Fire Testingtag:www.retrotec.com,2008:/fire_testing//32007-09-13T22:49:53ZClean Agent Enclosure Integrity Tests to comply with NFPA 2001 Appendix C (Year 2000) & ISO 14520 Annex E standards for clean agents: Halon, FM-200, INERGEN, CO2, Argon, Argonite, FE13, FE227, S III, Novec 1230, HALOTRON FS49C2 & Nitrogen.
Downloadable Documents
Documents below can be downloaded as Acrobat files for your use. The free Adobe Reader software can be downloaded from the Adobe web site.
Overview of a Test
File Size: 216Kb
File Type: Acrobat File
What to Look for When Witnessing an Enclosure Test
File Size: 1,068Kb
File Type: Acrobat File
Small Room Problems
File Size: 160kb
File Type: Acrobat File
Applicable Sections of NFPA Standards
File Size: 143Kb
File Type: Acrobat File
Get Trained and Certified
Retrotec provides 4 Levels of training and certification for Door Fan Testers and 1 Level for Enclosure Designers, Consultants, AHJ and Witnesses.
All training is done by home study.
Retrotec's training materials were written by the author of NFPA 2001 Appendix C on Enclosure Integrity Testing and developer of the door-fan test equipment and software.Movable Type Personal 4.1900 Series Manualtag:www.retrotec.com,2007:/fire_testing//3.1722007-09-13T22:33:30Z2007-09-13T22:49:53ZRetrotec no longer manufactures 900 Series Door Fan Test equipment, and our ability to support this equipment is somewhat limited. Download the Manual You can download the complete manual for your 900 series equipment here. Calibration and Repair Retrotec continues...Skot Nelson
Retrotec no longer manufactures 900 Series Door Fan Test equipment, and our ability to support this equipment is somewhat limited.
h2. Download the Manual
You can "download the complete manual (12.5 MB ZIP file)":/fire_testing/technical_support/900_series_equipment/900manual.zip for your 900 series equipment here.
h2. Calibration and Repair
Retrotec continues to provide a complete range of "calibration and repair":/fire_testing/calibration_repair/ services for your 900 equipment. In some cases refurbished equipment may be recommended.
In cases where your calibration and repair costs are high enough to warrant it, Retrotec will recommend upgrades which may be more cost effective.
h3. Upgrade Options
Retrotec's "DM-2":/products/gauges/dm2_series_2_channel_digital_p/ is compatible with the 900 series fans, although the automatic control features are not. Many of the other advanced features can be helpful and are compatible.
Retrotec also manufactures a version of our modular hard panels that is fully compatible with the 900 series of equipment. These panels are _fully_ compatible with our 2000 series panels, and offer you a smooth upgrade path for the future.
Please call us at 604.732.0142 if you're interested in either one of these options.
h3. Trade Ins
Retrotec _may_ be able to offer you a credit for your old equipment if you're interested in trading it in. Please call us at 604.732.0142 if you're considering this option.
Measuring Lower Leaks with Plastic on the Ceilingtag:www.retrotec.com,2007:/fire_testing//3.1702007-09-10T16:09:31Z2007-09-11T03:32:39ZAccording to the NFPA 2001 Standard on Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing Systems 2004 Edition two methods of performing a lower leaks test are accepeted. In addition to the flex duct test Appendix C makes specific reference to the "plastic on...Skot Nelson
According to the _NFPA 2001 Standard on Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing Systems 2004 Edition_ two methods of performing a lower leaks test are accepeted. In addition to the "flex duct test":/fire_testing/technical_support/bcla_flex_duct_testing/flex_duct_testing_overview.php _Appendix C_ makes specific reference to the "plastic on the ceiling" method of conducting a test.
Appendix C states:
bq. *C2.6.2.9* An alternate method for measuring the below ceiling leaks consists of temporarily sealing identifiable ceiling level leaks using a flexible membrane, such as polyethylene sheet and tape, and then measuring the below-ceiling leakage solely using door fans drawing from the lower part of the room. No flex duct is needed. Examples of sealable leaks are undampered ceiling level supply registers or return grilles or an entire suspended ceiling lower surface.
There are times when a plastic on the ceiling test may be the _only_ way of measuring the lower leaks in a room.
h3. Walls Don't Extend to the Ceiling Slab
A common design problem is enclosure walls that don't extend to the ceiling slab, leaving the ceiling void open to the surrounding area.
In cases such as these, the second fan will not be able to pressurize the space above the dropped ceiling and a plastic on the ceiling test is the only option.
h3. No Second Door Fan is Available
Because the plastic on the ceiling test produces the same effective result as the two fan "flex duct test":http://www.retrotec.com/fire_testing/technical_support/bcla_flex_duct_testing/flex_duct_testing_overview.php, it can be used when a second fan is not available.
The below ceiling leakage test is covered by Retrotec's "Level 3 Enclosure Integrity Training.":http://www.retrotec.com/fire_testing/enclosure_integrity_training/level_3_leakage_split_measurem.php "Contact Retrotec":http://www.retrotec.com/contact_us/ if you need to purchase training for your technicians.
Flex Duct Testing Overviewtag:www.retrotec.com,2007:/fire_testing//3.1602007-08-23T05:07:20Z2007-09-11T15:04:36ZRooms often fail the door fan test due to excessive ceiling leaks when it is known that the room would pass a discharge test. Reason: the first door fan test (often called the whole room test because only the total...Skot Nelson
Rooms often fail the door fan test due to excessive ceiling leaks when it is known that the room would pass a discharge test.
Reason: the first door fan test (often called the whole room test because only the total leakage area of the room has been measured) assumes half the leaks are in the floor. If the room has less than half the leaks in the lower part of the room (it typically does) an actual discharge would have a longer retention time than the prediction because the lower leaks affect agent loss far more than upper leaks.
!>/fire_testing/technical_support/bcla_flex_duct_testing/flexDuctTestPicture.jpg 306x341! If the room has a suspended ceiling (often called a T-bar or false or lay in or dropped ceiling) the lower leaks can be independently measured. Now, if the lower leaks are less than 50% of the total a new retention calculation will give a longer retention time.
Without measuring the lower leaks we must assume they are half the total. This assumption will yield the shortest retention time.
