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DOOR FAN TEST PROCEDURE

The integrity analysis of the enclosures in designing Total Flooding
fire suppression systems

0 30/08/2018 First Issue S.G. T.Z. G.P.

Data Descrizione Preparato Controllato Approvato
Rev.
Date Description Prepared Checked Approved
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INDEX

1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................... 3
2. TEST PROCEDURES .......................................................................................................................................... 4
3. TEST PROCEDURE ............................................................................................................................................. 5
3.1. MEASUREMENT AND CALCULATION ................................................................................................... 5
3.2. PREDICTING THE RETENTION TIME .................................................................................................... 5
3.2.1. Descending Interface................................................................................................................... 5
3.2.2. Mixing Case ................................................................................................................................. 6
3.3. SEARCH FOR LEAKS ............................................................................................................................... 7
3.4. DESIGN CONCENTRATION AND QUANTITY ....................................................................................... 7
3.5. RETENTION OF EXTINGUISHING AGENT ............................................................................................ 8
4. DESIGN AND DOOR FAN TEST ........................................................................................................................ 9
4.1. STRUCTURE OF THE ENCLOSURE .................................................................................................... 10
4.1.1. Channels crossing partitions: .................................................................................................... 10
4.1.2. Ventilation management: ........................................................................................................... 10
4.1.3. Overpressure ............................................................................................................................. 10
4.2. RELEASE AREAS .................................................................................................................................... 11
5. CONCLUSION..................................................................................................................................................... 12
6. RESULT ............................................................................................................................................................... 12
7. APPENDIX 1: TYPICAL REPORT SHEET ...................................................................................................... 13
8. APPENDIX 2: SIA TYPICAL TEST CERTIFICATE TEMPLATE................................................................... 14
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1. INTRODUCTION

The scope of this procedure is to describe all the operations required to properly carry out a
standard door fan test for a typical Total Flooding fire suppression system.
The Door Fan Test is a procedure for analysing and verifying the properties of a room, i.e. its ability
to prevent an airflow being created through the walls, which isolates it, in the presence of a pressure
gradient between the interior and exterior.
The Door Fan Test provides a method for assessing the magnitude of leakage in a room and its ability
to retain gas released from a Total Flooding Discharge System. It also allows a systematic search to
be carried out to detect the leakage areas on the surfaces on the perimeter of the room.
It is activated by pressurising and depressurising the room and by measuring the air flow rates
required to do this by means of the following equipment:

- A panel to be adapted to the doorway of the room being examined

- No. 1 or 2 fans with adjustable speed, to install on the above-mentioned panel to input and
extract air from the room
- A control console with instruments for measuring indoor and outdoor pressures on the room,
the air flow generated to obtain them, indoor and outdoor temperatures.
- A calculation unit (PC) for processing the values measured and identifying the room sealing
characteristics

For any additional information, please refer to:

S.I.A. - Safety Industrial Applications s.r.l.

Via Aldo Moro 6 20010 Pogliano Milanese (MI) – ITALY
Tel.:+39 02-35969811 / Fax:+39 02-93549537
Web: www.sia-italia.com E-mail: info@sia-italia.com
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2. TEST PROCEDURES
The following chapters describes in detail the three steps for a correct execution of the test, which
are:

- Measurement
The extent of the air flow input/extracted into/from the room is measured to generate a
specific overpressure/negative pressure value inside it.
- Calculation
The Equivalent Leakage Area (ELA) can be calculated from the values that have been
measured: i.e. the total area of all the leaks, cracks, joints and porous surfaces, which allow
losses from the surfaces of the partitioned areas in the room in question
- Prediction
When the Equivalent Leakage Area has been measured, the gas Retention Time within the
room can then be measured

Figure 1. Door Fan Test Equipment

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3. TEST PROCEDURE

3.1. MEASUREMENT AND CALCULATION

The procedure, followed by the execution of the test, consists in introducing an air flow into the
room to pressurise it to the overpressure value, which would be determined by a real discharge of
the extinguishing agent inside it. The measurement of the air flow input gives an indication of the
leakages (i.e. the quantity of air flowing out).
Under balanced conditions, therefore, in the period:
incoming air volume = outgoing air volume
Once the air flow rate has been established, the fan discharge coefficient in the presence of a
laminar air flow, induced overpressure and air density, the ELA, intended as the theoretical area of
a clearly outlined hole through which all the air flow is lost, can be accurately calculated to the test
pressure.
The same type of test is repeated by depressurising the room to minimise the effect on the static
pressure measurement, i.e. a pressure delta between the interior and exterior of the room which is
already present before the start of the test. The effective ELA value will be determined by the mean
between the two values obtained as described above.

