Burton Latimer - Room Integrity Testing - 0121 381 0129

The office that covers this area is: Birmingham

Phone Number: 0121 381 0129 Email: burton-latimer@e2consultants.co.uk

Room_Integrity_Testing is sometimes referred to as Room Integrity Testing, Room Testing.

Room Integrity Testing

What Is It?

Room Integrity Testing is required for any gaseous fire suppression system. Gas fire suppression systems work by releasing a gas agent into an enclosure and the gas then either reacts with the fire or reduces the oxygen level which then suppresses or extinguishes the fire. For a fire suppression system to work correctly the enclosure needs to hold the gas for a set period of time.

How Does It Work?

By pressuring a room with a door fan test and then measuring the pressure release period with sensors to a pre-determined level, we can determine if the room has enough integrity to hold the type of gas agent the fire suppression system is designed for. This test will predict how long it will take for the gas to descend to a certain level without having to carry out a discharge of the system, which can be costly and disruptive.

Can I Stil Work During The Test?

Yes - people can still work in the room during the test and the equipment will not affect the room. However, with door fan test equipment it's fixed to the frame for the during of the test that will prevent people from leaving and entering the room from when it's sealed in place until the end of the test.

The Procedure

Upon arriving at site and unloading the equipment, one of our consultants will inspect the room where the test will take place. Room measurements will need to be taken at this time if they have not been done prior to our site visit. The door fan kit will be set-up by our consultant in the most appropriate door in the room, usually the main door. There will be no requirement for the removal of any doors to make room for our testing equipment as we aim to make as little impact on the environment as possible.

Standards and Guidance

BSEN15004, ISO14520, BAFE SP203-3 and NFPA 2001 are the main standards when commissioning a system for Room Integrity Testing or for an annual re-test. They're a guidance on how to carry out this sort of test as well as the frequency needed for retesting both Nationally and Internationally across the UK and USA.

Upon setting the equipment up this is the point where nobody can enter or leave this room. Normal work may resume within the room. The consultant on site will now begin to start the fans. The test will depressurise and pressurise the room with computer software generating data to collect.

Upon completion our consultant will check the data against target data provided by our client. If the target is not met our consultants will then begin to diagnose problem areas.

Our consultants are trained to use thermographic cameras to identify leakage areas; these images will be sent to a client with a report. A snag list details leakage areas to be addressed along with pictures of these problem areas. Again, this will be presented to the client with the data report.

How Often Should I Test the Room?

Any room, particularly Electronic Data Processing rooms, often get disturbed by building service work and general building work. Should a small hole be made in the enclosure, or the room size changes, then a retest of the room integrity is required. British Standards recommend that Room Integrity Testing is carried out at least annually to ensure your gaseous fire suppression system will work correctly.