WML Ltd. - Services
Fire Rated Ductwork .
Fire Resisting Ventilation Duct: A duct or ductwork
system used for the distribution, or
extraction of air, designed and tested to satisfy the criteria of
test defined in British Standard
BS476 part 24:1987 (ISO 6944:1985),
(Duct Type A & Duct Type B).
Smoke Extract/Outlet Duct: A duct or ductwork system used for the extraction of products of combustion, designed and tested to satisfy the criteria of test defined in British Standard BS476 part 24:1987 (ISO 6944:1985), (Duct Type B). Additionally this duct must prove by test that within the fire compartment, its cross sectional area is maintained above 75% when subjected to the full fire temperature.
Kitchen Extract Duct: A duct or ductwork system
that is
entirely independent of any other duct or ductwork system
within a building, which serves as an extract for non-domestic
kitchens (BS5588 part 9:1999 clause 6.4.6.2 refers).
Designed and tested to satisfy the criteria of test defined in
British Standard BS476 part 24:1987 (ISO 6944:1985),
(Duct Type A & Duct Type B).
Note; Testing of both types A & B are equally important, as
due to the likelihood of combustible deposits within the duct
it is necessary to protect both the duct and the adjacent
compartment from ignition due to radiated heat.
In accordance with BS 476 Part 24 : 1987 the fire resistance
of ventilation ductwork shall be expressed in minutes of
duration of heating in accordance with the ISO 834 : 1985
(Cellulosic - Standard Time/Temperature Curve) until failure
occurs to one or more of the following criteria –
Stability / Integrity / Insulation Stability:
Stability failure shall be deemed to have occurred
in duct A within the furnace and in ducts A and B outside the
furnace when the duct no longer fulfils its intended function.
(For smoke outlet ducts stability failure will also be deemed to
have occurred when there is any restriction of the cross sectional
area of the duct to 75% or less of its original area)
Integrity: The presence and formation of any cracks, holes or other openings outside the furnace through which flames or hot gases can pass.
Insulation: Insulation failure shall be deemed
to have
occurred when the temperature rise above initial ambient on
the unexposed surface of the duct outside the furnace
exceeds either:
• 140 °C as an average value above ambient
or
• 180 °C as a maximum value above ambient
For a Kitchen extract duct (Type A) these temperature limits
also apply to the inside surface of the duct within the furnace.
In addition to testing to BS476 Part 24, further independent
furnace testing has been carried out in accordance with BS
7346 to simulate smoke extract temperatures of between
250 °C and 600 °C. The results allow us to tailor the
insulation requirement for smoke extract systems where the
gas/fume temperature is known.


