ATG Selection: 5 Crucial Considerations
In everyday use, intumescent grilles allow air to circulate freely throughout the building; but in a fire, the intumescent expands to form a solid block that stops the fire from spreading. Wherever ventilation is needed through a fire-resisting wall or where ductwork runs through that wall – an intumescent air transfer grille or damper should be fitted to maintain fire compartmentation. For cold smoke protection, it is vital to add a fire and smoke resistant air transfer grille with a control shutter – Talkback system.
Let’s look at the main technical considerations when specifying a suitable product for installation in air transfer situations, there are a number to take into account:
1. Location & Substrate:
The substrate into which an air transfer grille is installed will have an impact on its validity. Within walls for example, testing in rigid (masonry) walls does not transfer to flexible (metal/timber) stud walls. Equally, fire stopping methods involving ablative batt systems will perform differently and installation methods will differ. Environmental considerations may come in to play for internal or external placements. Add to that the possibility of installing within a through wall duct, duct terminating in the wall or directly into the wall.
2. Fire Performance:
The grilles should match or exceed the fire performance of the substrate within which it is mounted. But also consider whether insulation is a requirement.
3. Smoke Control:
Is there a need to maintain smoke compartmentation, perhaps in protection of an escape route.
4. Distinction between hot and cold smoke
Differentiate between hot smoke, typically encountered at higher levels or within specific compartmentation strategies, and cold smoke, prevalent in escape routes/corridors at lower levels, to determine specific requirements.
5. Compartmentation
If using smoke containment technology will there be a requirement to simply contain/segregate smoke risk areas, or will there be a need to allow smoke evacuation through control of smoke shutters?
By addressing these considerations, a clear picture of the required product emerges. This enables the selection of the most suitable solution, whether an air transfer grille or damper based upon relevant test data and applicable product standards.
Our ATG Product Selector Tool has been designed to enable the quick and easy selection of the right product to suit a range of applications. Quickly find the perfect match for your applications from our extensive range of tested solutions.
For more information or technical support please contact our team of experts, email technical@lorentuk.com or call 01626 834252