Checkmate bring pressure to bear

Ensure protection of vital assets with fire protection integrity testing of fire cells.

Over recent years, active fire suppression systems have rightly become regarded as an essential installation to protect enclosures containing vital assets such as computer systems, archives, vaults, etc In the event of a fire being detected in a building these systems release a fire suppressing gas, or 'agent' automatically, at very high flow rates, into the 'protected enclosure'.

This rapidly drives out the oxygen present in the enclosure and thus delays the onset of fire for a statutory minimum period.

The purpose of this is to allow enough time for fire fighters to tackle the source of any fire outside of the room and minimise risk to vital comms or IT systems.

However, in order for these systems to be effective, it is vitally important that the room in question is sufficiently air tight to prevent the protecting "agent" losing its required concentration through the uncontrolled movement of air into or out of the enclosure.

All installation of this kind are expected to meet the requirements of BS ISO 14520 P1: 2000(E).

This standard not only regulates the installed fire protection equipment but also places a responsibility on the Comms Room, Facilities or Premises Manager for the continued effectiveness of the system.

It is therefore essential, upon commissioning the fire protection system, and annually thereafter, to test the enclosure's air tightness.

This is carried out by means of a 'room integrity test'.

Checkmate offers a complete test solution for all installers and managers of gaseous fire protection systems.

Portable air extraction fan systems, developed by leading specialist manufacturer Retrotec, are installed on site and highly trained technicians carry out a comprehensive fire cell integrity test which involves measuring differential room pressures resulting from the displacement of known flow rates of air through the test fan system.

This data, along a number of other key parameters and measurements, are entered into bespoke Retrotec software to determine the predicted 'retention time' for the agent, after which point it will become too dilute to be an effective fire suppressant.

If the measured retention time is discovered to be too low, then urgent air sealing work will be required to improve the air-tightness of the room and ensure it meets the required standards.

Checkmate also offer a complete fire-stopping service using their own fully trained operatives to carry out fire-stopping of cable or pipe entries, ductwork, under floor or ceiling void openings.

Alan Oliver, Marketing Director of Checkmate Fire Solutions comments.

"We offer a wide variety of services to our customers".

"This ranges from simple fire stopping on new build projects through to full fire curtain and riser protection for any kind of building, old or new".

"We are a certified competent body and able to carry out fire cell testing and any required remedial work in order to issue a recognised fire safety certification.".

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