But, the lower leaks or the Below Ceiling Leakage Area (BCLA) can be measured using one door fan as long as a fan is capable of pressurising the above ceiling space. In this way the upper leaks are neutralised so that the lower leaks can be measured separately. The lower door fan will only be measuring the below ceiling leaks.
This method employs a flex duct to connect the second fan to the above ceiling space. If the above ceiling space has less than 9 square feet of leaks this second fan will pressurise above the suspended ceiling while the first fan is measuring the lower leaks. To ensure that the lower fan is measuring only the lower leaks, the fans are balanced using smoke across the ceiling. A ceiling tile is lifted, then smoke is puffed in the crack to see if air is being drawn past the suspended ceiling by an imbalance in pressures between the above and below ceiling spaces. Adjustments are made with the smoke as a guide to ensure the lower fan is making an accurate measurement of the lower leaks. The smoke is usually very sensitive and will detect an imbalance of a few cfm that would be impossible to measure any other way. Lack of smoke movement shows that air from above the suspended ceiling is not leaking past it to yield a false reading on the lower fan. The upper fan does not measure anything--it just acts to balance the pressure across the ceiling.
This technique usually yields a much longer retention time since most rooms are much leakier above the ceiling than below (e.g. if the BCLA is 20% of the ELA, the retention time will double over assuming it is 50%). If the lower leaks are 50% or more as measured by this method then the calculated retention time will be the same.
This section describes how to measure the actual Below Ceiling Leakage Area (BCLA) of an enclosure to allow for a more accurate prediction of agent retention time. Read section B-2- 6.2 of the NFPA procedure. The overall objective is to measure the enclosure walls and slab leakage while the leakage through the suspended ceiling is neutralised with a second fan.
Note that while the ceiling leaks are neutralised during the BCLA measurement, they are not "ignored" when the computer predicts the retention time. They are simply "put in their proper place".
h3. Room Criteria: When the Test Is Appropriate
For the test to work the following criteria must be met:
# If the room is smaller than 150 square feet, the flex duct flow must not create turbulence at the point where ceiling neutralisation is checked. Small rooms that are NOT leaky above the ceiling can be tested without problems. Small rooms with very large above ceiling leaks are most reliably accepted using the whole room test or with "plastic against the ceiling.":/fire_testing/technical_support/bcla_flex_duct_testing/measuring.php
# It must be possible to shut off the in-room air conditioning during the test to reduce air turbulence which would interfere with the smoke at the ceiling. If the room is very full of active electronic equipment, and they have internal cooling fans, these fans may create air turbulence in the room, making it difficult to accurately determine neutral ceiling pressure.
# All air handler that would create a pressure across the ceiling must be off for this test. Sometimes the above ceiling space is used as a passive return plenum. If so, this must be inactive during this test.
# An open ceiling plenum above the suspended ceiling must exist. It is recommended that this plenum be at least 12" high, preferably 24" or more. (The minimum height required is, however, a function of the amount of above ceiling leakage, its location, and distance from the leaks to the duct inlet.)
# Walls must exist above the ceiling! The ducted fan needs something to draw against in order to create a pressure above the ceiling. Major visible leaks in above ceiling walls and slab should be sealed to provide the best passive protection from smoke encroachment from outside the tested zone.
h3. Training for the BCLA Test
Retrotec's "Level Three":/fire_testing/enclosure_integrity_training/level_3_leakage_split_measurem.php certification covers the BCLA test in depth--this article is an excerpt from that material. Door Fan operators who are conducting BCLA tests should be able to produce a level three (or higher) certificate.
You can use our online "locate a tester":http://testers.retrotec.com/ tool to find a level three tester in your area, or to confirm the level of certification of any Retrotec certified technician.
h2. Proper Training is Required
This article is an excerpt from Retrotec's "Level 3 Training Materials":/fire_testing/enclosure_integrity_training/level_3_leakage_split_measurem.php for enclosure integrity testing. The Level 3 Training Materials provide all the training your technicians needs to properly conduct a below ceiling leakage test in accordance with NFPA standards. For details of technician training, please "contact Retrotec.":http://www.retrotec.com/contact_us/
DM-2 Won't Start Uptag:www.retrotec.com,2007:/fire_testing//3.1512007-07-11T16:26:09Z2007-07-11T16:57:06ZProblem After being used for a long period of time with the batteries as the only power source, the DM-2 no longer powers up. Remedy Remove power supply from unit Remove battery compartment lid Remove the batteries completely from the...Skot Nelson
*Problem*
After being used for a long period of time with the batteries as the only power source, the DM-2 no longer powers up.
*Remedy*
# Remove power supply from unit
# Remove battery compartment lid
# Remove the batteries completely from the DM-2
# Let the DM-2 sit for approximately 2 minutes
# Plug power supply into unit.
# Press the [ On / Off ] key to power up the unit
# Replace batteries and battery cover.
If the unit still fails to power up, please contact Retrotec at 604.732.0142 for assistance.
Range Configurations for Retrotec 2000 and 3000 Series Fanstag:www.retrotec.com,2007:/fire_testing//3.1472007-06-18T03:16:45Z2007-11-14T23:15:51ZRetrotec blowers doors offer more calibrated flow ranges than any other manufacturers blower door systems. Ranges allow you to fine tune your blower door's performance to suit the room or building that you're testing. More calibrated ranges means more accurate,...Skot Nelson
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Using a DM-2 for a Clean Agent Enclosure Testtag:www.retrotec.com,2007:/fire_testing//3.1412007-06-11T16:23:39Z2007-08-21T17:02:40ZTubing and Equipment Setup Set up the hard-panel system in the doorway. Before inserting the fan, insert the red tube through one of the holes in the hard panel and throw it away from the flow-stream of the fan. Insert...Skot Nelson
h2. Tubing and Equipment Setup
# Set up the hard-panel system in the doorway.
# Before inserting the fan, insert the red tube through one of the holes in the hard panel and throw it away from the flow-stream of the fan.
# Insert the Fan into the hole in the hard-panel system and use the Fan-safety strap to secure it to the panel.
# Connect the Drive Umbilical to the Fan (power connector and yellow flow-pressure tube)
# Connect the Control Umbilical between the DM-2A and the Drive (yellow flow-pressure tube, yellow control-cable and red room-pressure tube).
