Any fire suppression system is only as good as the quality of the products and the quality of the installation. There are many types, shapes and sizes of fire dampers; a fusible link operates some which close mechanically, others may be connected to the fire suppression system in your building and are operated electronically.
For those readers who are less familiar with fire dampers, they are designed to operate in the event of a fire breaking out, limiting the spread of fire and smoke throughout a building. We recommend downloading our free guide for more information.
Irrespective of how the dampers in your building work, it is essential that they have been installed correctly for optimal performance. Sounds reasonable, right? You will be shocked, as we are, at some of the fire damper installations our team have inspected.
Gravity plays a significant role in the operation of many dampers; they literally ‘fall’ when released. The complete closure of the damper is essential to prevent the spread of smoke and/or fire. However, if a damper is inverted, installed at 90 degrees or horizontally (yes, our team have seen examples of all of these), the operation of dampers is almost impossible.
So, how do you know if your dampers are installed correctly and ready for action? The quickest way is to inspect each of them – this can be done as part of your annual fire damper inspection routine. If you are unsure of what a correctly sited damper looks like, please call us, our team of experts will be happy to help.
Correct fire damper installation doesn’t stop at the position of the damper. The method used to secure the damper in place is equally important. The role of the damper is to maintain the integrity of the fire compartment – which means it needs to reseal the hole created by the ductwork. If a damper operates correctly but is sited with gaps around the outside of the housing, the operation will be ineffective.
If you are not sure that your fire damper installation is correct and safe, help is at hand. Our team can provide comprehensive fire damper remedial works, including resolving fire stopping issues and repositioning dampers or installing brand new dampers where necessary. Give us a call to learn more.
