Smoke Leakage Testing

Smoke leakage testing is used to test door and shutter assemblies and determines smoke leakage at ambient and elevated temperatures (200oC). Smoke leakage testing  explores the rate of leakage of cold air and hot gases from one side of a door and shutter assembly to the other, representing the passage of smoke during a fire.

Why do I need smoke leakage testing?

Doors are an essential part of all buildings and due to developing and changing legislation are increasingly put under pressure to perform many different functions within a structure. Ensuring the right level of performance of your doorset within a structure is an integral part of building a safe space. Smoke leakage performance in many cases is an essential part in the design of buildings and will influence how a fire strategy may be developed. A fire door that halts the spread of flame yet allows the passage of smoke may be considered inappropriate in many  circumstances.

Increasingly, countries now specify that there must be provision for doors to provide smoke control. In the UK, currently the requirement relates only to cold or ambient smoke. However, many of the doors which require smoke control performance are also required to have a fire resisting capability and will therefore include intumescent seals which, when subjected to the elevated temperatures of a fire, will expand and seal the door within its frame ensuring the compartment line is not breached.

Smoke leakage test evidence is also necessary if you wish to UKNI / UKCA/ CE mark your door product to achieve a Sa or S₂₀₀ classification in accordance with EN 13501-2.

What to expect from smoke leakage testing

In order to evaluate smoke leakage at ambient temperatures, the test is conducted using a specially designed smoke leakage chamber, housing a partition to install the sample. The chamber utilises fans to control the pressure exerted and includes a pressure transducer, a flow meter and digital displays to record pressure and leakage rates throughout the test. Leakage over the perimeter length of the opening element is used to determine the results. It is possible to evaluate both positive and negative pressures at ambient temperature. This can be done by simply reversing the chamber control fan's polarity to demonstrate leakage rates at ambient temperatures from both directions; leakage readings are taken at various pressures depending on the test standard.

Smoke leakage testing services

Warringtonfire provides smoke leakage testing in accordance with EN 1634‑3 and BS 476‑31.1 across our accredited laboratory network. Testing is carried out using high‑quality 3m x 3m rigs equipped with precision pressure transducers, flow meters and dedicated control systems to ensure accurate measurement of pressure differentials and leakage rates. These capabilities are available across our UKAS‑accredited laboratories in High Wycombe  and Birchwood, as well as our BELAC‑accredited laboratory in Gent, ensuring consistent, reliable and independently accredited results.

Smoke leakage testing options

Our Birchwood and Gent laboratories can provide bi‑service testing, combining fire resistance and smoke control testing within the same accredited facility. Our High Wycombe laboratory also offers acoustic testing, enabling full tri‑service testing across fire resistance, acoustic performance and smoke control.

This integrated approach, delivered within each accredited laboratory, enables greater efficiency by streamlining project delivery and reducing overall costs. All services can be provided under one contract, at one site, with one project manager and one sample, ensuring smooth coordination and expert support throughout. Tests can be scheduled individually or as part of a combined package, with all required tests completed on the same sample within two days, or multiple samples tested within a single day, depending on your project needs.