# Plug mains-power into the 3300 drive.
!http://www.retrotec.com/fire_testing/technical_support/dm2CATesting.jpg 587x387 (How to connect your DM-2 to conduct a clean agent test.)!
h2. Configuring the DM-2A Setup
# Press the [Setup] button on the DM-2 to enter the Setup menu
# Configure the Units for each mode as follows
## Pressure _Pa_
## Flow _Off_
## EfLA _Off_
## EqLA _Off_
## Air Changes _Off_
## Flow per Area _Off_
## EqLA per Area _Off_
## Velocity _Off_
## Velocity Flow _Off_
# Press [Exit] to exit the Setup mode
# Press the [Mode] button until the screen shows PrA and PrB
# (optional) Press the [Device] button until the correct device is shown in the bottom right corner
## If you have 2000 series fan select the _Retrotec 2000_ device
## If you have a 3000 series high powered fan select the _Retrotec 3200_ device
# (optional) Press the [Range] button until the correct range is indicated (bottom left corner)
# Press the [Auto Zero] button until Auto Zero is On (“Zero” in top left corner of screen)
# Press [Time Avg] button until Time Averaging is 1s, 2s, or 4s (depending on user preference)
# Baseline should always be Off
h2. Conducting an NFPA 2001 test
# Enter all building and Clean Agent data into CA2001 software on the Building/Room and the Agent/Test tabs.
# Place the fan-cover over fan.
# Read “Static Pressure During the Door Fan Test” from PrA on the DM-2
# Enter “Static Pressure During the Door Fan Test” into CA2001 on the Total Leaks tab.
# Remove the fan-cover from the fan
# Use smoke to determine the direction of the static pressure and enter this into CA2001
# Read the required test pressure from CA2001
# Instruct the DM-2 to control the fan to achieve the required test pressure.
For example, if the required test pressure for the current test direction is 16Pa to 18Pa, then press the [Set Pressure] button the DM-2 and enter [1][7][Enter] to have the DM-2 control the fan to 17Pa (between 16 and 18).
# Wait for the Room Pressure (PrA) to stabilize at the target pressure and then record the room pressure and the flow pressure (PrA and PrB) onto your Integrity Test Form and into CA2001.
# Press [Exit] to shut the fan down
# Turn the fan around (if you are conducting a test in both directions)
# Record the Target Test Pressure for the 2nd direction from CA2001 and repeat steps 8, 9, and 10 above.
Windows Vista Supporttag:www.retrotec.com,2007:/fire_testing//3.1372007-05-22T15:48:09Z2007-05-22T16:03:41ZSkot Nelson
The current Version of Retrotec's CA2001 software is not fully compatible with the Microsoft's Vista operating system.
h2. Basic Operations & Calculations
All software functions and calculations appear to operate correctly. Retrotec is unaware of any errors in retention time calculations
h2. Viewing Reports
When you choose to view your report the report will appear as a solid black screen and you will be unable to view the report text.
The report _can be printed properly._ Retrotec recommends printing your report as a PDF file that can be emailed to your customer, or printed as necessary.
h2. General Support Enquiries
Please email all general support enquiries related to Windows XP to "support@retrotec.com":mailto:support@retrotec.com or contact us by phone at 604.732.0162.
Peak Pressure Versus Retention Timetag:www.retrotec.com,2007:/fire_testing//3.1182007-03-06T17:44:39Z2007-07-12T15:13:57ZThis presentation from the 2007 NAFED conference discusses how to predict peak pressure problems, the accuracy of NFPA retention predictions, achieve target retention times and elminating peak pressure as well as recent changes to the NFPA 2001 standard.Skot Nelson
This presentation by Colin Genge was prepared for the 2007 NAFED conferences held in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Indianapolis.
h2. Presentation Summary
"Download the presentation":http://www.retrotec.com/fire_testing/nafed2007/peakPressure.pdf
During discharge, clean agent enclosures must be loose enough to prevent excessive pressures, but tight enough to satisfy NFPA retention requirements during the suggested ten minute holding period. In this session you will learn how this dilemma can be resolved. Enclosures that do not require costly relief vents to limit peak pressure can be designed. Damage caused by peak pressures may be the single largest liability that clean agent system installers face. You will also learn how to reduce the cost of airsealing to achieve agent retention.
When vents must be installed, they often do not work as designed because they are restricted, do not open at the correct pressure, do not open at all or open the wrong way! The technician will learn how to quickly verify both venting and enclosure integrity performance during the annual inspection.
This presentation is based on the results from a two year research project on peak pressure and retention time. Actual peak pressures and retention times in a test enclosure were recorded for a variety of agents over a wide range of leakages. For the first time, it is now possible to compare peak pressure and retention time predictions with actual data. The conclusions of this study can be put to good use right now to improve predictions.
h2. Enclosure Designer Spreadsheet
"Download the Enclosure Designer Spreadsheet":http://www.retrotec.com/fire_testing/nafed2007/enclosureDesigner9.xls
Enclosures must be loose enough to prevent damaging peak pressures from building up during the discharge and, on the other hand, must be tight enough to maintain agent concentration over the required retention time of ten minutes (the upcoming 2007 version of NFPA 2001 is expected to require a 10 minute hold time). All enclosures have a Minimum Leakage that the enclosure cannot go below for peak pressure and a Maximum Leakage the enclosure cannot go above for agent retention.
Currently, NFPA requires the enclosure be measured to ensure it is tight enough to meet the Minimum Leakage criteria to ensure the retention time is sufficient. No such requirement currently exists for peak pressure and as a result, actions taken to meet the retention requirements have unwittingly created peak pressure problems and enclosures have been damaged
The Retrotec Tester spreadsheet allows this calculation to be made from Door-Fan data taken during the 2 Point test. While the leak exponent can’t reasonably be specified at the start and must be set to the worst case value when designing to 0.5, the effect of the Exponent can be seen. It typically falls between 0.55 to 0.75. Input these values to see for yourself how the Gap widens.
h2. Enclosure Tester
"Download the Enclosure Tester Spreadsheet":http://www.retrotec.com/fire_testing/nafed2007/enclosureTester.xls
NFPA standard, Annex C on Enclosure Integrity does not apply to CO2tag:www.retrotec.com,2007:/fire_testing//3.1172007-03-06T15:19:39Z2007-07-11T16:44:37ZCO2 is covered by the NFPA 12 standard which does not have the enclosure integrity test included in it as an appendix nor does it mention testing in that way in the body. Attempts have been made to include it...Skot Nelson
CO[~2~] is covered by the NFPA 12 standard which does not have the enclosure integrity test included in it as an appendix nor does it mention testing in that way in the body. Attempts have been made to include it but it has not happened due to a lack of data to support it. Oddly, the equations that are in there have no test data to support them either but have been there for so long that there they stay.
