BRITISH STANDARD BS 476-31.

1:
1983
Incorporating
Amendment No. 1

Fire tests on building

materials and
structures —
Part 31: Methods for measuring smoke
penetration through doorsets and
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shutter assemblies —

Section 31.1 Method of measurement

under ambient temperature conditions

UDC 614.841.332:620.1:69.01:699.871
 BS 476-31.1:1983

Committees responsible for this

British Standard

The preparation of this British Standard was entrusted by the Fire Standards
Committee (FSM/-) to Technical Committee FSM/1 upon which the following
bodies were represented:

Aluminium Federation Eurisol (UK) Association of Manufacturers

Asbestos Cement Manufacturers’ of Mineral Fibre and Insulation
Association Limited Felt Roofing Contractors Advisory Board
Association of British Roofing Felt Fibre Building Board Development
Manufacturers Organization Ltd.
Association of Building Component Fire insurers Research and Testing
Manufacturers Limited Organization (FIRTO)
Association of Structural Fire Protection Fire Offices Committee
Contractors and Manufacturers Fire Protection Association
British Fire Services’ Association Flat Glass Manufacturers’ Association
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British Floor Covering Manufacturers’ Greater London Council

Association Gypsum Products Development
British Plastics Federation Association
British Railways Board Health and Safety Executive
British Rigid Urethane Foam Home Office
Manufacturers’ Association Institution of Fire Engineers
British Rubber Manufacturers’ Association Mastic Asphalt Council and Employers
British Wood Preserving Association Federation
British Woodworking Federation National Association of Plumbing, Heating
Cement and Concrete Association and Mechanical Services Contractors
Chemical industries Association National Coal Board
Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers’ National Council of Building Materials
Association Producers
Concrete Society National GRP Cladding Federation
Constructional Steel Research and Royal Institute of British Architects
Development Organisation Rubber and Plastics Research Association of
Department of Education and Science Great Britain
Department of the Environment (Building The Wood Wool Slab Manufacturers’
Research Establishment, Fire Research Association
Station) Timber Research and Development
Department of the Environment Association
(Construction Industry Directorate) United Kingdom Antimony Oxide
Department of the Environment (PSA) Manufacturers’ Association
Department of Trade (Marine Division) United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
Electricity Supply Industry in England and Warrington Research Centre
Wales
Engineering Equipment and Materials
Users’ Association

The following bodies were also represented in the drafting of the standard,
through subcommittees and panels:
Association of Builders Hardware Hevac Association
Manufacturers Intumescent Fire Seals Association
British Steel Industry National Association of Lift Makers
Door and Shutter Association Suspended Ceilings Association
This British Standard, having
Electric Cable Makers Confederation Yarsley Technical Centre Ltd.
been prepared under the
Guild of Architectural Ironmongers
direction of the Fire
Standards Committee, was
published under the authority
of the Board of BSI and comes Amendments issued since publication
into effect on
31 October 1983 Amd. No. Date of issue Comments
© BSI 02-1999
AMD 8366 November Indicated by a sideline in the margin
1994
The following BSI references
relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference FSM/1
Draft for comment 80/11208 DC

ISBN 0 580 13392 3

 BS 476-31.1:1983

Contents

Page
Committees responsible Inside front cover
Foreword ii
1 Scope 1
2 Definitions 1
3 Apparatus 1
4 Ancillary equipment 1
5 Specimen preparation and construction 2
6 Setting up procedure 2
7 Test procedure 2
8 Expression of results 3
9 Report 3
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Appendix A Summary test report 7

Figure 1 — An example of an air leakage apparatus designed for
different sized doorset and shutter assemblies in a reversible surround 4
Figure 2 — A diagrammatic representation of a reversible airflow system 5
Figure 3 — Positions of pressure measuring heads on the interior of the
chamber 6
Publications referred to Inside back cover

