Room Integrity Testing for Gaseous Fire Suppression Systems
Door Fan Testing for Server Rooms, Data Centres and Protected Enclosures
🚪 Professional Room Integrity Testing
A gaseous fire suppression system can only perform effectively if the protected room is capable of retaining the extinguishing agent for the required period.
Room integrity testing, often referred to as door fan testing, assesses the level of air leakage from a protected enclosure and calculates whether the extinguishing concentration can be maintained for long enough to control or extinguish a fire.
Kings Fire provides room integrity testing for server rooms, data centres, communications rooms, electrical rooms and other enclosures protected by gaseous fire suppression systems across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire and the wider Home Counties.
The test is non-destructive and does not require the suppression system to be discharged.
💨 What Is a Room Integrity Test?
A room integrity test uses calibrated fan equipment temporarily installed within a doorway to pressurise and depressurise the protected enclosure.
Measurements taken during the test are used to determine the amount of leakage present within the room.
Specialist software then uses this information together with details of the suppression system and enclosure to calculate the predicted extinguishing-agent retention or hold time.
The aim is to establish whether the room is sufficiently well sealed for the gaseous suppression system to perform as intended following a discharge.
🔥 Why Is Room Integrity Important?
A total-flooding gaseous suppression system relies on creating and maintaining a specific concentration of extinguishing agent within the protected enclosure.
If the room has excessive leakage, gas can escape too quickly through gaps and openings such as:
- Cable penetrations
- Pipework penetrations
- Doors and door frames
- Raised floors
- Suspended ceilings
- Ventilation openings
- Wall and floor joints
- Poorly sealed service penetrations
- Building alterations
- Unsealed construction openings
If too much extinguishing agent escapes, the required concentration may not be maintained for the necessary period.
A correctly performed room integrity test provides evidence of the enclosure's leakage characteristics without having to release the extinguishing agent.
🖥️ Where Is Room Integrity Testing Used?
Room integrity testing is primarily associated with rooms protected by total-flooding gaseous fire suppression systems.
Typical applications include:
- Server rooms
- Data centres
- IT rooms
- Communications rooms
- Electrical switch rooms
- UPS rooms
- Control rooms
- Telecommunications facilities
- Archives
- Specialist storage areas
- Critical plant rooms
- Industrial control environments
The protected enclosure and suppression system work together, so changes to either can affect the effectiveness of the overall fire protection arrangement.
📅 How Often Should Room Integrity Testing Be Carried Out?
Room integrity testing normally forms part of the ongoing maintenance arrangements for a gaseous fire suppression system.
Testing is commonly repeated annually unless suitable documentary evidence confirms that no changes have been made to the protected enclosure since the previous test.
A new test should also be considered whenever changes are made that could alter the room's leakage characteristics.
Examples include:
- New data cabling
- Additional electrical services
- New pipework
- Changes to doors
- Alterations to ceilings or raised floors
- Installation or removal of ventilation equipment
- New service penetrations
- Fire stopping works
- Building refurbishment
- Changes to the protected room layout
Even relatively small building changes can introduce new leakage paths.
🧪 What Happens During a Door Fan Test?
Room integrity testing does not require the gaseous suppression system to discharge.
The test typically involves:
- Confirming details of the protected enclosure and suppression system
- Preparing the room for testing
- Temporarily installing calibrated fan equipment into a doorway
- Pressurising and depressurising the enclosure
- Measuring airflow and pressure differences
- Calculating the equivalent leakage area
- Calculating the predicted extinguishing-agent hold time
- Recording the test results
- Identifying whether the enclosure achieves the required performance
Because the test is non-destructive, normal operation can usually resume once the testing equipment has been removed.
⏱️ Extinguishing Agent Hold Time
The effectiveness of a gaseous suppression system depends not only on achieving the required initial extinguishing concentration but also on retaining sufficient concentration for the required period.
Room integrity testing provides a calculated prediction of how long the extinguishing agent is expected to remain effective within the protected enclosure.
The required performance depends on the system design, extinguishing agent and applicable standard.
Where the calculated hold time is insufficient, excessive enclosure leakage may need to be identified and reduced before the room is retested.
🔍 What Happens If the Room Fails?
A failed room integrity test does not necessarily mean there is a problem with the gas suppression system itself.
It may indicate that the protected enclosure has too much air leakage.
Common leakage points can include:
- Unsealed cable penetrations
- Gaps around pipework
- Poorly sealed doors
- Openings above suspended ceilings
- Raised-floor penetrations
- Unsealed ducts or vents
- Construction gaps
- Previous building alterations
Where a room does not achieve the required result, the test report can help inform the next steps.
Leakage sealing or fire-stopping works may then be required before the enclosure is retested.
Kings Fire can also assist with Fire Stopping Services where defective or unsealed service penetrations are identified.
🔧 Room Changes & Retesting
A room that previously passed an integrity test may not necessarily continue to perform in the same way indefinitely.
Server rooms and technical environments frequently change as new equipment is installed.
Something as routine as running additional data cables through a wall or floor can create new leakage paths if penetrations are not correctly sealed afterwards.
Retesting should therefore be considered following significant changes to the enclosure.
This is particularly important following:
- IT upgrades
- Data cabling projects
- Electrical works
- HVAC alterations
- Refurbishment
- Fire stopping works
- Door replacement
- Changes to raised floors or ceilings
Maintaining control over enclosure changes helps protect the effectiveness of the suppression system.
