Fire & Smoke Damper Testing

Fire damper testing is a legal requirement, with industry standard BS 9999:2017 recommending testing at least once every 12 months.

This can be confusing since the British Standard calls for regular testing ‘not exceeding 2 years.’ It does however go on to require that spring-operated fire dampers, which are the most common, should be tested every 12 months.

Environmental factors play a part in how often you should test too. For example, a dusty environment will require more frequent checks and cleaning.

Hospital engineers should be aware that Health Technical Memorandum 03-01: ‘Specialised ventilation for healthcare premises Part B: Operational management and performance verification’ calls for all fire dampers to be tested annually.

If you are unsure how frequently your fire dampers should be tested, contact us to find out. Our expert team are here to answer any queries you may have.

Our experts will help you achieve peace of mind by creating an inventory of fire dampers in your building, physically dropping the damper to demonstrate its effectiveness, cleaning channels and runners by applying light lubrication where necessary, addressing running repairs, resetting the damper and providing you with a comprehensive report including location records and detailed exception reports in cases of failure, with recommendations where necessary.

The important point is that ticking a box to say that a fire damper exists, is not compliance that will stand up in case of a problem. It must be physically tested, cleaned and re-set.

In the most common design, a fusible link holds a spring-loaded shutter open. When the temperature (typically 72°C) is reached, the link fuses or melts and the shutter drops to stop the passage of hot air and smoke. Many other designs are also employed including electrical systems that are linked.

Typical problems include blockages and obstructions, dirt and debris impeding a tight seal, corrosion and broken springs, poor installation or simply inadequate access to enable servicing to be carried out regularly.

It can take only one faulty damper to allow catastrophic spread of fire and smoke. That’s why it’s important to ensure that these vital safety systems do operate as expected.

Fire dampers play a crucial role in a building’s fire safety system. If they don’t operate as designed, fire can spread with rapid and lethal results. Headline incidents involving considerable loss of life include the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas and the Dusseldorf Airport fire.

The difference between a well-maintained, working fire damper and an ill-maintained, partially working fire damper can be the difference between life and death in the case of a fire.