© BSI 02-1999 i
 BS 476-31.1:1983

Foreword

This Section of this British Standard has been prepared under the direction of the
Fire Standards Committee. The committee responsible for this standard has
undertaken the revision of existing methods and the preparation of new methods
and these will be published as a new series which is described in BS 476-10.
The method described in this Section is one which has been prepared in
cooperation with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), to
assess the performance of doorsets and shutter assemblies to the penetration of
smoke and gaseous products from fires under ambient temperature conditions.
When smoke and gases from a fire start to spread in a building, a pressure
difference can develop between the two sides of a closed doorset or shutter
assembly. Leakage of smoke can occur through the clearances between the door
leaf and the frame and other openings. This method simulates the conditions
which doorsets and shutter assemblies may be subjected to in practice during
either the very early stages of fire development or at positions remote from the
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seat of the fire. Further methods are under consideration which describe
procedures for evaluating the performance of doorsets and shutter assemblies at
medium and high temperatures. It is intended that these will be published as
Sections 31.2 and 31.3 respectively of this Part of this standard.
The apparatus described in this Section is equivalent to that described in
ISO 5925/1. However, BSI is developing a common philosophy on where fire doors
should be used and on their fire performance criteria. This Section reflects this
philosophy and in particular the terminology used for fire doors differs slightly
from that used in ISO 5925/1. Guidance information on how the results from this
method are used in determining the performance of different types of fire doors is
also under consideration.
In preparing the methods described in this Part of this standard, every effort has
been made to design out possible situations which might cause hazard to the
operator. However, situations can exist which are unforeseen and therefore
attention is drawn to the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and the need
to ensure that the methods specified in this Part of this standard are carried out
under suitable environmental conditions to provide adequate protection of
personnel against the risk of fire, inhalation of smoke and/or toxic products of
combustion.
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
pages 1 to 8, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on
the inside front cover.

ii © BSI 02-1999
 BS 476-31.1:1983

1 Scope 3.2 Air leakage chamber. The chamber shall be

constructed so that, with the surround fitted and its
This Section of this British Standard describes a
opening sealed, the rate of air leakage from the
method for measuring smoke penetration, as
apparatus does not exceed 7 m3/h
represented by the measurement of air leakage rate,
or 0.25 m3/h per metre of any perimeter sealing,
through doorsets and vertically oriented shutter whichever is the greater, at a pressure of 50 Pa
assemblies under ambient temperature conditions. above atmospheric pressure. It shall be provided
This method is used to evaluate the performance of with a means of ensuring that the airflow pattern in
a fire door used for smoke control purposes but gives the chamber gives a uniform pressure over the face
no information on the fire resistance of a fire door for of the specimen (see clause 5).
which the methods described in BS 476-22 are NOTE The uniform airflow pattern may be achieved by either
applicable. the use of baffle plates or by deflection of the airflow.
NOTE The titles of the publications referred to in this standard 3.3 Surround
are listed on the inside back cover.
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3.3.1 The surround, if required, shall be capable of

2 Definitions being fixed and sealed against the chamber opening
and shall be so constructed as to allow the specimen
For the purposes of this Section of this British
to be installed in the apparatus in its test position
Standard, the definitions given in BS 4422 apply and, if appropriate, to be tested from either
together with the following. direction.
2.1 3.3.2 If the surround is also to be used to test the
doorset (shutter assembly) specimen for fire resistance it shall be treated as a
an assembly consisting of a fixed part (the frame), supporting construction and be selected accordingly
one or more movable parts (the leaves), and their and shall meet the requirements of BS 476-22 for
hardware, the function of which is to allow or the appropriate duration.
prevent access 3.4 Airflow system
2.2 3.4.1 The chamber shall be equipped with a fan
fire door (shutter) system capable of applying and maintaining an
a door (shutter) provided for the passage of persons, adjustable pressure differential of up to 100 Pa
air or objects which together with its frame and between the two faces of the specimen, together
furniture as installed in a building, is intended, with connections to provide for the supply of air to
when closed, to resist the passage of fire and/or and exhaustion of air from the chamber.
gaseous products of combustion and is capable of NOTE The specimen is required to be tested in two directions,
meeting specified performance criteria and this may be achieved by either the use of a reversible airflow
system (see Figure 2) or by reversing the surround containing the
2.3 specimen (see 3.3.1).
ambient temperature 3.4.2 The chamber shall be provided with a means
a temperature of 25 ± 15 °C, representative of that of measuring rate of air leakage, when the specimen
normally found in buildings is in place, with an accuracy of ± 5 %.
NOTE It may be necessary to use more than one instrument to
3 Apparatus achieve the specified accuracy. In general the rate of air leakage
will depend upon the size of the door or shutter and the area of
3.1 General. The apparatus shall consist essentially the leakage paths. It is not anticipated that for doors designed for
of an air leakage chamber with one vertical side smoke control purposes that the rate of air leakage will
exceed 16 m3/h per metre of the leakage path.
open, and of sufficient size to allow the fitting of a
doorset or shutter assembly including, if required, a
4 Ancillary equipment
surround (see Figure 1) and a means of providing a
differential air pressure across the faces of the 4.1 Barometer. The barometer shall be capable of
specimen. measuring atmospheric pressure with an accuracy
of ± 1 %.
4.2 Static pressure measuring head. The
measuring head shall be capable of measuring and
recording the static pressure over the range
from 5 Pa to 100 Pa with an accuracy of ± 10 % of
the specified value, with a maximum of ± 5 Pa.
4.3 Thermometer. The thermometer shall be of the
dry bulb type and shall be capable of measuring
atmospheric temperature with an accuracy of 1 °C.

