Why do I need a Room Integrity Test?

Why do I need a Room Integrity Test?

If you have a gaseous suppression system, then you are required to carry out a room integrity test in order to check the enclosure ability to retain an effective concentration of gas, which is a critical to the safe operation of the system.

This is to determine the time that an extinguishant will remain active in an enclosure at the designated protected height, which is usually the top of your critical equipment, such as server/data racks. This is achieved by measuring the amount/time of extinguishing agent to escape from the confines of an area and allowing the concentration to diminish.

Room-Integrity-Testing-on-data-centre

As part of the ISO 14520, ISO 15004, NFPA and BFPSA Codes of Practice for Gaseous Fire Fighting Systems, room integrity testing should be undertaken in a protected enclosure to determine whether air leakage could impact upon the extinguishant performance. The Room Integrity Test should be undertaken when it is first installed, and then regularly as part of the routine maintenance, once a year and/or if works have been carried out to the enclosures’ envelope, such as newly formed penetrations through the walls to allow for new electrical/data installations.

The integrity test is undertaken by installing a calibrated blower fan unit within the test doorway to pressurise and depressurise the enclosure.  Afterwards a series of air flow measurements are taken from which leakage characteristics of the enclosure are established. The predicted retention time is calculated the type of extinguishing system data and the leakage characteristics.

Room_integrity_test_With_blower_fan

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.

Air Pressure Testing provides the necessary Room Integrity Test to the required ISO 14520, ISO 15004 methodologies. We have undertaken hundreds of enclosure integrity tests around the UK and Europe. As part of our service, we can also arrange an annual test plan and remind you when the fire enclosure test is required.

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