The Importance of Room Pressure Venting for Gas Fire Suppression

Pressure venting is an essential element of many gas fire protection systems. An incorrectly vented system not only has a negative impact on the performance of a fire suppression system – it can also have dangerous consequences for a room and those within it. When a gas fire suppression system activates, the air pressure in a room can change dramatically. Vents are installed to provide relief from this pressure by allowing sites at which the air content of a room can diffuse. Subsequent checks and maintenance also allow a gas fire suppression system to continue to operate safely.

In this blog from Sovereign Extinguishing, we outline what is meant by room pressure venting, noting how it maximises the safety of gas suppression systems and what maintenance and checks are required for room pressure venting. For more blogs related to extinguishing installations and servicing, take a look at our blog. Existing articles include Understanding Fire Risk Assessments and their Role in Fire Suppression, The Importance of Cylinder Hydrostatic Testing for Gas Cylinder Maintenance and Gas, Water and Chemical Fire Suppression: Which is More Effective?

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Safety for Gas Fire Suppression

 The importance of room pressure is inescapably relevant to optimising the safety of gas suppression systems. Gas Fire Suppression systems are used to extinguish electrical fires by releasing a concentration of gas into the affected room. This process extinguishes fires by reducing the oxygen content of a room to a level below 15%. When a room’s oxygen content reaches this level, it is not possible for many materials to burn. In most cases, these systems are activated by smoke detection systems that detect the early presence of smoke, allowing them to take action before a fire takes hold. While they can be used in a variety of settings, gas fire suppression systems are most commonly found in server rooms, computer suites and communication rooms. Gas fire suppression systems are particularly useful in such contexts as they don’t require water to operate. In environments such as this, using water-based fire-protection methods could render the contents of a room completely unusable. For more information about gas suppression systems, take a look at our blog Gas Suppression Systems – the Ultimate Guide to Gas Suppression Systems.

When reviewing the safety of any procedure involving gas, ventilation almost always emerges as a key consideration. Where gas fire suppression systems are in place, room pressure vents must be used to maximise both the efficiency of the fire protection and the safety of the procedure. Room pressure vents allow a room to ‘breathe’, allowing the opportunity for gas system discharge and any built-up room pressure to safely dissipate.

What is Room Pressure Venting?

 Room pressure venting refers to the process of installing over-pressure vents in rooms where gas fire suppression systems are present. These vents facilitate pressure relief within a room during the discharge of fire suppression gases. When a gas fire suppression system is in use, the volume of gas present within a room can increase by up to 50%. The overpressure created by this increase can cause damage to walls, windows and doors if adequate ventilation is not provided for the air pressure build up to escape. Vents that either allow gaseous agents to escape into fresh air or be ducted towards fresh air help limit the risk of damage to a room’s structure and contents. Four of the most commonly found vent varieties are gravity vents; counter-weighted flap vents; electrically operated vents; and pneumatically operated vents. Gravity ventilation systems utilise wind and the natural buoyancy of air to help remove heat from buildings while counterweighted vents offer a flush, more discreet option for pressure venting.

Should the ventilation formats noted not be available, it is possible to vent into a neighbouring room. However, this can only be done if the selected room possesses 10x the volume of the room being vented. If you’re unsure of your ventilation needs relative to your gas fire suppression system, get in touch with Sovereign Extinguishing today. Our expert team are on hand to give specialist advice relating to gas fire suppression systems.

Maintenance and Checking Room Pressure Venting

 As with many methods of fire protection or suppression, regular checks and maintenance are vital to ensuring that a system is working efficiently. For rooms where a fire suppression system has been installed, a room integrity test can be used to ensure a room has not become damaged or weakened by any of the chemicals released. An integrity test aims to predict how long fire suppressant agents take to descend to a given level in the room without having to release the agent manually.

The system is set up in an available doorway. The protected area is then pressurised and fan flow readings are taken to compare to those taken when a room is depressurised. The predicted retention time is calculated from leakage characteristics. The test measures the integrity of the room to ensure that gas does not dissipate too quickly before distinguishing a fire. For more information about room integrity, take a look at our blog, A Beginners Guide to Room Integrity.

More from Sovereign Extinguishing

 Here at Sovereign Extinguishing, we specialise in high-quality fire suppression systems, including gas fire suppression. Our services cover designing, installing and maintaining fire suppression systems. We are also on hand to conduct room integrity testing to ensure that your fire suppression systems and ventilation are working as effectively as possible. With experience working on projects across a range of industries, our expert team is well-equipped to offer specialised guidance that’s tailored to your needs. To speak to a member of our team, get in touch with us today.

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2024-02-28T13:13:26+00:00

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