Smoke leakage testing plays a crucial role in assessing door and shutter assemblies, determining smoke leakage rates at ambient temperatures. This test explores the rate of cold air leakage from one side of a door and shutter assembly to the other, effectively representing the passage of smoke during a fire event.
Why Is Smoke Leakage Testing Vital?
Doors are integral parts of all structures, and with evolving legislation, they are often expected to perform numerous functions within a building. Ensuring the optimal performance of your door set is a vital component of building a safe space. Smoke leakage performance is often a crucial factor in building design and significantly influences the development of a fire strategy.
A fire door that impedes the spread of flame but allows the passage of smoke may be deemed unsuitable in many circumstances. Increasingly, regulations globally specify that doors must provide smoke control. The requirement currently relates only to cold or ambient smoke in the UK. However, doors requiring smoke control performance often also need fire-resisting capability and therefore include intumescent seals. These seals expand and seal the door within its frame when subjected to fire temperatures, ensuring the compartment line is not breached.
Smoke leakage test evidence is essential if you wish to UKCA/ CE mark your door product to achieve a Sa classification in accordance with EN 13501-2.
What to Expect from Smoke Leakage Testing
Smoke leakage testing at ambient temperatures utilises a specially designed chamber housing a partition to install the sample. The chamber uses fans to control the pressure exerted. It includes a pressure transducer, a flow meter, and digital displays to record pressure and leakage rates throughout the test. The test determines results based on leakage over the opening element's perimeter length. It is possible to evaluate both positive and negative pressures at ambient temperature by simply reversing the chamber control fan's polarity to demonstrate leakage rates from both directions.
United Kingdom Testing and Certification (UKTC) Smoke Leakage Testing Services
UKTC offers comprehensive smoke leakage testing to BS EN 1634-3, and BS 476-31.1 standards. Equipped with top-tier smoke leakage testing facilities, we conduct tests from our state-of-the-art laboratory.
Smoke leakage testing is a critical safety measure that helps determine the effectiveness of your fire doors and shutters in emergencies. It provides insight into the potential for hot or cold airflow through them during fires.
Why Choose UKTC for Smoke Leakage Testing?
As an integral part of all building safety, doors are required to perform various functions and achieve a satisfactory performance level as part of the overall building outcome. Smoke Leakage testing is a critical aspect of your fire safety testing process. A fire door that successfully halts and reduces the spread of flame but allows a passageway for smoke is inadequate for protecting life during a fire incident.
At UKTC, we understand the importance of smoke leakage testing and strive to provide comprehensive and accurate results that adhere to the highest safety standards. We are committed to helping you ensure that your building is equipped with the right fire doors and shutters to protect life and property in the event of a fire. Contact us today for a consultation, and let's work together to make your building safer and more resilient.
Are you looking to find out more information? Contact us at info@uktestcert.com or call us on 01355 433122; our experienced team will be happy to help.
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