NFPA 2001, which came along many years after NFPA 12, has several inert agents that act similar to CO[~2~] so our position is that since NFPA 12 is mute with respect to enclosure integrity, then at least 2001 has some kind of procedure to go by. One of the East Coast nuclear power plants spent several hundred thousand dollars showing that the 2001 procedure was a good surrogate for a discharge test and got the NRC to accept it in hearings for their facility because discharging the CO[~2~] would have grossly affected the integrity of the cabling to the extent that the power plant would have had to have been shut down after a discharge. Cost of shutdown was several million dollars. Their results are proprietary since they paid for the testing that was done at the Factory Mutual Burn Facility on the East coast, which is why they decided not to release them publicly. I was there and witnessed the fact that the enclosure held concentration for a time very consistent with what 2001 would predict.
Ironically, until recently the above mentioned test made CO[~2~] the only agent that had been verified by actual testing. All the other agents were NOT tested although FM200 and INERGEN went through a battery of tests about 7 years ago that showed the NFPA equation to be fairly close. Recently, we have tested FM-200. Novec 1230, FE125 and INERGEN in the Fike chamber in Blue Springs and verified that they perform inline with the expectations of the NFPA 2001 standard. We plan to discharge CO[~2~] some time in future but no plan exists with respect to the exact date.
Bottom line is that only 4 of the 10 agents in 2001 have ever been tested to see if the NFPA prediction for enclosure integrity holds true. The rest have just relied upon the density to predict the agent loss rate which has proved to be true for first order affects at least. Therefore, CO[~2~] predictions using 2001 are merely an extrapolation of what has happened before. Since the agent is so old, it has its own standard which keeps it out of the loop with the more up to date agents. Doing door fan tests on CO[~2~] protected enclosures certainly makes more practical sense than doing discharge tests for two reasons:
# The super cold temperatures( -20C) generated by CO[~2~] can stress metal and wiring to the extent that they may fail
# If the enclosure is extra tight, the CO[~2~] can damage the enclosure.
Compare this to the chance that the 2001 integrity test may be slightly different from the actual retention time and an excellent case can be made for using the 2001 Integrity test where Retrotec has added the agent density in exactly the same fashion as the other agents. The major manufacturers of CO[~2~] systems, Chemetron and Fike consult with me regularly on the use of the integrity tests for CO[~2~] so obviously they feel comfortable with using it and it IS used annually on many Siemens and ABB turbines as well as many other facilities.
Most critical with all these agents is that we must ensure the enclosure is in the window between being tight enough to hold the agent as can be shown with the Annex C Enclosure Test in 2001 and loose enough to prevent the enclosure from being blown apart by the discharge. We are just now collecting data on peak pressures discharge various agent discharges and research shows that the gap between these two leakages is much smaller than we initially imagined making door fan tests an extremely wise part of the acceptance procedure and not something that should be left out just because CO[~2~] does not appear on the agent list for clean agents. Relying on discharge tests only or no test at all will massively increase risk and costs unnecessarily. Whether discharge tested or not or part of the standard or not, common practice has become to door fan test CO[~2~] enclosures. Not doing so is not being thorough and not in step with current practice.
Enclosure Integrity Test Formtag:www.retrotec.com,2007:/fire_testing//3.1052007-01-30T16:50:45Z2007-01-30T17:00:03ZRetrotec's Enclosure Integrity Test Form walks you through the test procedure for your room integrity test. Retrotec includes enclosure integrity test forms with every order of our Clean Agent 2001 software, Download the Enclosure Integrity Test Form PDF file to...Skot Nelson
Retrotec's Enclosure Integrity Test Form walks you through the test procedure for your room integrity test. Retrotec includes enclosure integrity test forms with every order of our "Clean Agent 2001 software,":http://www.retrotec.com/products/software/clean_agent_2001/
Download the "Enclosure Integrity Test Form PDF file":/fire_testing/downloads/enclosureTestForm.pdf to print your own when you need them.
CA2001 and Nitrogen: No Descending Interface Optiontag:www.retrotec.com,2007:/fire_testing//3.922007-01-05T22:37:35Z2007-07-11T16:49:09ZIn Retrotec’s CA2001 software when Nitrogen is selected as the clean agent to be used, the descending interface option disappears and only mixing is available. Because Nitrogen is less dense than air, it is defined as a lighter than air...Skot Nelson
In "Retrotec’s CA2001":http://www.retrotec.com/products/software/clean_agent_2001/ software when Nitrogen is selected as the clean agent to be used, the descending interface option disappears and only mixing is available.
Because Nitrogen is less dense than air, it is defined as a lighter than air gas with a natural buoyancy. As a result of this buoyancy, Nitrogen discharged in a clean agent environment will rise.
The specific gravity of Nitrogen is 0.9669. Gases with a specific gravity less than 1 will rise in normal atmospheric conditions.
It is, therefore, impossible for a descending interface to form if Nitrogen is the clean agent being used.
"CA2001 version 2.5.4":http://www.retrotec.com/products/software/clean_agent_2001/ (the most recent release) does not allow the tester to select a descending interface if Nitrogen is selected as the clean agent. This option is disabled in order to prevent the software user from creating an incorrect report.
h2. Errors in Earlier Releases of CA2001
Some earlier releases of "CA2001":http://www.retrotec.com/products/software/clean_agent_2001/ allowed for the selection of a descending interface while using Nitrogen. The software did not disable the option, and it was up to the software user to select the mixing option manually. In some cases, testers who lacked proper knowledge failed to do so and a Pass report may have been generated in error.
Any report indicating a descending interface with Nitrogen as the clean agent in use should be disregarded.
