer distances. The result was Class 4 Fault Managed Power (FMP), which fundamentally differs from previous classes by imposing no power limit during normal operation while actively monitoring and managing fault conditions.
Safety UL-1400-1 Compliant
Significant Power
Reduced Cost Less Infrastructure/ better efficiency
Table 1: Comparison of NEC Classification of Circuits Enersys.com [6]
Class1
Class2
Class3
Class4
No Limit, system dependent e.g. 2000W @380VDc
Max Power (VA)
1000
100
100
Long Distance Over 1 km
Max Voltage (V)
30
60
150
450
Fire/Electrical shock risk
Higher
Low
Low
Low
More Sustainable Reduced infrastructure and more efficient DC power delivery
This innovative approach enables the safe delivery of higher power levels over longer distances through precise energy control during fault events, effectively addressing the growing industry need for more powerful, efficient, and flexible power distribution. Unlike its predecessors, Class 4 FMP provides a solution that maintains or improves upon existing safety standards while supporting the increasing power demands of modern digital infrastructure and telecommunications equipment.
Speed to Deploy Low voltage and reduced labor requirements
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