3.2. PREDICTING THE RETENTION TIME

A Total Flooding Discharge System, designed to protect a room, suppresses the fire by creating a
mixture of air/extinguishing gas of the appropriate concentration in the room, which must be
maintained for the duration of the required Retention Time.
Based on the measurements taken and the calculation of the ELA, the model proposed by NFPA can
predict the required Retention Time.
To achieve this result, the mathematical model considers two extreme cases of gas distribution
within the room:

3.2.1. Descending Interface

After discharge into the room, the gas is immediately mixed with air and the resulting mixture tends
to rapidly settle in layers, thus creating static pressure that reaches its highest level in the lowest
point
As a result of this overpressure, part of the air/gas mixture flows out through the openings on the
bottom and air enters through the openings at the top.
In rooms where the ventilation and air conditioning systems are switched off, the NFPA system
predicts that the air/extinguishing gas mixture will tend to stay separated from the pure air flowing
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in from outside and that there will be a distinct surface separation (known as interface). As the
extinguishing mixture flows out of the room, the separation interface will tend to gradually drop.
To establish if the room is sealed, the descending interface is checked to see if it reaches the
reference level (75% of the total or the level decided upon by the Authority Having Jurisdiction)
after a period of time (Retention Time) higher than the limit which guarantees the total suppression
of the fire (usually 10 mins.)

Figure 2. Descending Interface

3.2.2. Mixing Case

In the case where the ventilation and air conditioning systems stay on during the Retention Time,
the incoming pure air will be mixed with the air/extinguishing gas mixture, thus provoking a uniform
decrease in the concentration of the entire space.
To establish if the room is sealed, the concentration of air/extinguishing gas mixture is checked to
see if it stays above the minimum suppression concentration (a characteristic of all extinguishing
agents) after a period of time (Retention Time) that exceeds the limit which guarantees the
complete suppression of the fire (usually about 10 mins.)
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3.3. SEARCH FOR LEAKS

The standard DFT sequence can thus be summed up as follows:

- Preliminary hardware and software set-up phase
- Pressurisation of the room and measurement of the values obtained
- Depressurisation of the room and measurement of the values obtained
- Calculation of the leakage surface area
- Prediction of the retention time and the concentration of gas in the room (test passed/failed)
- Identification of any leaks by pressurising the room in the event of a failed test
- Sealing of the leaks
- Complete test re-run
Leaks are identified by using chemical smoke in carrying out the tests described. Using smoke involves
introducing small amounts of smoke into the room during the pressurisation phase by means of
special “smoke puffers” (a sort of smoke input pump), near cracks and probable leakage points to see
where the smoke escapes from. This allows any hidden leaks to be identified (small cracks in the walls,
gaps along window frames or along joins between outer panels, etc.).

3.4. DESIGN CONCENTRATION AND QUANTITY

Determining the correct concentration values and quantity of extinguishing agent is one of the most
critical aspects in designing gas systems. The design concentration and quantity are, therefore,
determined in the following manner:
DC = (EC x SF) ➔ MDQ

AMDQ = MDQ x (1 + DF)

Where:
DC = Design Concentration
EC = Extinguishing Concentration
SF = Safety Factor
DF = Design Factor
MDQ = Minimum Design Quantity
AMDQ = Adjusted Minimum Design Quantity
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The Extinguishing Concentration is determined for each combustible, with test protocols developed
experimentally from the main legislative standards, which, although varying in some details, are
very similar in the general approach taken by both NFPA and ISO.
A suitable Safety Factor must be added to the Extinguishing Concentration aimed at increasing the
overall reliability of the suppression system, taking into account and compensating for the
inaccuracies inherent in the design development, as well as the error in determining the exact
suppression concentration and any other inaccuracies not easily identified and measured.
The concept of Design Factors has also been included in the latest edition of NFPA 2001. The Design
Factor is an additional quantity of extinguishing agent that compensates for the risk factors known
to the designer, which tend to reduce the overall efficiency of the system.
It should be noted that the Safety Factors are conceptually different to the Design Factors because
the former is required to introduce safety margins, which compensate for system inefficiencies, not
accurately identified and quantified, while the latter are derived from situations known to the
designer.
When designing a system using Clean Agents, the most important Design Factors to consider are
the ones concerning the shape of the room and any openings, which cannot be closed completely
before the discharge, in addition to those related to the layout of the distribution pipes and the
pressure inside the protected space.
To this end, the integrity test of the room using the Door Fan Test is an essential tool for designing
correctly.

