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Annual Testing of Stairwell Pressurization Systems & Other Smoke Management Systems
Presented byMike Locke, MechTech Inc. SIA – All SIAs are listed in this presentationApril 13, 2016
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Testing requirements are reviewed with each National Code Revision every 3 years
Reasons for Revisions to the Testing Requirements
AFD was receiving feedback that the enforcement of the annual requirements was not familiar to a number of building Owners & Managers.
AFD was also receiving feedback that the testing was disruptive to the occupants of the facilities during certain portions of the testing.
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Reasons for Revisions to the Testing Requirements
AFD was further receiving feedback that the testing was expensive and that some of the testing agencies were not responding to requests for testing proposals in a timely manner.
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AFD sent out a request for all Special Inspection Agencies (SIA’s) to provide confidential pricing information for typical projects. As would be expected, pricing varied based on the complexity and type of system.
AFD’s response to the Owners & Managers concerns:
AFD then requested ideas from SIA’s for revisions that would assist in cost reduction of testing but not compromise the integrity of the intent of the stairwell pressurizationSystems. 4
AFD reviewed the existing testing requirements and incorporated some of the ideas from the SIA’s as well as pertinent sections of the 2012 and 2015 National Codes.
AFD’s response continued:
AFD approved the Revisions to the Annual Stairwell Pressurization Testing on March 04, 2016 with the revised requirements effective on March 07, 2016 per email to all AFD approved SIA Firms
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Main Revisions that will effect Cost and Interruption to Occupants
1 – Deleted requirement to have a Fire Alarm Contractor onsite during the testing.
Frees up $ to do Annual FireAlarm Testing right before SIA Smoke Control System Testing
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Main Revisions that will improve Cost Factor and Interruption to Occupants
2 – Deleted the requirement for theThree (3) Stairwell and Vestibule Doors Open on 3 consecutive floors Plus an Exterior Exit Door Open Test.
This requirement was causing occupant complaints and multiple tests to repair/renovate or fine tune a system to achieve the required results.
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Main Revisions that will improve Cost Factor and Interruption to Occupants
# 2 – Continued
Replaced the 3 Door Open Test with a requirement for testing with All Doors Closed PLUS an Open Exterior Exit Door.
This new requirement will essentially eliminate the disruption to the occupants because only the stairwells will be pressurized and air will be flowing out the exterior door.
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Main Revisions that will improve Cost Factors and Interruption to Occupants
3 – Deleted requirement to Retest Door Opening Forces during the 3 Door plus Exit Door Open Test.Door Opening Force Testing is Only Required during the Closed Door Test.
4 – Clarified the Vestibule to Stairwell and Vestibule to Floor Pressurization Criteria as follows:
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Main Revisions that will improve Cost Factors and Interruption to Occupants
# 4 Continued:Previous testing requirements stated that the “Vestibule to Stair and Vestibule to Floor” Pressurization must be a minimum of ‐0.05” wg and +0.05”wg respectively. This has always meant that a total of +0.10” wg differential was required from the Stairwell to the Floor.
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Main Revisions that will improve Cost Factors and Interruption to Occupants
4 Continued:
However, testing of some of the newer buildings revealed that the relative “tightness” of the Vestibule to the Floor was creating a situation where the overall differential pressure was in compliance with the +0.10” wg but the “Vestibule to Stair”differential was less than ‐0.05” because the differential was dependent on having an airflow path from the Vestibule to the Floor.11
• Illustration of Tightly Sealed Vestibule to Floor :
Stairwell Vestibule
Floor
-.02” wg +0.09” wg
+0.11” = Pass
Manual or Barometric Damper with Fire DamperTo Allow Airflow from Stairwell to Vestibule
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Tightly Sealed Vestibule/Door/ThresholdCauses Stairwell andVestibule to Essentially Equalize in PressureBut Overall Pressure Differential from Stairwell To Floor is OK.
Main Revisions that will improve Cost Factors and Interruption to Occupants
5 – AFD provided new Testing Report format that illustrates the minimum data to be included in a SIA Report.The SIA report may include additional data but the new test forms are the minimum criteria.Please Note that the SIA is Required to Report all Test Failures and should NOT submit a report until system passes.
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Main Revisions that will improve Cost Factors and Interruption to Occupants
6 – Please also Note that the Austin Fire Department is readily available to answer any questions from an SIA regarding any alternate testing for buildings constructed prior to 1996 or for any specialized systems such as a “Pressure Sandwich” or Atrium Exhaust.
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Included in this Presentation are:1 ‐ Minimum Test Data Forms 2 – List of currently approved SIA Firms
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Available through AAFAME are:1 ‐ Marked up copy of the previous
Testing requirements2 – Copy of Current Testing Requirements
AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT APPROVED BUILDING SMOKE-CONTROL SPECIAL INSPECTION AGENCIES
Austin Air Balancing Corporation
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1106 West 6th Street Suite 206Austin, Texas 78703512-477-7247contact: Sutton Page or Charles Page
www.austinairbalancing.comCompany has full test and balancecapability.
