The Role of Fire Dampers in Passive Fire Protection
Fire dampers are a key component of passive fire protection systems. They help to sure up the vulnerabilities in your structure, protecting you in the event of a fire. But what exactly are they, and why are they important?
Supplying all kinds of fire protection measures, the team at Sovereign Extinguishing have the answer. In this article we’ll discuss everything about fire dampers – from what they are, to how to install them in your building.
Protect your assets in the event of a fire with our passive protection systems – get in touch.
What is a Fire Damper?
A fire damper is a fitting that can be secured around a duct. Typically, they will be used on a fire-resistant wall that has a ducting vent, such as one from a HVAC system. The space around these ducts generally means that fire and smoke could bypass the fire-resistant wall, hence the need for a fire damper to seal any gaps.
Depending on your needs, there are a few different types of fire damper. Their use cases differ depending on their application and the type of protection you’re after. The types of fire damper include:
Static. These dampers are installed in horizontal barriers, and activate once a fire has been detected, dropping a protective curtain down and sealing off the vent. This means that the duct will no longer function once a fire has been detected.
Dynamic. Installed in vertical barriers, dynamic fire dampers are spring-loaded mechanisms that activate once a fire has been detected. Unlike with static dampers, dynamic ones continue to leave the ventilation system running, building up pressure behind the damper and using that to keep the duct closed.
Curtain vs Multi-Blade. Curtain dampers drop shutters when activated, while multi-bladed ones have pivot shutters that turn when they detect fire or smoke. Multi-bladed varieties tend to block the air flow more than curtain ones, so which you use depends on your needs.
Fire vs Smoke. This is the most comprehensive type of fire & smoke damper, preventing both fire and smoke from escaping into an adjacent room. Occasionally, this level of protection isn’t required, and a specialised smoke damper can be used instead.
How do Fire Dampers Work?
Fire dampers are typically held back by a fusible link. These melt away when the temperature of a room rises above a certain level, indicating that a fire has broken out. When the link melts, the damper is activated, stopping airflow into the room and preventing fire or smoke from spreading through the vents. This helps to stop the spread and intensity of the fire, protecting your assets against further damage.
Adding Fire Dampers to Your Passive Fire Protection System
Now that you know what fire dampers are used for, and when they’re best used, it’s time to find out how to actually install, check, and maintain the fire dampers in your passive fire protection system.
A comprehensive fire protection system is made up of many elements, both passive and active. We specialise in delivering fire extinguishing and passive protection systems that can safeguard your building and its occupants in the event of a fire. As such, the installation and ongoing maintenance for your fire dampers is part of our core services.
How to Install Fire Dampers
As part of compliancy with fire safety standards, there are certain ways that fire dampers need to be installed. The method involved varies depending on the model and manufacturer, and can be found within their published installation documents.
Without proper installation, your fire dampers may end up being illegally installed. Furthermore, this will leave your building vulnerable in the event of a fire – correctly installing your fire dampers in the first instance is therefore a must.
While fire dampers can be installed by yourself, they’re better suited as part of a comprehensive passive fire protection system – get in touch to find out more.
How to Check Fire Dampers
Regular inspections of your fire dampers need to be carried out to make sure they’re still performing correctly. Corrosion, wear, and mechanical faults can all lead to dampers not functioning properly, which will present a hazard in the event of a fire. What’s more, it will make them void in the eyes of your insurance, reducing the chances of a pay-out if a fire does occur.
The EN 15650 states that the interval for checking fire dampers should not exceed six months. This process should include checks to confirm that the fire dampers operate correctly, respond quickly, and form a cohesive seal against smoke or fire.
How to Maintain Fire Dampers
Regular checks are the way to help you maintain your fire dampers as they allow you to spot issues before they become real problems in a live fire. Much like with installation, fire dampers need to be maintained in a specific way as per their published instruction documents. This ensures they operate correctly, no functionality is lost, and that they remain compliant with fire safety regulations.
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Passive Fire Extinguishing from Sovereign
Fire dampers are a crucial part of your passive fire protection, helping you to minimise the damage of a fire should one break out, and cutting the oxygen supply that fires need to spread. They provide a stopgap for the spread of fire and smoke past fire-resistant walls, securing your assets and giving you extra time to respond before any real damage occurs.
Protect your property with passive fire protection from Sovereign Extinguishing. To learn more about our services, contact us today, or check out some other blogs where we go into detail on fire protection methods that can safeguard your building.
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