3.5. RETENTION OF EXTINGUISHING AGENT

The presence of the extinguishing agent in the protected space allows the fire to be completely
suppressed, especially in the case of combustibles which form embers or scenarios involving metal
parts that are still overheated and could cause the combustible to reignite. Maintaining an inert
atmosphere inside the room, therefore, allows the embers and overheated surfaces to cool down
until they fall within the safety conditions. It is also necessary if electrical power supplies within the
protected room are not switched off automatically.
Scenarios like this occur, for example, in cases where the fire can fully develop before the
extinguishing agent is discharged. All objects close to the fire, whether metal or furnishings, will
overheat and generate radiating energy, which will return to the fire, increasing the temperature of
the flames, counteracting the effect of the extinguishing agent which tends to lower the
temperature until the fire has been suppressed.
The minimum gas Retention Time may vary based on the application and extinguishing agent used,
but normally the test protocols for Class A and Class B combustibles and surface fires indicate 10
minutes.
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Based on the description given above, the DFT provides the necessary means for assessing the
integrity of the space to protect and the need: to alter the characteristics of the room, introduce
Design Factors in the calculation of the quantity of gas from the initial discharge and to factor in
maintenance discharge.

4. DESIGN AND DOOR FAN TEST

From the experience gained in the integrity analysis of numerous rooms in a variety of locations,
construction types and intended uses, it is known that the design of the total flooding discharge
system often ignores the physical characteristics of the protected space and, therefore, the sealing
requirements.
Frequently, the design process, even if complies with current legislation, focuses above all: on the
relationship between the protected risk, chosen extinguishing agent and required concentration;
on the resulting determination of the quantity of extinguishing agent required; on the correct
hydraulic calculation of the distribution pipes. Thus, the presence of gas inside the protected space
to a certain extent is often taken for granted.
Therefore, when a new system is installed, the task of making sure the room is properly sealed is
often entrusted by the client to the company that carries out the building work, which due to the
nature of its profession, does not possess the specialised expertise required. On the other hand, the
system installer is not particularly interested in the work on the partitions, so much so that supplying
suitably sized overpressure dampers is often overlooked, even where their installation would be
highly recommended.
For this reason, coordination should be carried out by a qualified entity, such as:
- An engineering company that issues the system specifications, possibly after the DFT;
- Authority Having Jurisdiction, typically the insurance company;
- Testing body appointed by the client.
Carrying out the DFT before preparing the design, therefore, makes it possible to ascertain the
feasibility of a total flooding discharge system within the space to be protected. This would also
allow the technical-economic viability of alternative solutions to be assessed. It also provides the
necessary information during the design phase for the definition of any Design Factors or
maintenance discharges, in relation also to the dangers associated with the presence of people in
the protected enclosures.
We will describe below which aspects in particular influence the sealing characteristics of the
protected space, referring to real cases of rooms on which the Door Fan Test was performed, on a
case-by-case basis.
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4.1. STRUCTURE OF THE ENCLOSURE

The type of room construction obviously has a significant impact in terms of the sealing
characteristics of the protected space. The widespread use in Italy of reinforced concrete and brick
constructions is in itself a reasonable guarantee. It is, however, also true that in industry, Total
Flooding systems may be called for in premises with very different characteristics. Enclosures made
of sandwich panels, partitions consisting of prefabricated elements, glass surfaces, doors, false
ceilings and raised floors usually represent surfaces that are permeable to extinguishing gases.

4.1.1. Channels crossing partitions:

Difficulties in sealing all the openings in the flooring and walls required for cable channels and any
drainage within the facilities, very often contribute to the fact that the room to be protected is
poorly sealed.

4.1.2. Ventilation management:

The correct management of ventilation is a highly important aspect regarding the sealing
characteristics of a room. The exchange of air outside of the room must be prevented, while internal
recirculation using cooling fans for electrical equipment or air conditioners for cooling the air in the
room, is allowed because it mixes the atmosphere, but does not alter the concentration of the
extinguishing agent.
These conditions can be achieved by installing suitable shut-off dampers on the ventilation channels
which are closed when the total flooding discharge system is activated before discharge occurs.
Experience shows that proper, reliable management of these dampers is not as obvious as could
reasonably be expected. This is due not only to the practical aspects of effectively closing them, but
also to the correct logic to employ, especially in large buildings with complex central air treatment
systems.

