Showing posts with label annual enclosure test. Show all posts
Showing posts with label annual enclosure test. Show all posts

Friday 18 June 2021

Room Integrity Testing Terminology

Room Integrity Testing Terminology


For fire suppression system to work properly, the room must have sufficient integrity to retain an extinguishing concentration for a specified period after discharge - usually 10 minutes) if the enclosure can’t adequately hold the extinguishment the fire may reignite causing further damage. As this is the predominant cause of failure, the British and International Standard (BS: ISO14520) requires that a server room integrity test be conducted on system installation and thereafter at annual intervals, failure to do so may negate your buildings insurance. 



What is a Descending Interface
The fire retardant agent is discharged from the ceiling –highest point) into the protected enclosure. An ‘interface’ with a constant concentration - known as the Initial Concentration) descends from the discharge level as gas leaves escapes from the enclosure via air leakage paths. The time it takes for this ‘interface’ to reach the minimum protected height such as the top of the server racks is defined as the Hold time. The time retention time for a Room Integrity Test Pass is usually set at 10 minutes.

What is Continual Mixing
The suppressant Agent is discharged at near-ceiling level into the enclosure, thereafter fans circulate gas throughout the room, resulting in a uniform agent concentration. This concentration begins at initial concentration and lowers until it eventually reaches a specified minimum concentration. The time it takes for the initial concentration to reach the minimum concentration is defined as the hold time.




What is an Extended Discharge
Typically extended discharges consist of an initial discharge for 10 to 60 seconds to get the concentration up to the design concentration. Then the extended discharge will continue at a lesser rate. The intention is for the extended discharge to replace the agent that leaks out of the room. It is assumed that the extended discharge will create enough turbulence to create a continual mixing situation throughout the extended discharge period.

We hope the above information has been helpful, if you require a room integrity test, please contact us now at info@airpressuretesting.net or call us on 07775623464.

Tuesday 6 October 2015

What Happens If I Don’t Have Valid Room Integrity Testing Certification

It is a requirement of the BFPSA that all protected enclosures have valid enclosure certification; it’s also a requirement of all major commercial institutions. The benefits of ensuring room integrity are widely recognised by insurers and regulatory authorities, who frequently require such testing to prevent critical system failure valuable assets such as server rooms and data centres.  

In the relevant ISO standard BS EN15004, it states that it is ‘mandatory that as a minimum you should undertake room integrity testing annually on your enclosure if it’s protected by a gaseous fire suppression system’. If you don’t have valid enclosure certification you may negate your buildings insurance in the event of a fire.

The certification should always be attached to the front of the protected enclosure. If you don’t have the certification fixed to the front of the enclosure, then the chances are that your enclosure does not have valid certification.


Sometimes there can be some confusion as to the amount of testing required.  Many clients/insurers think that the envelope does not require testing until modifications have taken place, and so the testing is not carried our annually. In many cases they are not even aware that works have taken place thus reducing the integrity of the enclosure envelope. As a minimum the room integrity test should be undertaken annually or straight after modifications have taken place to the enclosures envelope.  

To reduce the chance of potential fire damage to your valuable assets, it is essential that a room Integrity test plan is adhered to at all times. APT can formulate a testing schedule and warn you of any impending tests to ensure you have valid certification at all times.


If you are unsure if your protected enclosure requires testing, please contact us now at: info@airpressuretesting.co.uk or call us direct on: 01525 303905. We offer a rapid response service throughout England and Wales to ensure you have valid certification in place. 

Monday 28 September 2015

What is a Room Integrity Test?

What is a Room Integrity Test?

A room Integrity test predicts how long fire suppressant agents take to descend to a given level in the room without having to discharge the actual suppression system – this is usually 10 minutes for the most popular gases).  The room is then sealed, and then a series of tests is undertaken.

A blower fan unit is temporarily fixed into the test doorway to pressurise and de-pressurise the enclosure, afterwards a series of pressure and air flow measurements are taken from which leakage characteristics of the enclosures are established. The predicted retention time is then calculated using the extinguishing system data and the leakage characteristics. 


