FAQ

500 Flow Chart

6000 flowchart

Currently none of the standards require independent or 3rd party testing.  Much of this responsibility is given to the AHJ who is supposed to ensure all codes are followed. The reality is few AHJ completely understand the standards and are easily persuaded by the installer that everything has been done correctly. Increasingly the role of ensuring the building is up to spec has been taken on by commissioning agents. Their job is to ensure that the entire building is up to spec and that includes the suppression system. The commissioning agent is hired by the owner to ensure the owner is getting what they paid for, which includes compliance with all building and NFPA codes.

We often get questions from AHJ or commissioning agents who are concerned about how the enclosure test was performed, and there is good reason for this. Half the enclosure integrity tests done in Europe and 60% of those performed in the US do NOT include a peak pressure evaluation. Peak pressure evaluation

Fan Pressure (flow pressure) is too low for the Range, which means you should change to a smaller more restrictive Range to increase fan pressure.
 

Our manufacturer's recommendation for calibration is as follows:

• Retrotec fans: Every 5 years.  
• DM-2 Manometer: Every 2 years  or if the Manometer fails a field check. 
• DM32 / DM32 WiFi Manometer: Every 5 years or if the Manometer fails a field check.

Please review the DM32 and DM-2 Manuals on how to perform a field check.  

This only covers our manufacturer recommendation.  The energy standards (EN13829, ASTM, ATTMA, USACE, etc...) that you are using for test results may have different calibration intervals.  Please consult the energy standards for the specific equipment calibration intervals.

Click the "Reset to Standard Default" button in the Advanced settings menu, to ensure default program parameters are used.

Retrotec recommends you take the maximum number of test points to decrease the uncertainty in your test.

Yes, you can change this default and take only 5 readings according to the Standard but your uncertainty will often be too high and you might have to retest.  Next, you might retest and find the result differs from the previous test by 10% or more making you lose confidence in the results. Retrotec defaults that include taking 10 test points and longer baselines will optimize your tests and give better results. 

You might save a few minutes by testing to the minimum allowed by the Standards but in the long run, your test results will be poor. Officials look at high uncertainties and poor repeatabilities between your tests and wrongly conclude your equipment is faulty but the truth is that your test method is faulty.  Please use our defaults as practical minimums and if anything take your tests over a longer time rather than shorter and your results will

1. Start FanTestic or FanTestic Integrity. 
2. Click the "Settings" menu item and then  click "Enter license details".
3. In the Settings window that opens, click on the [Install License Key] button to show the license key text box.
   
4. From the email you received, drag the attached LicenseKey.txt file and drop it onto the license key text box that is open in FanTestic/Integrity.  The license key entry section will close.  
5. You can tell if your license key is installed when your company name appears in the top of this window, along with your expiry date.
6. Choose a Standard to use.
7. Click "OK" to exit and a new test with the chosen standard will open.
8. If the screen

I see online on the support page, or when I use the File menu item 'Check for updates', that there is a new version for the software, but when I launch my existing version of the software, I do not get the message that there is a new version.  

This problem is often caused by anti-virus programs. In particular we have found that using Internet Explorer and a virus protection program from Microsoft called 'Windows Smartscreen' can cause the problem, but others will likely also interfere with the download.

Disable your anti-virus program, uninstall the earlier version and download and install the new version from the website:

https://retrotec.com/software.html 

If you are using FanTestic with a DM-2 and have to use the ADMIN shortcut to be able to control your DM-2, you will newer get notification of the need to update.  To do the update, you

If this is the Error you are seeing:

"Cannot continue. The application is improperly formatted. Contact the application vendor for assistance."

Click on the "Details" button to get more information.  In the summary, you will see:

ERROR SUMMARY:  "+ Your Web browser settings do not allow you to run signed applications." 

This error summary indicates that there are security settings in your web browser  that are preventing the application from being able to download. 

Some people have had success by adding http://retrotec.com to their "Trusted Sites"  in the Tools>>Internet Options>>Security settings window in Internet Explorer:

How to set the Internet Exploror Tools>>Internet Options>>Security>>Trusted Sites>> Sites