Did you know the most significant risk for occupants in fires is smoke inhalation?
When it comes to preventing the spread of fire, smoke, and toxic gases through buildings, dampers play a critical role.
Last month we introduced our fire dampers installation and maintenance service, however, motorised combination fire/smoke dampers are also a vital element of your fire strategy to protect your tenants, employees, and goods from potential damage, all whilst ventilating escape routes.
How do they work?
‘ES’ class dampers are an essential part of HVAC ductwork, acting as barriers to prevent the spread of smoke and fire.
As the name indicates, these motorised combination dampers fulfil the dual role of a fire and a smoke damper. They are commonly used in HVAC penetrations where a wall or ceiling or floor requires both smoke and fire dampers, and are an integral part of a building’s passive fire protection system. When smoke is detected they close (via smoke detector) or by heat detection (via duct temperature).
What is the difference between a fire damper and a motorised fire & smoke damper?
Whilst fire dampers require fusible links, combination fire/smoke dampers have electric heat release devices. These can be reset and allow the closure of the damper to be controlled rather than slamming shut, thereby limiting the likelihood of pressure problems within the HVAC system.
Where should they be situated?
Smoke and fire dampers fulfil very similar roles and are put in similar locations. They are both designed to prevent ducting becoming a weak point in a building’s fire safety provision. Each damper is placed within the ductwork which, under normal circumstances, will allow air through, but in the event of a fire they will shut. As with any building system, the regular maintenance and inspection is imperative to ensure proper operation.
Look after your dampers, and your dampers will look after you
Proper installation and maintenance of fire and smoke dampers is crucial – if a damper fails to work correctly it can literally mean the difference between life and death. Click to learn more about how we can support you with this integral part of fire fighting equipment, and find out how you can meet the current and ever-changing standards.
