APSX®-FSS Smoke Fire Rated Air Pressure Stabiliser

The APSX®-FSS Smoke Fire-Rated Air Pressure Stabiliser has been added to the Apreco range following extensive feedback from the healthcare market and is encased within a smoke fire damper. The need to protect patients and staff in the event of a fire is of paramount importance, our new APSX®-FSS with its sleek compact design has been well received from Clients, Designers and Infection Control personnel.

The design philosophy behind the APSX®-FSS has been developed following consultation with M&E consultants and contractors with the assistance of Warrington Fire; world-renowned experts in the testing of fire/smoke rated products for the construction industry.

We looked at the current testing approach to combined air pressure stabiliser fire/smoke damper products and concluded that they are generally not covered by BS EN 1366-2:2015 which, relates to the ability of a fire damper to prevent fire and smoke spreading from one compartment to another through the ‘air ductwork systems’. It was agreed that the better approach being more aligned to the application where the air pressure stabilisers are installed in walls (i.e. no ductwork present) was to utilise BS EN 1364-5:2017 for fire resistance tests for non-loadbearing elements. The smoke leakage test was then based around BS476-31-1: 1983 covering smoke control tests for doors and shutter assemblies.

It is important to understand that air pressure stabiliser’s primary function is to provide ‘door’ flow protection and are therefore by definition invariably located next to a door with a 30 or 60-minute fire rating and not in the air ductwork system. The Air Pressure Stabiliser is therefore acting more as an Air Transfer Grille than a Damper. So, in conclusion, to supply a product tested in a manner for the environment it was designed for, we have adopted the following test protocols to evaluate the APSX®-FSS: Fire Integrity Test to BS EN 1364-5: 2017 (WarringtonFire Test 412865), Smoke Leakage Test to BS476-31-1: 1983 (WarringtonFire Test WYC417772).

The VARI-centric® range of Pressure Stabilisers is purpose-designed for Operating Theatre Suites to control airborne contamination by controlling room pressure differentials and has recently been installed as part of the operating theatre refurbishment at Queen Elizabeth. 

Fire Integrity Test installation of APSX®-FSS at Element Warringtion Fire

The VARI-centric® balancing system accurately controls the differential air pressure between adjacent rooms, and the blades close fully as soon as the pressure differential drops below the required level.

This diverts the airflow to pass through an open door forcing back airborne contamination without the need to alter the air extract supply. Positive pressure of the Operating Theatres to protect them from the ingress of infectious agents passing through the open doors, by providing high air volume rates, is a well-established principle of hygiene and infection control, forming the fundamental principles on which Health Technical Memorandums HTM 03-01 & HTM 2025 are based.

Apreco VARI-centric® Pressure Stabilisers and associated products are supplied as standard with SteriTouch® anti-microbial paint finish, utilising silver technology – which is already used extensively within the healthcare sector as an excellent anti-microbial protection in conjunction with good hygiene practices. SteriTouch® is extremely effective in helping to protect against harmful bacteria including MRSA, Ecoli, Salmonella and C-diff.

Patent pending GB 2600994