📋 Room Integrity Test Reports
Following the test, appropriate documentation can be provided recording the test results and calculated enclosure performance.
Depending on the scope, the report may include information such as:
- Protected room details
- Suppression system information
- Test conditions
- Enclosure leakage measurements
- Equivalent leakage area
- Predicted extinguishing-agent hold time
- Pass/fail outcome where applicable
- Observations or recommendations
- Areas requiring further investigation
Maintaining these records gives facilities managers, Responsible Persons and system maintainers a clear history of the protected enclosure.
📚 Room Integrity Testing & BS EN 15004
BS EN 15004-1 covers fixed gaseous fire extinguishing systems, including requirements relating to their design, installation and maintenance.
For total-flooding systems, the performance of the protected enclosure is an important part of ensuring that the extinguishing agent can achieve and maintain the required concentration.
Room integrity testing provides a practical method of assessing enclosure leakage without releasing the extinguishing agent.
The test should be undertaken using appropriate calibrated equipment and recognised calculation methods so that the resulting hold-time assessment is reliable.
🔗 Room Integrity & Gas Suppression Servicing
Room integrity testing and gas suppression system maintenance are closely connected but are separate services.
The suppression system itself includes components such as cylinders, pipework, nozzles, detection, controls and release equipment.
Room integrity testing assesses the protected enclosure in which that system operates.
Kings Fire can also support customers with:
Gas Suppression System Servicing – maintenance and support for existing fixed gaseous suppression systems.
Fire Stopping Services – survey and remedial work where service penetrations or compartmentation defects require attention.
Fire Alarm Servicing – planned maintenance of associated building fire detection and alarm systems.
This provides a joined-up approach to the suppression system, the protected enclosure and the wider fire safety arrangements.
🏢 Room Integrity Testing for Commercial & Specialist Premises
Kings Fire can provide room integrity testing for organisations including:
- Data centres
- Technology companies
- Commercial offices
- Universities
- Healthcare premises
- Telecommunications providers
- Logistics facilities
- Industrial sites
- Manufacturing premises
- Public-sector buildings
- Managed property portfolios
Multi-room and multi-site requirements can also be coordinated where several protected enclosures require testing.
📍 Room Integrity Testing Across the Home Counties
Kings Fire provides room integrity testing across:
Bedfordshire • Hertfordshire • Buckinghamshire • Northamptonshire • Cambridgeshire • Oxfordshire
Requirements outside our core service area can also be considered depending on the nature and scope of the work.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions – Room Integrity Testing
What is room integrity testing?
Room integrity testing assesses the air leakage from an enclosure protected by a gaseous fire suppression system. The results are used to calculate whether the extinguishing agent can be retained for the required period following a system discharge.
Is room integrity testing the same as a door fan test?
Yes. The terms room integrity test and door fan test are commonly used to describe the same process. Calibrated fan equipment is temporarily installed within a doorway to measure the leakage characteristics of the protected enclosure.
Does the gas suppression system have to discharge during the test?
No. Room integrity testing is non-destructive and does not require the extinguishing agent to be discharged. Airflow and pressure measurements are used to calculate the predicted performance of the enclosure.
How often should a room integrity test be carried out?
Room integrity testing normally forms part of the ongoing maintenance of a gaseous suppression system and is commonly repeated annually unless suitable documentary evidence confirms that no changes have been made to the protected enclosure since the previous test.
When should a room be retested?
Retesting should be considered where changes could affect enclosure leakage. Examples include new cabling, pipework, doors, ventilation equipment, raised-floor alterations, ceiling works, refurbishment or new service penetrations.
What happens if a room fails its integrity test?
A failed result may indicate that the enclosure has excessive leakage. Leakage paths may need to be investigated and sealed before the room is retested. The suppression system itself may still be functioning correctly.
What is extinguishing-agent hold time?
Hold time is the calculated period for which sufficient extinguishing-agent concentration is expected to remain within the protected enclosure. Maintaining the required concentration is important to the effectiveness of a total-flooding gaseous suppression system.
What rooms commonly require integrity testing?
Room integrity testing is commonly carried out in server rooms, data centres, communications rooms, electrical switch rooms, UPS rooms, control rooms and other enclosures protected by total-flooding gaseous fire suppression systems.
Can fire stopping affect a room integrity test?
Yes. Unsealed cable, pipe or other service penetrations can create significant leakage paths. Appropriate sealing and fire stopping can therefore be an important part of improving enclosure performance where defects are identified.
Do you provide a room integrity test report?
Yes. Appropriate documentation can be provided recording the test results and calculated enclosure performance, together with relevant observations or recommendations where applicable.
Can Kings Fire arrange testing across several rooms or sites?
Yes. Kings Fire can coordinate room integrity testing for organisations with multiple protected enclosures or several sites requiring planned testing.
Where does Kings Fire provide room integrity testing?
Kings Fire provides room integrity testing across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire and the wider Home Counties.
📝 Request a Room Integrity Test
If your gaseous suppression system is due for room integrity testing, your protected enclosure has recently been altered or you are unsure when the last test was completed, speak to Kings Fire.
We can help establish your requirements and arrange the appropriate testing.
Complete our online enquiry form or call our fire safety team on 01462 337037.