Fire Damper Testing

Introduction

Fire dampers are important components within ventilation systems as they serve to
prevent fire spreading throughout a building through ventilation shafts. A fire in a kitchen can easily travel along ductwork, increasing damage to property and risk to life.  It is therefore vital that fire dampers are maintained to ensure they operate correctly.

Why test the system?

Whilst you may identify fire hazards that are visible it can be easy to forget components hidden from sight.  Fire dampers are typically located where ductwork passes through fire compartments within walls and floors.  Fire dampers are designed to spring shut on detection of heat and can be wired up to trigger smoke and fire alarms.  This mechanism needs inspecting to ensure it is working effectively.

BS 5888 ‘Fire Precautions in the design, construction and use of buildings’ states that

• All fire dampers should be tested by competent persons at regular intervals not exceeding two years
• Spring operated fire dampers should be tested annually and fire dampers in dust laden atmospheres should be tested much more frequently to suit the degree of pollution

There are also further requirements for health organizations, listed within the Health Technical Memorandum 03-01, which states:

• Regular tests, at intervals agreed with the local fire prevention officer, will need to be carried out in order to demonstrate the continuing efficiency of the fire detection and containment systems. These may be in addition to the inspections detailed above. Records of these tests should be kept.
• All fire dampers should be tested as part of the annual verification.

Responsibility for these provisions lie with the ‘responsible person’ as named by the Regulatory Reform (fire safety) Order (2006).

Our Service

H₂O Chemicals can assist you to meet the legal requirements for the fire safety of your buildings. Our competent staff have the skills, knowledge, and equipment necessary to conduct manual checks of the fire dampers in your ductwork systems to ensure they are working effectively and advise on a suitable course of action if faults are found.