What is a fire damper in ductwork?
What is a fire damper in ductwork?
Fire Dampers are used in air transfer openings, ducts and other places where fire rated structures (e.g. walls, floors or other fire barriers) are penetrated. The idea of compartmentation is to keep the fire in the start point and prevent it from spreading to other locations.
What is a mechanical fire damper?
Mechanical dampers shut the cross sectional area of a duct in the event of a fire either by means of pivoting a fire-resistant board (in Europe), or by means of steel shutters, similar to blinds on a window (in North America).
How does a mechanical fire damper work?
Fire dampers respond to heat, when the temperature reaches a set point the damper slams shut. Smoke dampers respond to the detection of smoke, and close automatically. They can also be activated remotely. They resist the passage of smoke, toxic gases and air through a fire barrier.
Where are fire dampers required?
Generally, fire dampers are required where air ducts penetrate walls that are rated for 2-hours or more. They are needed in all air transfer openings (non-ducted) in rated walls, regardless of the rating. And they are required at some, but not all penetrations of rated floor assemblies and shaft enclosures.
Where should fire dampers be installed?
Location: Fire dampers are installed in or near the wall or floor, at the point of duct penetration, to retain the integrity and fire rating of a wall or floor whether it is a ducted or open-ple- num return application.
When should fire dampers be installed?
Fire dampers are ducting fittings. They are usually used whenever there is a fire-resistant wall in the property. Because of the ducting vent, there will be a place through which fire and smoke can escape from one room to another. Fire dampers are what stops the flames and smoke from passing through.
Are fire dampers mandatory?
Ventilation ductwork should comply with BS 5588: Part 9 and HTM 2025-ventilation in healthcare premises . Ductwork passing through compartment and sub-compartment walls should be provided with fire dampers. When ducts serve a hazard room, then fire dampers are required.
What’s the difference between a fire damper and smoke damper?
A fire damper closes once the duct temperature reaches a high enough level to melt a fusible link. A smoke damper closes upon the detection of smoke. It is UL leakage-rated to stop smoke in its tracks, which is a main difference from fire dampers.
How many fire dampers do I need?
3 hour fire dampers are required if a barrier’s fire resistance rating is 3 hours or more. STATIC rated fire dampers can be applied only if the HVAC system is automatically shut down in the event of a fire emergency. DYNAMIC rated fire dampers can be applied in all HVAC systems.
Where are fire dampers located?
The fire dampers are located in areas of ductwork intersection of fire-rated barriers within a building. The function of a damper is to secure the integrity of the barrier. It also retains the fire rating capacity of the walls and the floor whether it is ducted or open.
What exactly are fire dampers?
Fire dampers are passive fire protection products used in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning; also heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) is the technology of indoor and vehicular environmental comfort. Its goal is to provide thermal comfort and acceptable indoor air quality. HVAC system design is a subdiscipline of mechanical engineering, base… ) ducts to prevent the spread of fire inside the ductwork through fire-resistance rated walls and floors. Fire/smoke dampers are similar to fire dampers in fire resistance rating, and also prevent the spread of smoke inside the ducts.
What does fire damper mean?
Here are all the possible meanings and translations of the word Fire Damper. Fire dampers are passive fire protection products used in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) ducts to prevent the spread of fire inside the ductwork through fire-resistance rated walls and floors.
What is a fire damper service?
A Fire/Smoke Damper is a very important element of passive fire stopping in a building. Coupled with other elements of a passive fire system, a correctly installed Fire/Smoke Damper will compartmentalise an area, impeding the spread of Smoke, Toxic Gases and Fire throughout a building. Effectively, this will increase the time available for evacuation of the building and for fire services to extinguish the fire and minimise the damage to the property.