AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT SIA PROCEDURES FOR ANNUAL
TESTING OF BUILDINGS WITH STAIRWELL AND VESTIBULE
PRESSURIZATION SYSTEMS
Building stairwell and vestibule pressurization systems must be retested and recertified
annually by an Austin Fire Department approved Special Inspection Agency (SIA).
Note: As of 3/7/2016 these revised testing procedures are mandatory for use in
recertification testing of all buildings constructed after 1996.
Test the system components as indicated below:
1.
Verify that the stairwell and vestibule pressurization systems operate automatically upon
activation of one pull station, smoke detector, heat detector and fire sprinkler system
water flow. This is a total of four devices in the building to verify system operation.
Check previous year’s test report and select activation devices in different locations each
year. Building fire alarm system audible devices may be silenced during the testing.
2.
Verify correct stairwell and vestibule pressurization system operation using the
firefighter’s smoke control panel.
3.
Verify that the firefighter’s smoke control panel is in acceptable condition. All status
lights and control switches must function as intended. Document any modifications that
have been made to the control panel.
4.
Verify correct stairwell and vestibule pressurization system operation on emergency
generator power.
5.
Closed door test – With the system operating and with no doors open, testing technician
shall be inside the vestibule and shall measure and record the pressure difference from
the vestibule to the stairwell and from the vestibule to the floor/corridor level. A
minimum pressure difference of 0.05 inch w.g. is required across each closed door.
Where there is insufficient relief between the vestibule and the floor/corridor, it is
acceptable to combine the two pressure measurements but the total differential from the
stairwell and across the vestibule to the floor/corridor must be a minimum of 0.10 inch
w.g. Measure and record stairwell and vestibule door opening forces. Door opening
forces cannot exceed 30 pounds.
6.
Open door test – Open the ground floor exterior stairwell door (if applicable). With the
system operating and all remaining stairwell and vestibule doors closed, testing
technician shall be inside the vestibule and shall measure and record the pressure
difference from the vestibule to the stairwell and from the vestibule to the floor/corridor
level. A minimum pressure difference of 0.05 inch w.g. is required across each closed
door. Where there is insufficient relief between the vestibule and the floor/corridor, it is
acceptable to combine the two pressure measurements but the total differential from the
stairwell and across the vestibule to the floor/corridor must be a minimum of 0.10 inch
w.g.
7.
Verify that excess pressure relief device(s) and VFD control systems operate properly.
8.
Inspect the condition of the belts on the pressurization fans. All belts must be replaced
every five (5) years.
9.
Inspect any control or barometric dampers for proper orientation and operating condition.
10.
Unless doors are opened intentionally as part of the open door portion of the testing,
stairwell and vestibule doors must latch in the closed position while the pressurization
fans are operational. Record the locations of doors that do not meet this requirement.
11.
Failure to meet any of the requirements listed above must be indicated as a failure point
on the annual test report.
12.
Within 10 days of the completion of recertification testing, submit a copy of the annual
test report. You must use the Austin Fire Department standardized report format (see
the attachment). Once the report has been reviewed and approved by our office, a copy
of the test report must be submitted to the building owner and must remain on-site in the
fire command room.
Items 1 through 10 must be verified with all stair and vestibule pressurization fans in the building
operating simultaneously.
Buildings constructed prior to 1996 will most likely have different design features. Contact the
Austin Fire Department Engineering Section at (512) 974-0160 with questions on the testing
requirements.
revised 3/4/2016
SPECIAL INSPECTION AGENCY
ANNUAL STAIRWELL PRESSURIZATION SYSTEM TEST REPORT
Date
Special Inspection Agency Name
Project Name
Project Address
SUBMITTED TO
Austin Fire Department
Fire Marshal’s Office
505 Barton Springs Road, Suite 200
Austin, TX 78704
CERTIFICATION PAGE
Special Inspection Agency Name
Project Name
Project Address
Certified By: Name
AABB or NEBB number:
Certification Expiration date:
Provide seal here
Date:
Special Inspection Agency Name
Project Name
Project Address
Report Summary
What year was the building constructed? If you don’t know, email us and ask.
We will research the date of construction, the building code was enforced at the
time and what the smoke control requirements were. How many floor levels and
stair towers does the building have? Does the building have stair vestibules? Is
there a relief vent at the top of each stair tower? Provide a general description of
the building (e.g., 10 floors of open parking garage with 10 floors of office
occupancies above garage level 10). Are VFD fans provided? Note any problems
that you encountered. Is a follow up test or inspection by us required? Is there
anything we need to know about? If you see something that is not correct, email
us or call us to discuss it.
Special Inspection Agency Name
Project Name
Project Address
INSTRUMENT CALIBRATION REPORT
Manufacturer
Model
Serial #
Instrument
Type
Calibration
Date
ANNUAL STAIRWELL PRESSURIZATION SYSTEM TEST REPORT
SUMMARY
Special Inspection Agency Name
Project Name
Project Address
Function
System operates from one pull,
one heat detector, one smoke
detector and one water flow
switch (4 devices total)
Firefighter’s smoke control panel
operates properly
Firefighter’s smoke control panel
is in acceptable condition. All
status lights and switches function
as intended
System operates on emergency
power
Pressure difference from stair to
vestibule to floor/corridor is 0.10”
w.g. minimum
With open ground floor exterior
stairwell door pressure difference
from stair to vestibule to
floor/corridor is 0.10”w.g.
Excess pressure relief device(s)
and/or VFD pressure controls
operate properly
All fans, belts and control dampers
inspected for proper operation
and condition (belts replaced
every 5 years)
Control dampers/barometric
dampers have proper orientation
and are in good operating
condition
Doors latch properly and can be
opened by a force of not greater
than 30 lbs.
Pass
Fail
Comments
ANNUAL STAIRWELL PRESSURIZATION SYSTEM TEST REPORT
Special Inspection Agency Name
Project Name
Project Address
Technician:
Test Date:
CLOSED DOOR TEST
Stairwell ID:
Floor Vestibule to Vestibule to Total Pressure
ID
Stair
Floor/corridor from Stair to
pressure
pressure (inch Floor/corridor
(inch w.g.)
(inch w.g.)
w.g.)
Stair
door
pull
(lbs.)
Vestibule
door pull
(lbs.)
ANNUAL STAIRWELL PRESSURIZATION SYSTEM TEST REPORT
Special Inspection Agency Name
Project Name
Project Address
Technician:
Test Date:
OPEN GROUND FLOOR STAIR DOOR TEST
Stairwell ID:
Floor Vestibule to Stair
ID
pressure (inch
w.g.)
Vestibule to
Floor/corridor pressure
(inch w.g.)
Total Pressure from
Stair to Floor/corridor
(inch w.g.)
ANNUAL STAIRWELL PRESSURIZATION SYSTEM TEST REPORT
Special Inspection Agency Name
Project Name
Project Address
Technician:
Test Date:
System Activation Verification
Indicate Specific Location and Fire Alarm System ID of each device
Floor ID
Manual pull
Heat detector
Smoke
detector
Fire
sprinkler
water flow