Overview
CEN ISO/TS 27469:2011 (ISO/TS 27469:2010) is a Technical Specification for the petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas industries that defines a method of test for fire dampers used in ventilation systems. It establishes test procedures to evaluate a damper’s ability to prevent the spread of fire and heat through designated fire divisions, assess operational reliability (particularly for offshore installations), and determine resistance to blast overpressures from flammable-gas explosions. The specification is intended for use with existing fire research facilities and complements related fire‑testing standards.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Test scope and objectives
- Evaluate fire integrity and insulation performance (control of radiated and conducted heat on the unexposed side).
- Assess protection against hydrocarbon pool fires and jet fires.
- Measure leakage past closed blades and closure reliability.
- Test capability to withstand blast overpressure from explosions.
- Test types required
- Hydrocarbon pool fire test (carried out in accordance with ISO 834‑1 and EN 1363‑2 time–temperature curve amendments).
- Jet fire test (procedures to be defined during development).
- Blast pressure test (may require specialized facilities).
- Specimen and mounting
- Test specimen includes damper assembly, connecting and extension ducts, insulation and penetration seals.
- Dampers must be installed to represent their intended design installation and as close as possible to the fire barrier.
- Extension ducts and sensor locations are used to measure radiated, conducted and convected heat on the unexposed side.
- Environmental and procedural limits
- Tests conducted in sheltered conditions (wind speed guidance: avoid tests if wind exceeds ~3 m/s).
- Ambient temperature range stated: −10 °C to +40 °C.
- Fire tests provide only a limited evaluation of actuating mechanisms; additional operational tests may be necessary.
Practical applications and users
This Technical Specification is practical for:
- Fire protection engineers and HVAC designers specifying fire damper performance for onshore and offshore installations.
- Manufacturers developing and certifying fire dampers for the petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas sectors.
- Independent test laboratories conducting pool‑fire, jet‑fire and blast tests.
- Asset owners, operators and safety managers assessing ventilation safety, barrier integrity and risk of fire/explosion spread.
- Regulators and inspection authorities referencing industry‑specific fire test methods.
Use cases include damper selection for offshore platforms, refining and petrochemical plants, ventilation penetration design, and inclusion of test data in fire and explosion risk assessments.
Related standards
- ISO 834‑1 - Fire‑resistance tests: general requirements
- ISO 13702:1999 - Control and mitigation of fires and explosions on offshore installations
- ISO 15138 - HVAC for offshore production installations
- ISO 22899‑1:2007 - Jet fire testing for passive fire protection
- EN 1363‑1 / EN 1363‑2 - Fire resistance test methods
Keywords: ISO/TS 27469, CEN ISO/TS 27469:2011, fire damper testing, hydrocarbon pool fire, jet fire, blast overpressure, petroleum industry, offshore fire protection, ventilation fire dampers.