Fire Damper Testing

PRN hygiene services can provide a fire safety testing for your dampers. PRN hygiene services comply with the BS 9999:2017 of practise for ventilation and air conditioning ductwork.

Fire dampers are a protection method to stop the internal spread of fire in the ductwork through fire rated walls and floors. As the temperature rises inside the ductwork, a thermal element is triggered which results in the fire damper closing. Another way of the fire dampers closing is through a electrical signal which would come from a fire alarm.

How Often Should Fire Dampers Be Tested?

As BS 9999:2017 states: all fire dampers to be tested annually by a competent person on completion of the installation and at regular intervals not exceeding 1 year. Spring-operated fire dampers should be tested annually and fire dampers situated in dust-laden and similar atmospheres should be tested much more frequently, at periods suited to the degree of pollution.

There are many reasons for fire dampers failing such as:

Debris blocking the blades
Springs have been broken
Poor installation e.g wrong orientation
Blades have been damaged

PRN Hygiene Inspections Of Fire Dampers

Check the orientation of the fire damper
Transport tape has been removed
Checked for any corrosion or damage, if found report to the client immediately with photographic evidence
Photographic evidence will be taken on every fire damper to show the drop test
Drop test on the fire damper to ensure it is working correctly
Mark the position of the fire damper within the system and also with an id number
Record any issues
Final report will be issued to the client

Important new BESA guidance on Fire Damper Testing

Maintenance of fire and smoke dampers from the Building & Engineering Association (BESA). normal use of the ventilation system gathers an accumulation of contamination on the fire damper and its operational parts. This must be removed and the fire damper tested regularly to ensure that it operates as designed, should a fire occur. In a healthcare setting, additional care is needed.

Fire dampers are a protection method to stop the internal spread of fire