Fire and smoke dampers are located in the ductwork system of a building, at any point where the ductwork breaches the fire compartment. They are an essential element of any fire safety strategy as they are highly effective in preventing the spread of fire and smoke.
Fire and smoke dampers are ‘passive fire protection’ equipment (in contrast to active fire protection equipment, which are systems designed to extinguish a fire once it has started e.g. sprinklers).
A passive fire strategy involves compartmentalising a building with the use things such as fire walls. The integrity of these walls is sustained by the use of smoke dampers, fire dampers or a combination of both.
Fire Dampers
The primary function of fire dampers is to automatically close when triggered by a fire, blocking the passage of flames and smoke through HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) ducts and preventing the fire from spreading to other areas of the building.
Fire dampers are equipped with a fusible link or a thermal element that responds to elevated temperatures. When the ambient temperature reaches a certain level due to a fire, the link or thermal element triggers the closure of the damper.
There are different types of fire dampers, including curtain-type dampers, multi-blade dampers, and dynamic fire dampers. The choice of damper depends on factors such as the type of HVAC system, the location in the building, and the specific fire protection requirements.
Smoke Dampers
Smoke dampers are similar to fire dampers in that they are components of a building’s ventilation system designed to control the spread of smoke during a fire. While fire dampers primarily focus on preventing the spread of flames, smoke dampers specifically address the movement of smoke within a building, and are triggered through dedicated smoke detectors or in coordination with a building’s fire alarm system.
The main purpose of smoke dampers is to prevent the movement of smoke through HVAC ducts and ventilation pathways. By closing off these pathways, smoke dampers help contain smoke within the affected area during a fire, improving visibility and reducing the impact of smoke on occupants.
Both fire dampers and smoke dampers need to be regularly tested and maintained to ensure proper functionality. Routine inspections are crucial to make sure the dampers close as intended and that the associated control systems are in good working order.
PTSG is one of the industry leaders in fire and smoke damper testing and inspection. Not only will we help you to identify any issues with your fire and smoke dampers, but also help you to find solutions. We will not simply leave you with a report stating your system is not compliant.
Once identified, our team will test each damper. A drop test checks that the damper will operate should a fire break out. The mechanism which releases the damper, usually a fusible link or thermal spring, is manually activated and we check that the damper closes completely. We then reset the damper to ensure it is ready for operation.
A visual inspection and complete testing are your reassurance that your system is fully operable, and it is the only way to achieve compliance.
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