Sub-Floor Only Testing Using Whole Room Valuestag:www.retrotec.com,2006:/fire_testing//3.912006-12-20T23:00:54Z2007-07-12T15:14:10ZTypically, sub-floor only tests are performed by mounting a fan on the walked on floor to measure the total leakage of the below floor space. That is the holes below the floor and the holes through the walked on floor....Skot Nelson
Typically, sub-floor only tests are performed by mounting a fan on the walked on floor to measure the total leakage of the below floor space. That is the holes below the floor and the holes through the walked on floor. The walked on floor is usually so leaky that this test fails.
The next step is to then measure the below floor leaks that the agent would actually escape from. Essentially, we want to measure the size of the “drain hole” below the floor since this hole size determines the loss rate. This is done by neutralizing the flow across the walked on floor with a fan mounted in the door to the room or covering the floor with plastic.
In cases where the walked on floor has too many penetrations to allow for neutralization, a whole room test may be performed. This test will almost always err on the side of being too conservative. For example:
If the Total room leaks are: 2.91 sq ft, in a room with an 18 inch under-floor, the retention time at 75% of the under-floor height would be 7.4 minutes. This assumes that half the leaks measured are below the walked on floor. This would seldom be the case. Typically a maximum of 25% would be below the walked on floor and may go as low as 1%! In the case of 25%, the retention time would be 11.8 minutes. This estimate can be based on a leak location test using the Leak Audit feature on the Retrotec CA2001 software or an estimate using other means.
h2. Choosing Minimum Protected Heights for Sub-floors
See step 14 from Retrotec’s Level 3 manual repeated below. Note that for subfloors, protection for the entire height is not an option because this can only be done if there is mixing and mixing is not practical in most subfloors because it would blow the agent out into the room above.
h2. Measurement Procedure
# Operating the floor blowers only, measure the ELA at the Total Leak tab or put in an overestimate of the floor leaks.
# Turn these blowers off and measure the "Static Pressure at Time of Fan Test". Stop test if over + 2 Pa and eliminate before proceeding. Any pressure should be eliminated or at least reduced to below 1 Pa if possible.
# Establish a 10 Pa room pressure with the blower(s) mounted in the door. This is a balancing pressure so flow pressure does not matter.
# Pick a likely range for the Floor Fan(s) and turn it (them) on. Adjust the fan(s) to only 25 Pa of flow pressure. If more than one Floor Fan is being used, always have all of them adjusted to the same flow pressure on the same range.
# Remove the low-flow plate from the Room Fan(s). Turn on the Room Fan(s) until the bottom of the allowable room pressure range is achieved. (e.g. usually 10 Pa). The Room Fan(s) will not be adjusted again during the test.
# Check for neutral pressure. If air is still coming up, the Floor Fan(s) has to be turned up to its top speed, e.g. 200 Pa of flow pressure, and the floor checked again. If air is still coming up, a less restrictive range must be selected. If the air was going down, the Floor Fan(s) is sucking too much, and a more restrictive range must be chosen. The correct range for the Floor Fan(s) is determined when at the bottom of the range (flow pressure of 25 Pa) air moves up into the room, while at the top end of the range (flow pressure of approximately 200 Pa) air moves down into the sub-floor.
# Commence a process of bracketing to narrow the "window" of Floor Fan flow pressures which defines when the pressure across the raised floor shifts from positive (air moves up) to negative (air moves down). The leakier a raised floor is (i.e. unsealed cutouts etc.) the wider this window will be.
# For example, in a 5,000 ft^2^ room, using two Floor Fans, when both were on range 3, with 100 Pa of flow pressure, smoke clearly moved up from the floor, while at 125 Pa of flow pressure, smoke clearly moved down. At some point between 100 Pa and 125 Pa of flow pressure therefore, a neutral pressure was established across the raised floor.
# If it is not possible to clearly define the exact flow pressure at which a neutral floor pressure is obtained, note the flow pressure on the Floor Fan(s) when smoke clearly moves down.
# Reconfirm the room pressure. It may have changed slightly during the test. If it has moved off of the bottom of the allowable target range (e.g. 10 Pa) adjust the Room Fan until it is back on. Double check the neutral floor pressure if necessary.
# Enter the Room Pressure gauge reading into the computer (usually 10 Pa)
# Enter the range used for the Floor Fan(s)
# Enter the Flow Pressure(s). DO NOT add them together in any way.
# Choose a Default Minimum Protected Height of 75% of sub-floor height unless the protected cables are below that height where a lower protected height may be considered. There should be NO static pressure during the retention period and mixing is not an option so protection for the entire height of the sub-floor space is not possible.
# The retention time will be displayed
h2. Choosing Minimum Agent Retention Time for Sub-floors
As with all retention times, sub-floor times must be sufficient to allow qualified personnel to arrive. Typically 10 minutes is chosen without much thought and may be too long or too short depending on the circumstances. This time must be longer where:
* the cables cannot be de-energized and may continue to create sufficient heat to reignite the fire.
* the cables are massive and will stores large amounts of heat.
This time can be shorter, if:
* qualified personnel are available 24 hours per day
Sealing Rooms for Clean Agentstag:www.retrotec.com,2006:/fire_testing//3.892006-12-18T21:13:39Z2007-07-12T15:15:24ZThis bulletin has been prepared to assist anyone who must seal a room for a Clean Agent system. Obviously, if a Clean Agent concentration test is to be run, the room will need to be tight to pass that test....Skot Nelson
This bulletin has been prepared to assist anyone who must seal a room for a Clean Agent
system. Obviously, if a Clean Agent concentration test is to be run, the room will need to
be tight to pass that test. Even so, if no concentration test is required, the room will still
need to be sealed. It is the nature of Clean Agent that it will suppress all flame and fire
spread but it cannot in every instance extinguish the initial source of ignition (for instance,
severe electrical short circuit). Therefore it is critical that the Clean Agent remain in the
protected area until emergency personnel have a chance to deal with a possible continuing
source of ignition.
