> A loop tester improves the quality of installation work
> Source: https://pap.fi/en/2021/03/silmukkatesteri-lisaa-asennustoiden-laatua/
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# A loop tester improves the quality of installation work

PAP’s equipment range includes an extensive selection of solutions from the most respected equipment suppliers in the fire safety industry. One of its latest gems is Panasonic’s loop tester, which brings more quality to installation work.

Installing the fire system at a site is usually one of the last tasks in the overall project. As the finishing line of a project comes into view, there is often heavy pressure to get it completed. Every party involved should also be able to complete its own part on the agreed schedule. This is only possible if the previous work stage has been carried out to a high standard and completed according to plan.

Panasonic’s 1105 loop tester brings more quality to the electrical contracting stage that precedes fire system installation. With it, the electrician can verify that the system’s loops work as the job progresses and also correct any faults they detect straight away.

## Quality assurance made easy

The loop tester is easy to use on site. The tester weighs 2,240 g and is carried to the site in a handy, durable carrying case. Before use, the tester is connected to a laptop, on which the test results can be viewed using the EBLWin software.

The loop tester can be used to assure the quality of loop cabling and field device installations, and to set the addresses of loop devices automatically. Testing is effortless as installation work progresses, because a loop can be verified as fault-free simply by connecting the installed loop cables to the tester. The tester reports any faults it detects, which allows the contractor to correct them during installation. At the end of the installation work, the loop tester can read the loop data and save reports in PDF format. The software can also create a data file from the loop data, which can be used to create a configuration file.

### Proven in practice

The Panasonic 1105 loop tester was added to PAP’s product range in 2020. It was immediately welcomed with enthusiasm on sites. Toni Lindroos of the electrical contractor VisualSähkö Oy says that the tester has been of clear benefit in installation work. “As a subcontractor to Consti Talotekniikka, we carried out the electrical installations for the fire alarm and emergency lighting systems at Cramo’s head office in Vantaa. Using the tester really made the practical work easier, because we could check the loops immediately and correct the faults we found straight away. The site had an earth leakage, duplicate technical numbers and breaks. We were able to find these with the tester. In addition, because the loops were checked as the work progressed, they were also correctly labelled and measured above the control panels.”

After the electrical installations, the commissioning of the fire system devices at the Cramo site also went very smoothly. According to Henri Wilkman, PAP’s systems specialist, the tester saved a considerable amount of time in the device installations. “The loops were intact, so commissioning the devices went smoothly. At the commissioning stage, we did not have to spend time looking for faults but could concentrate fully on the installations themselves. This sped up completion of the work considerably and certainly also improved the quality of the end result.”

Jari Ahola, PAP’s product manager, says that using the loop tester is recommended on sites of all sizes. “The tester assures quality just as well in small and large installation jobs. But on large sites in particular, using it brings significant benefits, because faults are detected immediately and are not needlessly repeated.”

The tester benefits the electrical contractor, the party commissioning the fire system and the end customer alike. “Previously, it was impossible for the electrical contractor to make sure their work was fault-free at the installation stage, and any faults only came to light during the device installations. Thanks to the tester, the contractor can now hand over their own work stage free of faults. This naturally has a positive effect on their reputation. The tester also brings more quality to fire system commissioning, because instead of looking for faults, the commissioning stage can focus on programming and installing the systems themselves. And the most important benefit is, of course, that the tester guarantees the end customer the highest possible quality of workmanship. It also increases the likelihood that the project will be completed on the agreed schedule.”

### Easy to get started

The Panasonic 1105 loop tester is an investment that quickly pays for itself. The tester is also easy to put into use, as PAP takes care of installing the tester software on the user’s computer and arranges training in how to use the device.

The quickest way to get started with the device is to contact PAP’s [equipment sales](https://pap.fi/en/yhteys/).