© BSI 02-1999 1
 BS 476-31.1:1983

4.4 Hygrometer. The hygrometer shall be of the 6.2.3 Mount the specimen and its surround into the
hair type and shall be capable of measuring relative air leakage chamber as specified in clause 3 and seal
humidity of the air with an accuracy of ± 5 %. The the joints.
hair type hygrometer shall be calibrated regularly 6.2.4 Place the heads for measuring static pressure
against an aspirated wet and dry bulb type inside the chamber at a distance of 100 ± 10 mm
instrument. from the plane of a single leaf door, one at the top
4.5 Timing device. The timing device shall have an and one at the bottom of the door along its vertical
accuracy of 1 s in 1 h and be capable of being read to axis, or in the case of a double leaf door, one at the
the nearest minute. top centre of one leaf and one at the bottom centre of
the other (see Figure 3).
5 Specimen preparation and 6.3 Operational procedure. After installation of
construction the door assembly, and with the surround in
5.1 General. The specimen shall be a doorset or position in the test chamber open each leaf or
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shutter assembly as intended to be used in practice moving element of the assembly and close
incorporating all hardware seals and other it 10 times, using the automatic closer if provided, to
equipment. The finish and form of the specimen ensure that the assembly operates normally.
shall be representative of the finish and form of the NOTE This procedure is not intended to be a durability test
representing the wear and tear normally found in use.
doorset or shutter as installed in its intended
position of use.
7 Test procedure
NOTE The term “hardware” includes such items as hinges,
latches, door handles, locks, keyholes (excluding keys), letter 7.1 Procedure
plates, sliding gear, closing devices, electrical wiring and any
other items which may influence the performance of the 7.1.1 With the specimen set up in accordance with
specimen being tested. clause 6, both before and after the series of pressure
5.2 Number of specimens. One specimen shall measurement readings, determine the rate of air
normally be used providing that provision has been leakage of the apparatus by blocking off or sealing
made for reversing either the direction of airflow the specimen and by taking measurements at the
through the chamber or the specimen in its pressure differentials specified in 7.1.3. Record the
surround. rate of air leakages from the apparatus.
5.3 Size of specimen. The specimen shall be full 7.1.2 Providing that the rate of air leakage for the
size. apparatus, corrected for standard conditions
5.4 Conditioning. Specimens containing (see clause 8) is not more than 7 m3/h at 50 Pa above
hydroscopic materials or other materials which can atmospheric pressure, unseal the specimen and
be affected by moisture shall be conditioned to carry out the following procedure.
equilibrium at a temperature of 25 ± 15 °C and a a) Measure the barometric pressure (Pa), the
relative humidity of 55 ± 10 %. temperature (Ta) and relative humidity (Mw) of
NOTE Doorsets or shutter assemblies made entirely of metal the air in the laboratory.
and/or glass do not normally need to be conditioned. b) Start the fan system and note the rate of
airflow.
6 Setting up procedure
c) Establish the pressure differential at its
6.1 Environmental conditions. The intended level ± 2 Pa at the two measuring points
environmental conditions shall be at a temperature specified in 6.2.4.
of 25 ± 15 °C and relative humidity 55 ± 10 %. d) As soon as the test conditions have been stable
6.2 Specimen mounting for at least 3 min, measure and record the total
6.2.1 Take a specimen prepared in accordance with rate of air leakage through the specimen for each
clause 5 and mount it in its surround so that it is pressure probe.
representative of its use in practice with 7.1.3 Measure the rate of air leakage at accurately
appropriate clearances between the door leaves and determined pressure differentials that approximate
the frame and its surround. to 5, 10, 25 and 50 Pa, up to the maximum pressure
6.2.2 Before measuring the air leakage, seal any differential for which information is required and
joint or clearance between the frame of the doorset then again at 5 Pa. Then measure the rate of air
or shutter assembly and its surround. If the leakage once more at the maximum pressure
surround is to be used for a separate fire resistance differential.
test according to BS 476-22, then the surface of the
surround shall also be sealed.

