Firstly, I need to acknowledge the fact that you’ve completed your first round of testing fire dampers. Believe it or not, you’re far further forward in gaining compliance than many building owners across the UK. You will see from the other articles on this site, fire damper testing is often overlooked in building management, but it remains a critical element of fire safety..
I have my testing report – but some of my fire dampers have failed
If this is your first round of testing, it is highly likely that some, if not many, of your dampers have failed to reach compliance. In this article I will cover some of the primary reasons a damper fails in testing and the remedies for each scenario.
Inaccessible fire dampers
To complete a fire damper test, it is necessary for the team to have full access, preferably with access to the damper from both sides via an access panel so that the maintenance team can easily get to the damper. Our team have had some success at testing hard to reach dampers, but resetting a damper post-test is tricky if access is restricted.
Solution 1: Fit access panels. If your dampers are located in ductwork but there is no access panel installed, then merely fitting panels are a cost-effective solution. If not installed on both sides of the damper it is vital that they are located on the correct side of the damper so the damper can be dropped.
Solution 2: Builders hatches. If your dampers are located between fire compartments, or behind walls a builder’s hatch installed in the building fabric is a good solution.
Be sure to use a professional for fitting access panels or builders’ hatches as it’s possible you could damage the integrity of the fire compartment.
Moving site services
If it’s not possible to gain access to your dampers using the above methods, you may need to consider moving ductwork or other services to provide access. This is an extreme scenario, but it should not be overlooked. A single fire damper failure can lead to the rapid spread of fire throughout a building.
Broken fusible links or springs
This is the simplest of fixes, fusible links and springs can be changed, avoiding the need to refit the damper. Good access is essential to ensure the correct installation.
Incorrectly sited fire damper
When a fire or smoke damper is installed, the integrity of the fire compartment must be maintained. This means that the housing around the damper should be fitted into the wall or ductwork, without space or air gaps. Some dampers will need to be replaced if fitted incorrectly, or the mounting made good. We recommend using a professional for this service as the effectiveness of the damper will be irrelevant if the fire can pass over or around the damper housing.
Upside down damper
This might sound crazy, but we have seen this. Many types of damper rely on gravity for effective operation, so if inverted they will not work. To correct this the damper must be removed and replaced by a competent professional.
Blockages
Our team have seen a variety of issues, from dampers being held open by building materials, debris and even silicone tubes, to cabling being run through the damper opening. Some of these issues are easy to resolve – debris for example would be cleaned when testing occurred, but other issues can be a little trickier.
The primary objective is to ensure all blockages are removed, but this must be done with consideration. In the case of cabling, for instance, this cannot simply be ‘cut’ as it will impact other services, not to mention the health and safety considerations of cutting into unidentified cabling!
Education is critical. If you know that other contractors will be working in areas where fire dampers are present, be sure they are aware that interference with the dampers is to be avoided.
In conclusion
These are just some of the issues our team have helped clients to overcome, but the list is by no means exhaustive. If you’ve tested your dampers and are facing issues, your contractor should be able help you develop a remedials plan to get your building to a compliant standard in the shortest possible timeframe. If you need additional support, our team are here to help. Call us on 020 8661 7888.