4.1.3. Overpressure
Lastly, considerations should be made on the pressure profile within the protected space, which
basically depends on the following factors:
- Design concentration
- Agent discharge rate (load time/total loss area)

For halocarbons, the space undergoes two pressure impulses:

- The first is negative due to the rapid drop in temperature caused by spraying the agent in the
space;
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- The second will be positive, caused by the volume of the agent introduced and its expansion by
heating.
The magnitude of the two pressure impulses is proportional to the latent heat of the agent being
sprayed. The higher this value, the greater the negative pressure impulse and the lower the positive
pressure impulse.
For inert gases because the space undergoes a single pressure impulse:
- The maximum pressure in the space will be the maximum input rate of the extinguishing agent
- The overpressure generated by inert gases is easier to calculate compared to halocarbons
because the heat acquired by the protected space is significantly lower.
- Although it is easier to calculate the overpressure for inert gases, this poses problems of stability
of the protected spaces due to the very high value and must be correctly assessed.

4.2. RELEASE AREAS

If inert gases are used as extinguishing agents, careful consideration must be given to the need to
provide vent surfaces for overpressure peak generated in the initial discharge phase compared to
the structural characteristics of the protected space.
Therefore, the Door Fan Test is a useful analysis tool because it allows the release area that is
normally suggested by the hydraulic calculation program of the extinguishing system, to be
compared with the Equivalent Leakage Area measured. It does not, however, represent a risk for
the structural integrity of the protected enclosure because overpressures of more than 60 Pa (i.e. 6
Kg/m2) are never generated in the room. As a result, once the proper Retention Time has been
guaranteed, the DFT allows the ELA of the protected space to be assessed to ascertain if it is
sufficient to compensate for the lack of the recommended release surface.
In this assessment, the probable scenario of the fire must however be considered, because if the
flames are likely to develop rapidly, the increase in overpressure caused by the fire must also be
considered. Consequently, the safest approach would seem to be to seal the compartmentalised
surfaces as effectively as possible and to create adequate release surfaces, especially for rooms with
lightweight outer surfaces consisting of prefabricated panels and/or glass panes.
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5. CONCLUSION

In conclusion, an effective total flooding discharge system must also consider the knowledge and
adaptation of the characteristics of the protected space from the design phase onwards.
The DFT is, therefore, a valuable analysis tool to verify in advance the feasibility of a Total Flooding
protection system in the room in question. It puts the designer in a position of being able to carry
out an extensive cost-benefit trade-off, and evaluating, in extreme cases, the use of alternative
technology, or choosing the most appropriate Clean Agent compared to the characteristics of the
structure, sealing and size, as well as the number of people in the protected space. This last point is
particularly significant if you take into account that, in the presence of people, the extinguishing
agent concentration must be sufficient to guarantee suppression of the fire, but not higher than
that of NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level), which guarantees there are no harmful effects
on humans exposed to it. In the case of Inert Gas , therefore, the extinguishing agent concentration
must be sufficient to reduce the percentage of oxygen in the air below 14 15% in order to suppress
the combustion, but at the same time, it must remain below the NOAEL limit of 43% which is approx.
12% of residual oxygen in the room. Therefore, since the effectiveness of extinguishing the fire is
linked to maintaining the concentration of oxygen in the protected space in a restricted range
between 12 and 15%, it is clear that the in-depth knowledge of the sealing characteristics of the
room, provided by the Door Fan Test, can make the difference between a system that conforms to
regulatory standards or not.
In conclusion, it can be reiterated that the result of the examination of the characteristics of the
protected room is one of the parameters that contributes to the correct definition of the Design
Factor and to the assessment of the need to provide Maintenance Discharge, at least to guarantee
the minimum concentration for the required Retention Time. In this way, the design of the
firefighting system can be adapted as needed to the characteristics of cabins, data centres,
telephone exchanges, laboratories, archives, etc. Secondly, it also means that walls that are not
completely sealed; multiple channels, crossing perimeters carrying electrical and mechanical
systems, and structured air conditioning systems do not prevent the design performance from being
achieved.
For these reasons, the DFT has, over recent years, increasingly become the natural extension to the
final acceptance test of a Total Flooding Discharge System. Insurance companies are leading the
push so that in their role as an Authority Having Jurisdiction, they acquire all the elements that
contribute to determining the overall effectiveness of the protection system.

6. RESULT

The result of the test will be recorded in the format enclosed in the Appendixes as example.
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7. APPENDIX 1: TYPICAL REPORT SHEET

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8. APPENDIX 2: SIA TYPICAL TEST CERTIFICATE TEMPLATE