Stroma Built Environment offers room integrity test services for gaseous fire suppression systems throughout the UK. From system installations to annual inspections, our skilled engineers combine expertise with the latest in testing technology to provide thorough air leakage assessments, reporting, and guidance.
What Is Room Integrity Testing?
Gaseous fire protection systems use a combination of inert gases, chemical agents, or vaporised liquids to control or extinguish fires, which is essential for preventing the spread of fire and smoke to other areas of a building.
These systems are specifically designed for rooms or enclosed spaces containing electrical, high-value, or sensitive assets, such as data centres, museums, libraries, or laboratories – which would otherwise be damaged or destroyed by water and other fire-suppressing agents.
The effectiveness of gaseous fire suppression systems relies on the room being properly sealed and airtight. Consequently, room integrity testing is required to ensure that, in the event of a fire, the released gas will not leak from the room and will sufficiently suppress the fire.
Our Room Integrity Test Services
Room integrity testing is a type of air leakage test legally required for all gaseous fire suppression systems in the UK. It involves evaluating the tightness of a room’s walls, doors, and seals to ensure it will maintain its integrity when the system is activated.
At Stroma, we carry out thorough room integrity testing for a wide range of residential and commercial buildings per BS EN 15004-1:2019 guidance to help clients meet air tightness targets, minimise risks, and ensure compliance. Our room integrity test procedure typically includes:
- Pre-test site inspection
- Room integrity test preparation (sealing all ventilation systems, windows, doors & other potential leak points)
- Positive & negative pressure testing using specialised room integrity testing equipment
- Data analysis to confirm whether the room meets the required air tightness standards
Results from testing are presented as either pass or fail and will reference the retention of the extinguishing agent (gas) in each room / enclosed space. If your building does fail an integrity test, we will provide a full report detailing the leakage points and advise on cost-effective, remedial strategies to ensure the room is sufficiently sealed.
Room Integrity Testing Standards & Compliance
BS EN 15004-1 specifies requirements and gives recommendations for the design, installation, testing, and maintenance of gas fire suppression systems in buildings, plants, and other structures. Per these regulations, all gas fire suppression systems must undergo a room integrity test when commissioned and thereafter at least annually.
The specific requirements of the room integrity test for gas suppression systems may vary depending on the industry and substances being processed or stored. Our air tightness testing specialists can discuss your current systems, help you understand your obligations, and provide guidance on how to ensure compliance.
Room Integrity Test for Gas Suppression Systems
At Stroma, we can tailor a range of packages to suit the unique demands of your project and offer end-to-end consulting to help you ensure the safety and effectiveness of your gaseous fire suppression systems.
A room integrity test for gas suppression systems can help you:
- Locate & improve areas of weakness
- Ensure system effectiveness
- Safely contain & extinguish fires
- Protect people, equipment & data
- Achieve regulatory compliance
- Identify energy saving opportunities
We also offer services to assist with temporary air sealing and fire stopping, which are key to reducing the risks of air leakage in the event of a fire, or where a building has failed its air permeability test.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is retention time?
When it comes to room integrity testing, “retention time” is the period that the gaseous agent should remain in the room, at an acceptable design concentration. During this time, it should also remain above the minimum protected height to prevent the reignition of a fire once it has been extinguished.
What is the minimum retention time of a room integrity test in the UK?
Per BS EN 15004-1 guidance, the minimum retention time required for all gaseous agents is 10 minutes (except for CO2, for which a 20-minute retention time is required).
How do you carry out room integrity testing?
Our room integrity test procedure involves sealing the room, pressuring and depressurising it, and measuring the air leakage. We will also measure how long the gas suppressant will remain in the room after it’s discharged (the retention time).
How often do you need a room integrity test?
Under BS EN 15004-1, a room integrity test for gas suppression systems is required when commissioned and thereafter at least annually. It should also be performed if any modifications (e.g., renovations or extensions) to the room take place.
What happens if I fail a room integrity test?
If your building fails an integrity test, we will provide a full report detailing the leakage points and advise on cost-effective, remedial strategies to ensure the room is sufficiently sealed.
Stroma Built Environment and its team of experts are here ready to discuss a range of packages for any new project. Get in touch today!