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Frequently Asked Questions - Firebreather (FB) Air Transfer Vents

How much air passes through an FB vent? To top of page
The FB vents come in different shapes and models. The most commonly used FB Eave Vent has an effective ventilation area of 32% of the vents total acreage (i.e. an effective ventilation area of 23.000 mm2). As for the other products refer to respective data sheets.

Do FB Vents come in different sizes? To top of page
Yes. Contact Securo for up date on availability of varying size of the particluar product model.

Are FB Vents environmentally certified? To top of page
According to the Norwegian ETA Body Norwegian Building Research Institute (approval No. 2405) the FB vent does not contain any material listed on the Ministry of the Environment's so-called "observation list" of dangerous toxins, chemicals and substances that can be a threat to the environment. The product is considered not to liberate gases or produce radiation that gives a noticeable effect to the inner climate, or has a hazard to health. For the other models the same apply.

Why should I use FB vents? To top of page
There are a number of reasons why the FB vent is to prefer rather than other solutions. Firstly FB is the only passive air transfer grille/air vent in the world that never allows fire to spread within its rated fire resistance period. Secondly it is a fully passive solution; no moving parts to maintain or get stuck, no detector activating system, no cabling, motors, programming and routine testing - thus contributing to a long lifespan and vents being very reliable. Thirdly, compared to alternative fire safety solutions, the FB vents are much cheaper to buy. FB vents do not corrode or bend over time to reduce their performance, like advanced and movable part products are prone to.

How are the FB vents tested and approved? To top of page
The FB vents are tested in strict accordance with standards (such as EN 1363 1 1999) and pass tests of direct flame resistance (such as Warrington Fire Research Centre Ltd. Report no. 138613).

Can I use the FB vents in any position? To top of page
Generally, vents for soffit application are testet horizontally and wall vents vertically. Cavity barriers are tested for worst case, horizontally.  FB vents must be installed as per data sheet and conditions of certification tests.

Intumescent transfer grilles are old news! What makes the FB vents so special? To top of page
Conventional intumescent grid transfer grilles become fully activated to block fire spread following a period of flame or hot gas impact. This period may extend to several minutes in which ignition may occur on the protected side of the grille vent. The FB technology on the other hand, employs several known mechanisms of heat transfer from flames to prevent fire spread instantaneous and throughout the rated period of fire resistance. It protects against spread by direct flaming, leap frog fire, sustained fire, deflagration or ignition of unburnt gas at the protected side. In brief: FireBreather vents prevent fire spread from the first millisecond and throughout the rated period of fire resistance.

What do you mean by ‘vented construction’? To top of page
For the first time uncompromising and fully passive fire safe venting have been obtained. Many applications requiring mechanical dampers and ductwork can now be provided by very simple vents that adapt flush in construction and indeed can even fit inside of voids and cavities as vented fire stops, i.e. "vented construction". FB vents respond to fire as do solid construction and are rated equal. Therefore, construction companies may provide prefab elements that contain vents or even fully vented buildings - whereas conventional practices left venting to HVAC mechanical entrepreneurs, the construction companies can now do a lot on their own.   

"Vented construction systems" can either be used as fire resistant joint systems, penetration systems, perimeter barrier systems or as cavity void fireblock systems.  Vented constructions systems are used in or between walls, floors, ceilings, inside wall or floor cavities to allow natural ventilation in the building without having to use mechanically activated or operated dampers.

Firebreather® vented constructions solve problems that prior to "the great eave vent" were never feasible.

Where can I buy FB vents? To top of page
To order FB vents, contact Securo headquarter:  Phone (+47) 994 19 000. E-mail: post@securo.no.

How is it possible to stop the flames instantaneously? To top of page
Firebreather® vent design maximizes convective heat transfer by hot gases to solid surfaces. As hot gases are cooled, intumescent material is heated accordingly towards, and past, its exfoliating temperature. Further downstream solids (intumescent material, frame etc.) act as secondary heat sinks efficiently cooling the smoke gas temperature below ignition temperatures of fuels required to be designed for until intumescent sealing is completed.

What do you mean by passive damper? To top of page
By passive vent we mean there are no moving parts, detectors, actuators or wiring. Fire safety consultants, architects and construction engineers prefer approved passive fire safety measures rather than active solutions because passive solutions require less maintenance and are more reliable. Longer lifespan and lower price are other advantages attained by the passive Firebreather Technology.

How do I maintain FB vents? To top of page
The answer is simple: You don't have to! The FB vents contain no moving parts, detectors, actuators or wiring and do not need any routine testing or maintenance to ensure that they function in case of a fire. A visual inspection ought to be done occasionally to insure that the perforated stainless steel grille system isn't clogged up by dust, insects etc. which could obstruct the air to flow the way it is supposed to. Inspection and requisite cleaning should be performed every fifth year on the undersurface of the vent, end every ten years on the upper side.

What is intumescent, and how does it work? To top of page
An intumescent is a substance which swells as a result of heat exposure, thus increasing in volume and decreasing in density. Intumescents are used in passive fire protection. The material in FB vents is graphite based. It seals the vent opening completely upon being exposed to flames or hot smoke. The intumescent starts to swell at 180-200 °C.

Is the FB Technology patented? To top of page
Yes, Firebreather is granted patent in Norway and Indonesia. Patents are pending for Europe, USA, Canada and Asian countries.

Can FB products be used for other applications? To top of page
Yes, fire rated vents can be used according to their rating class. Securo is committed to develop new products and for even tougher ratings, like specialized applications in power plant, offshore, maritime and refinery industries.

Why do eave vents need to be fire rated? To top of page
Eave vents provide ventilation to keep the roof/attic dry and prevent rot (or keep cool to prevent ice formation). However, the conventional optimum way to provide ventilation of attics by gaps regularly spaced in the soffit allow many typical fires from entering the attic as well. Once the attic is on fire - expect a total loss. FB vents are installed in soffit of roof eaves to prevent spread of leap frog fires, facade fires or wind driven embers into attic or roof cavities. Now, either FB Eave Vents or the FB Vented Perimeter Barriers/FB Vented Cavity Fire Seals can protect these openings.

Why are open or boxed eaves with non-protected venting gaps considered a crucial defect? To top of page
A prime concern of fire safety in building constructions is fire spread through gaps or ventilation openings. The principle of cold roofs/attics and ventilated roof constructions is no exception to the rule. A fire spreading on the facade of a building will rapidly enter the attic through the ventilation openings in the eaves. The results of such fires are typically damage beyond repair. In row houses (flats with several fire cells) the spreading of fire to the attic usually entails rapid fire spread from one flat to another.

• The FB Technology
• FB - Range of Applications
• Technology FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
• About Securo AS
• Contact Securo AS

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