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2000 Fire Door-Fan Manual updated 2002-05-28 Page 38 of 58
The principal deviation from the normal procedure is that the test can only be conducted in
one direction, i.e. as a pressurization test. Depressurizing almost inevitably pulls down the
plastic.
In a room without a suspended ceiling, plastic could be used to seal off undampered ducts at
ceiling level to better determine how much of the room leakage is below ceiling level. Note
that unsealed cracks at the roof wall joint would now be assumed to form part of the BCLA,
resulting in a more conservative retention time (perhaps too conservative). In such a situation,
the test can usually be done in both directions, as the plastic can be adequately restrained.
Conducting the Test
The standard Whole Room Test must first be conducted to determine the whole room ELA. No
temporary sealing of any openings is permitted.
Installing the plastic is simply a question of time and common sense. The plastic doesn't have
to be heavy duty - 2 mil seems to be a good compromise between light-weight and work-
ability. Fresh 2" painter’s masking tape sticks well and doesn't peel off the paint. Cutting the
plastic into approximately 10 feet wide strips makes it easier to install. Avoid attaching the
plastic to sprinkler heads! Make sure the wall edges of the plastic are taped to the wall, not
just the T-bar.
Run the test from the Lower Leak tab of CA2001 and choose “Plastic on the ceiling test”.
Perform the test in the pressurization mode only.
If the BCLA Plastic test fails, and your smoke pencil inspection finds more leaks below ceiling
level to be sealed, you should theoretically remove the plastic, redo the Whole Room ELA test,
and then re-install the plastic and redo the BCLA test. Obviously, this is not practical. An
alternate approach is to seal the leaks and redo the BCLA test until the room passes, using the
original Whole Room ELA value. There is no real need to redo the ELA test, as using the
original value will give a slightly more conservative retention time than would be obtained with
an actual final Whole Room ELA measurement. Of course, the Whole Room ELA can be
remeasured and the results rerun after the plastic is removed.
Fastest Way to Seal the Ceiling or Register (Grilles)
Retrotec sells a product called Grille Mask. It is a brightly colored masking tape looking
material. It comes in 8 inch wide rolls so it is very fast to apply. A case of five 200 ft. rolls
currently sells for $125 plus $29 for a waist belt to hold the duct mask while sealing registers.
Overhead applications, such as sealing T-bar’s are best done with a paint roller and long
extension handle. Only the join in the T-bar needs to be taped over. Pay particular attention
to the corners.