Undertake a Smoke Shaft Air Test

Why undertake a smoke shaft air test? Many clients ask this question,  so let us explain the why’s and how in more detail. All buildings with a smoke shaft should have an airtightness test to comply with legislation and standards such as BS 9999 and BS 9991. Air testing for smoke shafts is a critical step in ensuring safety and compliance. Let’s explore why it’s essential:

1. Smoke Control and Fire Safety: In the event of a fire, smoke is a significant contributor to deaths and injuries, often surpassing the impact of the fire itself
2. More than 60% of deaths occur due to smoke inhalation, emphasising the importance of controlling smoke.
3. Smoke control systems protect escape routes and assist firefighters, reducing fatalities and injuries.

Smoke Shaft Functionality:

1. Smoke shafts play a crucial role in evacuating smoke from buildings during a fire
2. To function effectively, smoke shafts must be airtight so mechanical Automatic Opening Ventilation (AOV) systems can extract smoke from escape/access routes.s
3. Air testing confirms the shaft’s airtightness before AOV commissioning, allowing the builder to sign off the smoke shaft.

Building Regulations and Standards for air testing Smoke Shafts

AOV Smoke shafts are subject to an ever-evolving network of standards and legislation in the UK. For residential buildings, BS 9991:2015 provides updated fire safety guidance, including smoke control recommendations.

Air Testing Process for Smoke Shafts:

Air tightness testing of smoke shafts involves a positive pressurisation test using a high-powered blower door fan. The test occurs when the shaft is fully sealed but before AOV fans and louvres/shutters are installed.

If the shaft fails to achieve the airtightness target, a smoke leakage test is conducted. During the smoke test, theatrical smoke is pushed into the shaft, revealing any gaps or cracks in the smoke shaft envelope. For large smoke shafts over multiple floors, it’s best to use multiple observers to check the floors while the air test engineer operates the blower fan equipment.

In summary, air testing ensures smoke shafts meet safety standards, protect lives, and enhance fire safety.

We can help you pass your smoke shaft air test.

We have undertaken AOV smoke shaft testing throughout London and the South-East on many prestigious projects, including Battersea Power Station, The Imperial War Museum, and Clarridges and Berkeley Hotel.

Our experienced engineers at Air Pressure Testing have over 10 years of smoke shaft testing experience, so we know how to help clients pass testing and achieve smoke shaft sign-off.

What can we do?

• Smoke shaft survey visits
• A UKAS and ATTMA Level 2 testing company
• Smoke shaft air test certification
• The latest high-powered fan equipment
• UKAS calibrated equipment
• Smoke testing in the event of an air test failure
• Thermal Imaging in the event of an air test failure
• Same-day quotation
• Experienced test engineers
• Thousands of air pressure tests undertaken
• Fantastic customer satisfaction score

Air Pressure Testing Ltd boasts a client base ranging from self-builders to the largest construction companies in the UK. We offer leading design, consultancy, and compliance for every part of your project, at every stage. APT aims to provide a friendly, professional, stress-free experience.