# ALL DOORS leading from the Clean Agent protected areas or into another Clean Agent
zone shall have drop seals on the bottoms, weather stripping around the jams,
latching mechanisms and door closer hardware. In addition, double doors shall have a
weather stripped astragal to prevent leakage between doors and a coordinator to
assure proper sequence of closure. In general, doors shall be treated as though they
are being weatherproofed for outside use with the least amount of light possible
passing around all sides. Doors, which for any reason cannot be kept normally closed,
should be equipped with electromagnets designed to release on alarm.
# ALL DUCT WORK leading from or into a protected area may be permanently sealed
off, air tight, with metal plates caulked and screwed in place. Ductwork left in
service from the building air handling unit must have butterfly blade type dampers
installed with neoprene seals. Dampers must be spring loaded or motor operated to
provide 100% air shut-off. It is further recommended that the building air handling
units be shut down to prevent the spread of smoke or Clean Agent into other areas of
the building.
# SELF-CONTAINED AIR HANDLING UNITS within the protected zone may be left in
service at the owner's option. However, one must consider the possibility that the air
handling unit could be the source of the fire. Systems not manned 24 hours a day
should be tied-in to shutdown.
# PROTECTED AREAS should be enclosed with wall partitions which extend slab-to-slab.
In areas where this is not possible, the ceiling tiles should be clipped. If the ceiling
rests on top of the walls, all tiles should be clipped and a caulk be applied around the
entire perimeter where tile touched the walls. In either case, all tiles should be
clipped in place within 4 feet of any discharge nozzle.
# ANY HOLES, CRACKS, OR PENETRATION leading into or out of the protected area must
be sealed. This includes pipe chases and wire troughs.
All walls should be caulked around the inside perimeter of the room where the walls
rest on the floor slab and where the walls intersect with the ceiling slab above.
# IF A RAISED FLOOR continues out of the Clean Agent protected area into adjoining
rooms, bulkheads must be installed under the floor, directly under above-floor border
partitions. These bulkheads must be caulked top and bottom.
If the adjoining rooms share the same under-floor air handlers, then the bulkheads
must have dampers installed the same as required for ductwork. See Item #2.
# ALL FLOOR DRAINS should have traps and the traps should be designed to have water
in them at all times.
# POROUS BLOCK WALLS must be sealed slab-to-slab to prevent gas from passing
through the block. Two or three coats of paint are normally required. Unpainted
block walls are totally unacceptable.
# IN GENERAL, the basic intent is to make Clean Agent protected areas as air tight as
possible during and after Clean Agent discharge. Clean Agent is heavier than air and
therefore, openings below floors are usually more critical than those above a ceiling.
However, during discharge the room does get pressurized to some extent and any gas
that can be pushed out of the room will not return. Smaller rooms are much harder
to seal then large rooms because each little crack becomes much more significant as
the surface area to volume ratio changes.
# ONCE THE GAS IS DISCHARGED, in most jurisdictions, it must remain in the room at
it’s designed concentration at least ten minutes. The length of time the agent will
remain is directly proportional to the “air tightness” of the room..
The above 10 points are not all inclusive nor guarantee that the concentration test will pass.
They are, however, presented as the most common items which affect Clean Agent
concentration tests. If, in addition to presenting a few specific areas of concern, they
provoke thought about the overall "air tightness" of the enclosure, then they will have served
a good purpose.
h2. Specialized air sealing materials
Hire contractors who are familiar with airsealing, not unspecialized contractors.
|*Airseal Manufacturer*|*Contact*|*Phone*|
|3M for spray seal|www.3M.com||
|W.R.Grace for spray seal|www.Grace.com|(800)334-8796|
|GE Silicones|Customer Development|(800)255-8886|
|O-Z/Gedney|Patsy Sanders|(918)627-5530|
|Tremco|Frank Calabrese|(206)252-3372|
|Thermal Ceramics Inc||(404)796-4280|
|3M|Todd Regenold|(415)563-5992|
|Flame Stop Inc|James Bower|(817)431-3747|
|True North Technologies||(416)744-2233|
|Unifrax Inc/Carborundum Fibers Division|Sarah Brewer|(716)278-2203|
|International Protective Coatings Corp||(800)334-8796|
|Dow Corning Corporation||(517)496-4000|
|Specified Technologies Inc||(800)992-1180|
|Thermafiber||(800)426-8127|
Five Year System Calibrationtag:www.retrotec.com,2006:/fire_testing//3.872006-12-14T22:24:21Z2007-06-01T22:32:21ZThe NFPA standard requires that your gauges and fans are calibrated as an entire system once every five years. Be sure to keep your calibrations up to date.Skot Nelson
_*NOTE* Please do not send back your Air Current Testers with your equipment. If they are sent to us, they will not be returned to you._
Your entire door-fan system should be calibrated, as a system, every 5 years. This includes blowers, console and gauges. Often customers send back their panel sets for repair and maintenance at the same time. Damaged equipment must be repaired before calibration can be completed.
The fans are calibrated by putting them into our flow chamber and measuring the difference between the measured value and the actual leakage value of the chamber. Correction factors are established for each blower to reduce the measured errors when used with Retrotec's software.
h2. Applicable Sections of the NFPA Standard
The _NFPA 2001 Standard on Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing Systems 2004 Edition_ requires that you have your door fan system calibrated every five years.
bq.. *Annex C Enclosure Integrity Procedure*
*C2.2.1.6* Door fan systems should be checked for calibration every 5 years under controlled conditions, and a certificate should be available for inspection at all integrity tests. The calibration should be performed according to manufacturer's specifications.
The certificate should include the following:
# Description of the calibration facility and responsible technician.
# Date of calibration and serial number of door fan.
# Room pressure gauge error estimates at 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, and 40 Pa measured by both ascending and descending pressures (minimum.)
# Fan calibration at a minimum of 3 leakage areas (approximate): 0.5 m^2^, 0.25m^2^ and 0.05m^2^ measured at a pressure of 10 Pa.
h2. Calibration Costs
h3. Calibration of your Gauges
The basic calibration costs for your gauges are:
* Calibration of one analog gauge costs US$100.
* Calibration of a DM-1 Digital Gauge costs US$100 plus shipping.
* Calibration of a "DM-2 Digital Gauge":http://www.retrotec.com/products/gauges/dm2_series_2_channel_digital_p/ costs US$165 plus shipping.
h3. Calibration of your Fans
The basic calibration costs for your fans are:
* $250 US for full your fan on all available ranges.
