What is BS EN 1366‑12 - Non-mechanical fire barrier for ventilation ductwork about?
BS EN 1366 discusses fire resistance tests for service installations. BS EN 1366‑12 is the twelfth part of BS EN 1366 multi-series and discusses non-mechanical fire barriers for ventilation ductwork. Fire dampers are passive fire protection products used in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) ducts to prevent the spread of fire inside the ductwork through fire-resistance-rated walls and floors.
BS EN 1366‑12 specifies a method for determining the fire resistance of non-mechanical fire barriers installed in fire separating elements designed to withstand heat and the passage of smoke and gases at high temperatures. BS EN 1366‑12 is used in conjunction with EN 1363-1 and EN 1366-2.
Note 1: BS EN 1366‑12 is not suitable for testing non-mechanical fire barriers in suspended ceilings without modification.
Note 2: BS EN 1366‑12 is not suitable for testing fire dampers, see EN 1366-2.
Note 3: BS EN 1366‑12 is not suitable for testing such products as air transfer grilles, as the pressures and flows involved are different and may cause differing behaviour.
Who is BS EN 1366‑12 - Non-mechanical fire barrier for ventilation ductwork for?
BS EN 1366‑12 on fire resistance tests for service installations is useful for:
- HVAC manufacturers
- Architects / builders / contractors
- Design engineers
- Quality control personnel
Why should you use BS EN 1366‑12 - Non-mechanical fire barrier for ventilation ductwork?
Fire barriers in HVAC systems work by closing when heat or smoke is detected. Non-mechanical fire barriers are unable to achieve an “S” classification, which requires a known limited ambient leakage, as they are unable to be closed except under fire conditions.
The purpose of the test in BS EN 1366‑12 is to evaluate the ability of a non-mechanical (non moving parts) fire barrier to prevent fire and smoke from spreading from one fire compartment to another through the air ductwork system, which may penetrate fire separating walls and floors.
Tests in BS EN 1366‑12 are performed starting with the non-mechanical fire barrier in its cold standard state to expose it to furnace conditions. Temperature and integrity measurements are carried out in various parts of the test construction during the test in BS EN 1366‑12. The leakage of the non-mechanical fire barrier system is measured (continuously during the test) by direct flow measurements while maintaining a constant pressure differential across the closed non-mechanical fire barrier of 300 Pa. BS EN 1366‑12 walks you through the process of testing the non-mechanical fire barrier in the ventilation system to ensure the safety of occupants.
