We are equipped with testing equipment and software for computing gas hold time in the protected zone, and our employees are certified by the leading European company Blowerdoor to test air leakage in the areas protected by gaseous suppression systems.

The standards ISO 14520 / EN 15004 and NFPA 2001 governing the design, installation and maintenance of fire suppression systems using “clean” gases (FM-200, Novec 1230, Inergene etc.), stipulate that the protected zones must be airtight and the requirements for the minimum hold time of the required concentration of gas.

In accordance with the mentioned standards, air tightness of the protected zone can be tested in two ways:

• By discharging the gas in the protected zone and measuring gas concentration during a 10-minute period,
• By conducting a door fan test (ISO 14520 – Annex E / NFPA 2001 – Annex C)

The door fan test is carried out using a special “Blower Door” device consisting of a blower (fan), measuring equipment and software. The blower is used to first create overpressure in the protected zone, then negative pressure. A special gauge with the relevant software support is used to measure the readings and obtain output data which are compliant with the standard EN 13829. The output data obtained in the measurement are entered in a special programme which performs the calculation required under the standards ISO 14520 (EN 15004) and NFPA 2001. The final software output is gas hold time in the protected zone. If gas hold time does not comply with the standards, then the anemometer is used to establish leakage areas which are sealed and the door fan test is repeated. Air leakage test of the protected zone is a compulsory and integral part of testing the functioning of the gaseous fire suppression systems (FM-200, Novec 1230, Inergen etc.) laid down in Article 40 of the Fire Protection Act.