BS EN 12101-6: Smoke and heat control systems. Specification for pressure differential systems. Kits
BS EN 12101-6:2022 specifies requirements for the assembled Pressure Differential System (PDS) kit: the fan, dampers, sensors and control unit supplied by the manufacturer, with Declaration of Performance and CE/UKCA marking.
BS EN 12101-6 is the kit-level standard for Pressure Differential Systems. It specifies the requirements for the assembled PDS kit that a manufacturer places on the market: the components, performance classes, type-testing, marking and Declaration of Performance (DoP) under CE / UKCA marking regimes.
Part of the BS EN 12101 standard family.
Key point: Part 6 covers the kit the manufacturer supplies. Part 13 covers the installed system in the building (design, installation, commissioning, maintenance). The two work together but answer different questions.
What’s in the kit
A typical EN 12101-6 PDS kit comprises:
- Supply air fan(s) sized to maintain pressure differential
- Pressure relief / over-pressure dampers
- Pressure sensors and controllers
- Control unit (interfaces with the fire alarm system)
- Documentation, including instructions for the installer
Performance and classification
The standard sets out:
- Performance classes for the kit as a whole
- Type-testing requirements for components and assembled kit
- Marking and labelling requirements
- Manufacturer documentation, including the installation and operating instructions that allow Part 13-compliant system design
Declaration of Performance and UKCA / CE marking
PDS kits placed on the UK market must:
- Be type-tested in accordance with BS EN 12101-6
- Carry a Declaration of Performance (DoP) issued by the manufacturer
- Be marked with UKCA (for the UK market) or CE (for the EU / Northern Ireland) in line with the relevant Construction Products Regulation
Relationship to BS EN 12101-13
BS EN 12101-6 covers what the manufacturer produces. BS EN 12101-13 covers what happens when that kit is installed in a building: system design, air release paths, commissioning, acceptance testing, routine inspection and maintenance.
A specifier sizing a stairwell pressurisation system needs to reference both standards: -6 to identify a compliant kit, -13 to design and commission the installed system.
Where this applies
PDS kits compliant with BS EN 12101-6 are used in:
- Escape stair pressurisation (residential and non-residential)
- Firefighting shaft and lobby pressurisation
- Refuge pressurisation
- Corridor smoke containment systems
Related standards
- BS EN 12101-13: Pressure differential systems (installed systems)
- BS EN 12101-8: Smoke control dampers
- BS EN 12101-3: Smoke control fans
- BS EN 12101-10: Power supplies
- BS 9991: Residential fire safety design (UK)
- Approved Document B: Building Regulations (UK)
How Vent Trade can help
Vent Trade supplies certified PDS components (fans, dampers, control panels and power supplies) that integrate into Part 6-compliant kits. Our technical team can support specifiers in selecting compatible components and ensuring documentation supports Part 13 design.