* $160 US for calibration of your fan on the open range only.
This means that a two blower system such as a Model 970hp which has 2 fans will cost $410. In this same example the 1 year gauge calibration must be done as well which is another $300 for three gauges.
Budget an additional $200 per piece of equipment for repair if your system is in anything less than excellent condition. Most five year calibrations run between $1200 and $2500 with repairs and servicing.
h2. Where To Send Your Equipment
All equipment being returned to Retrotec must be sent to:
*Retrotec Inc.*
_Attn: Calibration, Warranty and Repair_
1060 East Pole Road
Everson, WA USA 98247
* Include packlist of what items are shipped
* Include all equipment used in door-fan tests
* Do not return the toolbags or any air current testers when shipping equipment to us.
* Please include your company name, and contact information.
* Include what needs to be looked at and the problems you have been having (if any).
* Fans and Consoles should be individually packed in well-padded boxes.
* Ask for more information on our shipping boxes!
For calibration and repair quotes and information,
please contact Retrotec at 360.738.9835 or by email at "calibration@retrotec.com":mailto:calibration@retrotec.com
*Hours*: 0800-1600 PST (1100-1900 EST, 1600-2400 GMT in UK)
h2. Calibration in Europe
Customer in the United Kingdom or on the European continent can send their equipment for calibration to "Littlebrook Calibration Services":www.17025calibrations.com/airflow_cal.htm for calibration work. Littlebrook will take care of all necessary paperwork to get your updated CA2001 certificate issued.
!>http://www.17025calibrations.com/images/lcs_logo.jpg 144x108! Tommy Thompson
"Littlebrook Calibration Services":www.17025calibrations.com/airflow_cal.htm
5 Optima Park
Thomas Road (off Thames Road)
Crayford, Kent DA14QX
United Kingdom
44 (0)1322-556111
44 (0)1322-520400
"lcmdirector@17025calibrations.com":lcmdirector@1705calibrations.com
Glossary of Termstag:www.retrotec.com,2006:/fire_testing//3.832006-12-01T19:04:03Z2006-12-04T17:15:03Z60 Gauge The gauge used to measure the Room pressure. Full scale is 60 Pascals (or 0.24” W.C.). It is usually connected to the door panel by a red tube. 250 Gauge The gauge used to measure Flow pressure. Full...Skot Nelson
h3. 60 Gauge
The gauge used to measure the Room pressure. Full scale is 60 Pascals (or 0.24” W.C.). It is usually connected to the door panel by a red tube.
h3. 250 Gauge
The gauge used to measure Flow pressure. Full scale 250 Pascals (or 1.004” W.C.). It is connected to the blower by a clear tube.
h3. Agent/Air Interface
See sharp interface - the vertical distance through which the agent concentration goes from that discharged to 0.
h3. AHJ
Authority Having Jurisdiction.
h3. ASHRAE
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers. Developers of standards and technical guidance relating to HVAC/R issues.
h3. BCLA (Below Ceiling Leakage Area)
Leaks below a suspended ceiling. Hole in the floor or lower leaks. Often assumed to be one half of the Total Hole in the Room (ELA).
h3. Below Ceiling Leakage
See Lower Leak.
h3. Blower
As used in the text, this term means the Retrotec Infiltrometer fan unit that both flows air and provides a _flow pressure_ signal from which flow is measured. Sometimes it is called a fan.
h3. Ceiling neutralization
See Flex-Duct Test
h3. Center Panel
A red ABS plastic molded sheet, which goes between the upper and lower panel to fill the gap.
h3. Conditioned Space
An area or volume that is normally air-conditioned or heated (i.e. inside the thermal envelope). Even though supply ducts may not discharge directly into these spaces, they are conditioned if their temperature follows indoor temperature closer than outdoor.
h3. Continual Mixing
Airflow activity within the test room that is sufficient to maintain an equal concentration at all locations and prevent the formation of distinct zones of air and agent/air mixture, i.e. no interface develops.
h3. Continuous Discharge
See _Extended Discharge._
h3. Descending Interface
Agent leaks out during the retention period and air leaks in the upper part of the enclosure to replace the lost volume. Typically it is assumed that as the agent leaks out, an interface will occur between the layer of agent on the bottom and the layer of air on top. Since this interface drops with time, it is called a descending interface and is the most commonly assumed leakage regime. The other regime is Continual Mixing.
h3. Depressurization
The process of creating a negative pressure in the house by blowing air out of the house. Air is drawn in from outside to replace it, showing up as "geysers" when checked with an air current tester.
h3. Door Fan
A test instrument that fits into an open doorway in order to pressurize and enclosure. The result is a measurement of the hole size.
A _Door Fan_ is often called a _Blower Door_ or an _Infiltrometer(tm)_.
h3. Dropped Ceiling
See suspended ceiling
h3. Dynamic discharge pressure
This is a combination of the peak pressure during the actual discharge and the velocity pressure associated with streams of agent hitting walls or ceilings, thereby trying to force its way out of the enclosure during this brief period.
h3. Enclosure
In this manual, this word is used to mean the volume that is protected with clean agent. It could also mean the above ceiling space if it is not protected since for all intents the enclosure boundary is at the fire barrier and suspended ceilings do not represent a fire barrier unless they are fitted with special fire rated tiles.
h3. Envelope
The surfaces composed of floor and walls and floors that separate the test volume from volume surrounding the test volume
h3. Equivalent Leakage Area (ELA)
In layman's terms, the ELA is the size of hole we'd have if all the building's cracks and holes could somehow be brought together. Also called: Whole Room Leakage and includes Leaks through the ceiling and below the ceiling (BCLA). In CA2001 we measure this in units of sq.ft. or sq.m. at a reference pressure in Pascals (Pa).
In Engineer’s terms: the equivalent size of hole required in a flat plate to give the same flow rate having a discharge coefficient of 0.61 and taken at the Reference Pressure. This ELA is sometimes called the EqLA or Canadian ELA because it was first used in the Canadian GSB air leakage standard for houses. This ELA enjoys worldwide acceptance by most testers, even in the US.
