Advancing the research on pressure relief vents

Apreco were the first manufacturer to obtain EWCL5 certification for our SGV Dual Flo® Halocarbon Gas Vent. In partnership with Warrington Fire, the Fire Industry Association (FIA) working groups and the Building Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA), we created the test protocol used in conjunction with EWCL5.

With no harmonised code available for testing at the time, we utilized a product approvals scheme based around BSEN Standards, which is a program for products requiring fire testing but with no test standard in place.

Certification for pressure relief vents, although not widely available, has now become a non-negotiable global requirement, and Apreco continues to lead the way in fire safety with our annual testing.

In addition to the fire-resistance test, Apreco also performed airflow testing with BSRIA, which is referenced on the EWCL5. This gives you a performance that has been verified by experts for airflow and fire safety – something that is lacking in the industry. Following on from this we have also used and are continuing to use door fan blower kits, such as those offered by Retrotec to confirm the free vent area performance, often referred to as equivalent leakage area (EqLA).

Our current UK-manufactured IGV® and SGV® pressure relief vents are being installed in data centres, oil refineries, and museums across the world, including new builds and large-scale refurbishment projects. Insurers are demanding that tested pressure relief vents are installed alongside fire suppression systems.

While we work closely with some of the large multinational companies, we also do a lot of business with a wide range of smaller companies that purchase gaseous fire suppression systems from large manufacturers and include pressure relief vents in their packages. Overseas, our products are purchased by the main contractors or the suppression system supplier. When required, we are happy to assist in the sizing of our vents for a given project.