A gaseous suppression system is only as good as the room around it. If the enclosure leaks, the extinguishing concentration drains away before the fire is out. A door fan integrity test measures the leakage without discharging any agent, and predicts how long the room will hold.
What the test involves
A calibrated fan is fitted to the doorway and the room is pressurised and depressurised. The measured leakage area is fed into the BS EN 15004 Annex E calculation, together with the agent, the design concentration and the protected height, to give a predicted hold time. Ten minutes is the usual minimum. We also carry out a smoke pencil survey to find the leaks so they can be sealed.
Reporting
The report gives the equivalent leakage area, predicted hold time, pass or fail, photographs of the leak paths and a remediation list. It is accepted by insurers and system approval bodies and is filed in your portal alongside the suppression system service record.
Frequently asked
How long does a test take?
Typically one to two hours per room including setup, with no discharge of agent and no disruption to the equipment in the room.
What if the room fails?
The report identifies the leakage area and the likely paths: cable penetrations, ceiling voids, door seals, dampers. We can carry out the sealing work and retest, usually the same day.
Why annual?
Rooms change. New cables, removed ceiling tiles and adjusted dampers all create leaks. An annual test catches them before a real discharge proves the room no longer holds.