This ELA should not be confused with another ELA that is often called the EfLA or Effective Leakage Area. It is very unfortunate that both these ELA’s have the same acronym of ELA. The EfLA was developed for the US ASTM Standard and is smaller than the EqLA by at least a factor of 0.61 because it uses a discharge coefficient of 1.0. This EfLA is sometimes called the LBL or Lawrence Berkley Labs ELA because it was developed there and is used in the LBL natural airchange model that enjoys wide usage- apart from that usage, the EfLA is not used very much but the existence of both can create huge problems that are totally lost on some users.
h3. Expander Mechanism
The mechanism of knobs and levers attached to the door panel that enables the panel system to expand sideways into the doorframe.
h3. Extended Discharge
An optional method to maintain concentration whereby after the initial discharge an extended discharge takes place with the intention of maintaining the original concentration more or less by injecting a continuous stream of agent for an extended period (usually 10 to 20 minutes). Retrotec CA2001 software will calculate the amount of extended discharge required.
An Extended Discharge are sometimes called _Continuous Discharge_
h3. Extender Panel
An optional molded plastic panel, which can be temporarily attached to the main door panel to fit up to 48" wide doorways.
h3. False Ceiling
See suspended ceiling. Also, can be called T-bar ceiling or Lay-in ceiling.
h3. Flex-duct Ceiling Neutralization
A door-fan test method that uses a second blower connected through the suspended ceiling. The second blower takes care of the upper room leaks with the above the ceiling blower. The first blower takes care of the Lower Leaks. The flow through both blowers is adjusted till there is neutral flow across the ceiling that is determined by smoke puffed into gaps. The Lower Blower measures the Lower Leaks.
h3. Flow Pressure
The pressure difference between inside the blower and the surrounding air read from the Infiltrometer's(tm) 60 and 250 Pa flow gauges. It is used by the computer to calculate the airflow through the blower.
h3. Height of Interest
The highest point in the room requiring protection for the duration of the specified retention time. In the NFPA procedure it’s called the “height of interface from floor”, in the software it’s called the Minimum Protected Height.
h3. Hole in Floor (BCLA)
All Below Ceiling Leakage Area (BCLA) is assumed to be in the floor to get worst-case leakage rate.
h3. Room Pressure
The pressure difference created by the blower between inside and out, read off of the Infiltrometer's 60 Pa gauge. This gauge is labeled "Room/House Pressure".
h3. HVAC
Heating Ventilating and Air conditioning system.
h3. Infiltrometer
A name used and registered by Retrotec to describe their door fan equipment. Often called blower door.
h3. Large or Main Panel
Refers to the panel with the 20" diameter hole intended for sealing the doorway.
h3. Lay In (Tile) Ceiling
See _Suspended Ceiling._
h3. Leakage
A general term used to describe holes or the area of holes or leakage through holes in or around an enclosure. See also Total Leaks and Lower Leak(s).
h3. Leakage Area
This is the same as “Leakage” but express in sq.ft. or sq.m.
h3. Lower Leak
A lower leak is any leak below the ceiling. Leaks in the walls and floor are counted as Lower leaks where agent will leak out. Lower Leak also refers to the Lower Leak tab of CA2001 where the Lower Leak would be measured.
h3. Lower Leaks
Leaks attributed to air that flows in from below. If the room were filled full of water, more water would leak from these leaks. All leaks below the ceiling are assumed to be Lower Leaks. Includes wall and floor leaks.
h3. Negative Static Pressure
A room pressure that is independent of the door fan that will cause test smoke to flow into the room.
h3. Pascal (Pa)
Often shown as “Pa”. A very small metric unit of pressure. There are 249 Pascals in 1" Water Column (the pressure required to push water up 1" in a tube). One Pascal = 0.000145 psi.
h3. Peak Pressure
When the system is discharged, there is brief period at the ten-second mark where a maximum peak pressure is created in the room. For inerts, this is where the flow rate is near maximum. For halocarbons this occurs at the end of the discharge where the cooling effect of the agent is reduced and it starts to expand. CO2 starts to increase in volume towards the end of the discharge because the cooling effect caused by the rapid flashing of the agent at the nozzles is eliminated.
Peak Pressure is sometimes called _Vent Pressure._
h3. Positive Static Pressure
A room pressure that is independent of the door fan that will cause test smoke to flow out of the room.
h3. Pressurization
This is the process of creating a positive pressure in the house by blowing air into the house. Air is pushed out through all the leaks, causing the smoke to move away from the operator when checked with an air current tester.
h3. Protected enclosure
This term describes the total space that is flooded with clean agent upon discharge. This includes above ceiling spaces only if that volume is intentionally flooded with agent. This includes adjacent rooms if they are discharged at the same time.
h3. Protected enclosure boundary
This term describes floor, wall and surfaces that define the protected enclosure.
h3. Reading
A set of simultaneous Room Pressure and Flow Pressure readings. Sometimes referred to as a data set or test point because it is plotted as one point on a graph.
h3. Reference Pressure
The pressure at which the ELA is calculated, usually at the test pressure.
h3. Return Path Space (Relief Zone)
The volume around the tested room that the Infiltrometer blows into (under room depressurization) or out of (under room pressurization). The flow from the Infiltrometer must be allowed to return to the point of leakage in the room through the return path space.
h3. Room
See _Enclosure._
h3. Sharp Interface
The height at which the agent concentration is considered to go form that discharged to 0. The boundary between the agent mixture below and the pure air above.
h3. Smaller Panel
Refers to the smaller sliding panel used to seal the doorway. It's permanently attached to the large panel.
h3. Suspended Ceiling
Common ceiling type found in most computer rooms and offices. Tiles lift up to expose space above.
h3. Total Leaks
Total Leak includes floor, wall and ceiling leaks. It also refers to the Total Leak tab in CA2001 where the total leak is measured.
h3. T-bar Ceiling
See _Suspended Ceiling._
h3. Upper Panel Cover
This covers the 22" diameter hole (20” for the older 900 series models) in the upper panel and has 2-calibration holes cut to precise size at the factory. The panel comes out with a quick pull.
h3. Upper Leaks
Leaks attributed to air that flows in from above. If the room was filled full of water, no water would leak from these leaks. Also called the Hole in the Ceiling.
h3. Vent Pressure
See _Peak Pressure._
h3. Whole Room Leakage (ELA)
See _Total Leaks._