For most extinguishing system types, a retention time of ten minutes is the minimum period the suppressant agents is required to be retained for within the enclosure. NFPA 2001, Standard on Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing Systems, requires that a minimum concentration of 85% of the adjusted minimum design concentration be held at the highest level of combustibles for a minimum period of 10 minutes. This is usually long enough to prevent re-ignition for most deep-seated fires and should provide adequate time for the emergency services to attend and prevent the fire taking hold.

If you would like some more information in regards to Room Integrity Testing please contact us now at info@airpressuretesting.net or call us direct on: 01525 303905

Room Integrity Test


All gaseous fire suppression system that protects an enclosure should have a room integrity test when it is commissioned. It is a requirement of British Standards BS EN15004 and NFPA 2001.

In the corresponding ISO standard BS EN15004, it states that it is mandatory to undertake the integrity testing annually on your enclosure if its protected by a gaseous fire suppression system’.


It is worth noting that if you don’t have valid enclosure certification you may negate your buildings insurance in the event of a fire.


Sometimes insurers may be confused, as BS EN 15004 asks that you undertake any modifications to the building envelope within the annual period you should test it after the modifications are complete; however you are also required to undertake the testing on annual basis as a minimum. 

If you would like some more information in regards to Room Integrity Testingplease contact us now at info@airpressuretesting.co.uk or call us direct on: 01525 303905. 

Friday 15 August 2014

Typical Air Leakage Paths During Fire Enclosure Test


The video below shows a typical area of air leakage which was enough to result in a failed protected enclosure test

One of the main problems was the top of the enclosure which was approx five meters high making safe access very difficult. 

Using our 'low impact' smoke testers we were able to quickly locate the air leakage paths and recommend the required sealing works - a service we also offer in house.  

Before you book in your protected enclosure test have a good look at the video below and make sure you haven't missed any similar air leakage paths on your project; or, you may fail your protected enclosure test. 


If you would like more information about preparing for your annual enclosure test please contact us now at: info@aptsoundtesting.co.uk  or visit or website at www.aptsoundtesting.co.uk alternatively you can call us direct on: 07775 623464

Wednesday 28 May 2014

Fire Integrity Testing - Smoke Testing and Remedial Works

Fire Integrity Testing - Smoke Testing and Remedial Works

The majority of fire enclosure test failures are caused by the lack of enclosure integrity or the ability of the enclosure to adequately retain the extinguishant. The correct initial design concentration is achieved but the enclosure is not able to retain it for the required/recommended holding period which is usually 10 minutes.

Remedial work should then be undertaken to reduce the leakage from the protected enclosure. This could include:

  • Sealing all holes, cracks or penetrations leading into or out of the protected space
  • Pipe chases and cable trays to be sealed around the outside and inside where they         penetrate the perimeter boundaries of the enclosure
  • Walls to be caulked around the inside perimeter at both high and low level
  • Sealing of porous block walls
  • Addition of door sweeps or drop seals, weather stripping around jambs
  • Sealing of windows/glazed sections to the area
One of the advantages of the sealing works being conducted whilst a test fan kit is in place, is that by utilizing ongoing smoke testing air leakage paths can be quickly found and sealed resulting in a fire enclosure test pass.

If you require our fire enclosure testing services, please call Darren on: 07775623464 or email us at: info@aptsoundtesting.co.uk 




Thursday 22 May 2014

Room Integrity Testing

Room integrity Testing

Enclosures protected by gaseous fire suppression system -such as server rooms, should be tested for air-tightness upon commissioning of the system and annually thereafter. This is critical to ensure that the system will work effectively when activated; too much air-leakage will result in the concentration of the fire suppressant agent falling too quickly.

Air Pressure Testing provides the necessary Room Integrity Testing to the required NFPA 2001 or ISO 14520 methodologies. We have undertaken thousands of enclosure integrity tests around the UK and Europe.

We can also arrange an Annual Test Plan and remind you when the tests are required to make sure your buildings insurance is not at risk.

If you require our fire enclosure testing services, please call Darren on: 07775623464 or email us at: info@aptsoundtesting.co.uk