Air Technologies, Inc. P.O. Box 129 Manchaca, TX 78628 512-280-3398Contact: Chad Mathews, Estimator
Engineered Air Balance Company 4400 Piedras Drive South, Suite 150 San Antonio, Texas 78228210-736-9494Contact: Gary L. Miller, P.E.
[email protected] has full test and balance capability
MechTech Inc. Services 102 Broad St. Unit 3149Forney, Texas 751261-800-328-3588972-552-9399Contact: Michael D. Locke
[email protected] has full test and balance capability.
PHI Service Agency, Inc. 2120 W. Braker Lane, Suite G Austin, Texas 78758512-339-4757Contact: Bill Kruckenberg
Austin Branch [email protected]
Company has full test and balancecapability.
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TAB Technologies 3901 S. Lamar, Suite 130Austin, Texas 78704512-486-3633 (office)512-486-3601 (fax)Contact: Tyler Lewis
[email protected] has full test and balance capability
TNT System Solutions, Inc P.O Box 0327 Spicewood,Texas 78669 512-845-4500 (office)Contact: Denny Kapowitz
Company has full test and balance capability.
Testing Specialties, Inc. 12001 Network Blvd., #124San Antonio, Texas 78249-3355 210-492-8885 (office)210-492-8887 (fax)Contact: Wes Harvey, P.E.
Company has full test and balance capability.
Last revision on 3/7/2016
AFD Requirements for other types of Smoke Management Systems such as Atrium Exhaust and Zoned Pressure Systems will be handled based on the original design and discussion with AFD
Mike Locke (800) 328‐3588
Thank You All for your Attendance Today and
Lets open the floor to questions
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SPECIAL INSPECTION AGENCYANNUAL STAIRWELL PRESSURIZATION SYSTEM TEST
REPORT
Date
Special Inspection Agency Name Project NameProject Address
SUBMITTED TOAustin Fire Department Fire
Marshal’s Office505 Barton Springs Road, Suite
200Austin, TX 78704
CERTIFICATION PAGE
Special Inspection Agency Name Project NameProject Address
Certified By: Name AABB or NEBB number:Certification Expiration date:
Provide seal here
Date:
Special Inspection Agency Name Project NameProject Address
INSTRUMENT CALIBRATION REPORT
Manufacturer Model Serial # Instrument Type Calibration Date
ANNUAL STAIRWELL PRESSURIZATION SYSTEM TEST REPORT
SUMMARYSpecial Inspection Agency Name
Project NameProject Address
Function Pass Fail CommentsSystem operates from onepull, one heat detector, onesmoke detector and one
water flow switch (4 devices total)
Firefighter’s smoke controlpanel operatesproperly
Firefighter’s smoke control panel is in acceptable condition. All
status lights and switches function as intended
System operates onemergency power
Pressure difference from stair to vestibule to floor/corridor is 0.10”
w.g. minimumWith open ground floor exterior stairwell door pressure difference
from stair to vestibule to floor/corridor is 0.10”w.g.Excess pressure reliefdevice(s) and/or VFD
pressure controls operateproperly
All fans, belts and control dampers inspected for proper operation andcondition (belts replaced every 5
years)Control dampers/barometric
dampers have properorientation and are in good
operating conditionDoors latch properly and can be
opened by a force of notgreater than 30 lbs.
ANNUAL STAIRWELL PRESSURIZATION SYSTEM TEST REPORTSpecial Inspection Agency Name
Project NameProject Address
Technician: Test Date:
CLOSED DOOR TESTStairwell ID:
Floor ID
Vestibule to Stair pressure (inch
w.g.)
Vestibule to Floor/corridor
pressure (inch w.g.)
Total Pressure fromStair to
Floor/corridor (inchw.g.)
Stairdoorpull(lbs.)
Vestibule door pull (lbs.)
ANNUAL STAIRWELL PRESSURIZATION SYSTEM TEST REPORTSpecial Inspection Agency Name
Project NameProject Address
Technician: Test Date:
CLOSED DOORS PLUS OPEN GROUNDFLOOR STAIR DOOR TEST
Stairwell ID:Floor ID
Vestibule to Stair pressure (inch w.g.)
Vestibule to Floor/corridorpressure (inch w.g.)
Total Pressure from Stair toFloor/corridor (inch w.g.)
ANNUAL STAIRWELL PRESSURIZATION SYSTEM TEST REPORTSpecial Inspection Agency Name
Project NameProject Address
Technician: Test Date:
System Activation Verification
Indicate Specific Location and Fire Alarm System ID of each device
Floor ID Manual pull Heat detector Smoke detector
Fire sprinkler water flow
Special Inspection Agency Name Project NameProject Address
Report Summary
What year was the building constructed? If you don’t know,email us and ask. We will research the date of construction, thebuilding code was enforced at the time and what the smokecontrol requirements were. How many floor levels and stairtowers does the building have? Does the building have stairvestibules? Is there a relief vent at the top of each stair tower? Provide a general description of the building (e.g., 10 floors ofopen parking garage with 10 floors of office occupancies abovegarage level 10). Are VFD fans provided? Note any problems that you encountered. Is a follow up test or inspection by usrequired? Is there anything we need to know about? If you seesomething that is not correct, email us or call us to discuss it.