BS EN 12101-13: Smoke and heat control systems. Pressure differential systems (PDS). Design and calculation methods, installation, acceptance testing, routine testing and maintenance
BS EN 12101-13:2022 is the system-level standard for Pressure Differential Systems (PDS). It covers design, installation, commissioning, acceptance testing, routine testing and maintenance of installed PDS in buildings: escape stairs, firefighting shafts, lobbies, corridors and refuges.
BS EN 12101-13 is the system-level / installed-system standard for Pressure Differential Systems. Where Part 6 covers the PDS kit the manufacturer puts on the market, Part 13 covers the installed system in the building.
Part of the BS EN 12101 standard family.
Specifically, it covers:
- Design criteria for PDS protecting different parts of a building
- Air release paths and how they are sized
- System response on alarm activation
- Commissioning and acceptance testing
- Routine inspection and maintenance
- System documentation
Where PDS is used
Pressure differential systems are used to prevent smoke spread into protected escape and firefighting routes by maintaining a positive pressure relative to the fire area. Typical applications:
- Escape stair pressurisation, keeping stairs smoke-free for occupant escape
- Firefighting shaft and lobby pressurisation, protecting the route used by fire and rescue services
- Refuge pressurisation, protecting refuge areas for occupants with reduced mobility
- Corridor smoke containment, limiting smoke spread between compartments
Key performance criteria
The standard sets performance criteria that the installed system must achieve, including:
- Pressure across closed doors, typically 50 Pa for stair pressurisation
- Air velocity through open doors, typically in the range 0.75–2.0 m/s depending on classification
- Door opening force, must not exceed 100 N
- System stability across the design range of door opening combinations
- Response time on alarm activation
Commissioning and acceptance testing
Part 13 requires acceptance testing that verifies:
- Pressure achieved across closed doors at design conditions
- Door opening force at all relevant doors
- Air velocity through open doors at design conditions
- System response on alarm signal (within the documented cause-and-effect)
- Air release path performance
Commissioning records form part of the building’s golden thread of information under the Building Safety Act 2022.
Routine testing and maintenance
The standard sets out routine testing frequencies and the documentation required to demonstrate ongoing compliance.
Relationship to BS EN 12101-6
Specifiers sizing and procuring a PDS need to reference both standards:
- Part 6, to identify a compliant PDS kit to procure
- Part 13, to design, install, commission and maintain the system in the building
Common misconception: smoke control doors
EN 12101-13 is not a smoke control door standard. Smoke control doors are covered by other standards:
- BS EN 1634-3, smoke leakage testing (Sa / Sm classifications)
- BS EN 16034, fire and smoke resistance of door sets (CE / UKCA marking basis, in conjunction with EN 14351-1 or EN 13241)
- BS 8214, timber fire door assemblies (code of practice)
- Approved Document B, Building Regulations requirements
Related standards
- BS EN 12101-6, PDS kits (component level)
- BS EN 12101-3, Smoke control fans
- BS EN 12101-8, Smoke control dampers
- BS EN 12101-10, Power supplies
- BS 9991, Residential fire safety design (UK)
- BS 9999, Non-residential fire safety design (UK)
- Approved Document B, Building Regulations (UK)
How Vent Trade can help
Vent Trade supplies the components of EN 12101-6-compliant kits and can support specifiers in designing, commissioning and maintaining EN 12101-13-compliant systems. Our commissioning service includes pressure, velocity and door-force testing to the requirements of the standard.