E.1 Scope
This appendix contains information to be used in determining the integrity of the rooms and the volumes in respect to maintaining the concentration of the extinguishing substance for the relevant period. It includes details about tests and must be used together with Part 1 of the present regulation.

E.2 Definitions
These definitions are applicable for the integrity of the volumes and for the tests and are additional to those contained in Part i of the NFPA regulation.

Test for the determination of the estimated permanence time. Treatment of protected volumes with minimum permanence times estimated to be less than the recommended value 

Retrotec
For NFPA enclosure
Integrity tests

For GLC’s FM-200, Ansul’s INERGEN,
3M CEA-410, DuPont’s HFC-23 & 25,
NAF S III, CO & Halon

Retrotec’s model 970hp was purpose-built from the ground up for enclosure integrity testing. It gives your company a professional imagine. Will help sell you jobs. Then you can keep coming back to re-test your costumer’s facilities every year. 90% of all testing companies use the 970hp or one of its older predecessors. AHJ’s, worldwide, trust the Retrotec system software. 

The 970hp measures leaky rooms up to 10.000 sq. ft. for Fm-200 and 5.000 sq. ft. for Inergen. (Much larger rooms can be tested if they have greater than 10 minute retentions times.) 

This impressive system runs the software on the built-in Heqlett Packard computer. Hand the full-size printout from the built-in Canon bubble jet printer to your client or AHJ right on the spot. 

No additional equipment will likely ever be needed. On the rare occasion where very leaky or enormous facilities over 40.000 sq. ft. must be tested, this modular design facilitates adding components as required. 

Where gas is discharger below a false ceiling and the room leaks more above the ceiling than below, a ceiling neutralization test may be the only way to pass this enclosure. The model 970hp will test these rooms. 

Test Subfloor Only systems too.

Open the case and flip up the control panel. The console controls up to 2 blowers, measures their flow, runs the NFPA prediction model on the Hewlett Packard compute and prints out a full size letter quality report on the Canon bubble jet printer. All cables and tubing store neatly in the case.

The Retrotec systems have 2 types of panel systems than temporarily seal off a doorway in the enclosure so that the variable speed blower can be installed. First, the static pressure existing across the doorway is measured, then the blower is turned on to pressurize the enclosure to the maximum pressure that could occur once the room is full of agent. The airflow required to establish this pressure is measured and the process is repeated in the other direction. These 2 readings are used to calculate the size of the hole in the enclosure . The computer then calculates the agent loss rate that would occur after discharge.

Each retrotec blower will measure up to about 9 square feet of leaks in any size building. The system was designed specifically to be quickly reversible so measurements can be made in the other direction. This eliminates a host of site, operator and equipment errors.

Accuracy is 5% of the measured flow rate. The system was calibrated according to ASTM standard E 1258-92 and CGSB 149.10 and meets all requirements of NFPA. Flow measurement is by a balanced annular piezometric pickup.

Room pressure gauges are specially calibrated to +/- 1 Pascal. An error of 1 Pascal in 15 will change the result by about 3%.

WHY REVIEW ENCLOSURE INTEGRITY? …………………………because, it’s mandatory.

For the past six years most new halon system have been approved using a door fan and computer to predict the retention time of the enclosure instead of using a discharge test. Now, "clean agent" manufacturers recommend door fan tests because:

NFPA 2001 says ": 4-7.2.2.10" A discharge test is generally not recommended;…"

NFPA 2001, requires the enclosure be tested. Appendix B covers the door fan test. 

4-7.2.3* Review Enclosure Integrity. All total flooding systems shall have the enclosure
examined and tested to locate and then effectively seal any signifigant air leaks that could
result in a failure of the enclosure to hold the specified agent concentration level for the specified holding period. The currently preferred method is using a blower door fan unit and smoke pencil.
If quantitative results are recorded these could be useful for comparison at future tests. For guidance refer to NFPA 12A Appendix B.

NFPA 2001, requires re-evaluation and possible retesting every twelve months. 

4-4 Enclosure Inspection. At least every 12 months, the enclosure protected by the clean agent shall be thoroughly inspected to determint if penetrations or other changes have occurred than could adversely affect agent leakage or change colume of hazard or both. Where the inspection indicates that conditions that could result in (an) inability to maintain the clean agent concentration (exist), they shall be corrected. If uncertainty still exists, the enclosures shall be re-tested for integrity in accoredance with 4.7.2.3. Exception: An enclosure inspection is not required every twelve months if a documented administrative control program exists that addresses barrier integrity.
This is an important service to the end user and a cost effective one for the contractor with a door fan to provide.

Clean agent discharge testing is expensive, disruptive and takes a lot of time. By comparison initial door fan testing takes one to two hours by one man and costs very little.

Door fan tests show a lot more than just the ability of the enclosure to hold the agent. The test demonstrates containment levels on all planes and elevations allowing the tester to point out problems that may arise regarding fire containment, smoke control, dust control, energy control and agent exhaust deficiencies.

Door fan tests give the client a better "picture" of his facility – you can service his needs better differentiatig your service from your competitors – you look better.

If an agent discharge is required, the door fan test can quickly and cheaply prevent a discharge test failure by predicting discharge results in advance and pinpointing problem areas. 

All three retrotec systems include all the hardware, software, training courses, manuals and support needed to fulfil NFPA Appendix B requirements for Enclosure Integrity testing. The basic retrorec model 920F will test many rooms but probably need to be upgraded or rent additional components to test some rooms. Over 90% buy the model 970hp because it will test virtually any room. An interesting halfway option is the 920F which can casily be upgraded to the 970hp. Check off the features required from the following list to determine which system is right for your needs or just call Colin Genge at (360) 738-9835, ext. 308, or fax at (360) 647-7724.

Soft or hard panels?

Soft panels are inexpensive but limited to one blower per panel. Larger rooms require more blowing power. Hard panels, in addition to being much faster to set up and take down, are much more professional looking.

One or two blowers?

Check the "guidelines for choosing" below to see how many blowers you will require for the range of rooms you are likely to test. Rooms with T-bar false ceilings typically have more leakage above the ceiling and require a second blower and flex duct to separate the greater above ceiling leaks from the below ceiling leakage. Without the second blower, rooms will fail that should pass. Subfloor only tests also require a second blower.

Console or gauge clips?

The 970hp console does a neat job of holding all the cords, hoses and computer equipment. The full size letter quality printout in very impressive to your clients and AHJ. The 920F require the use of your own laptop or add on the hp951x option instead. You may also with to consider the 910 console as an inexpensive option.

Features of retrotec nfpa
Enclosure integrity test systems
Comparison Chart