2 © BSI 02-1999
 BS 476-31.1:1983

7.1.4 Repeat the procedures described in 7.1.1 8.2 Calculate and record the adjusted rate of
to 7.1.3 inclusive for the second face of the airflow, in m3/h, for the specimen for each pressure
specimen, unless it can be ascertained that the face differential measured from the following.
tested and the direction of airflow represented the Adjusted rate of airflow for the specimen = adjusted
worse situation. Record the reasons for the latter total rate of air leakage – adjusted rate of air
decision in the report. leakage for the apparatus.
7.2 Observations. Record any unusual behaviour
of the specimen during the tests. 9 Test report
The report shall include the results required by
8 Expression of results clause 8, together with any observations
8.1 For each pressure differential, calculate the (see clause 7) for each face tested together with the
mean of the two readings given by the probes and following information:
correct the value to a reference temperature a) name and address of the laboratory;
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of 20 °C (293.15 K) and standard atmospheric

b) name and address of sponsor;
pressure (1 atmosphere, 101325 Pa) for:
c) name of manufacturer/supplier, if known;
a) the rate of air leakage for the apparatus;
d) date of test;
b) the total rate of air leakage;
e) full description of the doorset or shutter
by using the following formula:
assembly tested, including trade name, its
construction (including any glazing), clearances,
gaps and physical characteristics and hardware,
together with drawings;
f) a description of the apparatus including the
measuring system and, if applicable, the
direction of airflow with reference to the
where specimen;
Q is the adjusted rate of airflow (in m3/h); g) a description of the conditioning and fixing of
Qa is the measured rate of airflow (in m3/h); the specimen to the surround and of any joint, if
Dp is the pressure increase (in Pa); any, between the specimen and surround;
Pa is the barometric pressure (in Pa); h) the statement: “The results relate only to the
behaviour of the specimens of the doorset or
Ta is the air temperature (in °C); shutter assembly under the particular conditions
Mw is the relative humidity (in %); of test; they are not intended to be the sole
Es is the saturated water vapour pressure criterion for assessing the potential fire hazard of
(in Pa). the assembly in use.”
Record the results calculated for each pressure A summary report, if requested shall contain the
differential. information given in Appendix A.

© BSI 02-1999 3
 BS 476-31.1:1983
Licensed copy:Laing O Rourke Group Plc, 14/10/2004, Uncontrolled Copy, © BSI

Figure 1 — An example of an air leakage apparatus designed for different sized doorset
and shutter assemblies in a reversible surround

4 © BSI 02-1999
 BS 476-31.1:1983
Licensed copy:Laing O Rourke Group Plc, 14/10/2004, Uncontrolled Copy, © BSI

Figure 2 — A diagrammatic representation of a reversible airflow system

© BSI 02-1999 5
 BS 476-31.1:1983
Licensed copy:Laing O Rourke Group Plc, 14/10/2004, Uncontrolled Copy, © BSI

Figure 3 — Positions of pressure measuring heads on the interior of the chamber

6 © BSI 02-1999
 BS 476-31.1:1983

Appendix A Summary test report

Name of laboratory Laboratory reference no.

Address Date of test

Tel. no.
(Telex)

Report in accordance with BS 476-31.1

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Part 31: Methods for measuring smoke penetration through doorsets and shutter assemblies
Section 31.1 Method of measurement under ambient temperature conditions

Sponsor

Address

Manufacturer/supplier and address

Description of specimen(s) Trade name or reference no.

Construction of specimen(s)

Observations during test

Results:

Pressure differential (in Pa) Adjusted rate of air leakage of the specimen (in m3/h)

nominal actual face face

5
10
20
30
50
70
100
5

The results relate only to the behaviour of the specimens of the doorset or shutter assembly under the
particular conditions of test. They are not intended to be the sole criterion for assessing the potential fire
hazard of the assembly in use.
NOTE Complete test details may be obtained from the full report available from the sponsor of the test.

© BSI 02-1999 7
Licensed copy:Laing O Rourke Group Plc, 14/10/2004, Uncontrolled Copy, © BSI

8
blank
 BS 476-31.1:1983

Publications referred to

BS 476, Fire tests on building materials and structures.

BS 476-10, A guide to the principles and application of fire testing1).
BS 476-22, Methods for the determination of the fire resistance of non-load bearing elements of building
construction.
BS 4422, Glossary of terms associated with fire.
ISO 5925/1, Fire tests — Evaluation of performance of smoke control door assemblies — Part 1: Ambient
temperature test1).
Licensed copy:Laing O Rourke Group Plc, 14/10/2004, Uncontrolled Copy, © BSI

1) Referred to in the foreword only.

© BSI 02-1999
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