Fire dampers are an integral part of a building’s fire safety system. They help to prevent the spread of fire and noxious fumes through ducts in walls that would otherwise be impervious to fire.
All fire dampers should close fully on release in the event of a fire. The integrity of the closure prevents the spread of smoke and fire during an emergency situation, giving the building’s occupants more time to escape and for the fire to be tackled safely. Working fire dampers reduce the threat to life and the extent of any property damage.
The British Standard BS: 9999 states that a competent person must test fire dampers after installation and at regular intervals not exceeding two years.
Is it possible to reset a fire damper?
A fire damper is designed to be reset after it has been activated, either through a false alarm or because of testing. Most fire dampers will automatically reset if a false alarm has occurred and, as a result, the entire system will be reset. It’s also possible to manually reset a fire damper by pressing the reset button. This will usually be located on its assembly.
To reset a damper, each stainless-steel blade is repositioned by pushing back the latch under spring tension. Once all the blades have been pushed back, the latch springs out to secure them. The means by which this is carried out will depend on the type of damper that is installed.
Conducting damper inspections and testing is a very thorough process to ensure compliance and functionality. Dampers need to be tested properly on a regular basis and you need to be confident that they have been reset correctly. An incorrect reset or insufficient repair can radically reduce the chances of a damper working properly during a fire.
Fire dampers will frequently be installed in areas of the building that are not easy to access. They will be installed in penetrations of fire-rated walls and floors, and consequently, accessing the damper itself may be challenging. Building managers need to be confident that they can locate, access and then competently reset a fire damper prior to attempting to do so.
Resetting different types of dampers
Before you test or reset your fire damper it’s important to understand the type of fire damper you have and how fire dampers work.
Dynamic dampers have a spring-loaded mechanism. When a fire occurs, the mechanism is released and the doors of the damper shut. The system fan continues to run, building up pressure that keeps the damper in place.
Static dampers have a curtain-like design that drops in the event of a fire. These dampers are installed in horizontal barriers where ducting fans will no longer work if a fire is detected.
Smoke/fire dampers are designed to block both smoke and fire. They may be triggered by a smoke detector detecting smoke as well as heat from a fire.
The principal difference between dynamic and static dampers is that dynamic dampers use springs to pull the curtain closed against the air pressure and velocity while static dampers rely solely on gravity. Testing and maintenance of fire dampers, especially dynamic, curtain fire dampers, can be extremely difficult.
Each of these damper types will be reset slightly differently so it’s important to be aware of the type of damper you have and its individual reset technique.
Fire damper testing and maintenance from ECS commissioning
Because of the importance of fire dampers to the safety and integrity of your building’s fire protection system, it is advisable to have your fire dampers reset professionally. If you are finding it difficult to reset your fire dampers, cannot locate a reset button or are concerned about inadvertently damaging your fire dampers, then contact a professional maintenance team to carry out the task.
ECS Commissioning will ensure that your fire dampers are working effectively and that you can reset them after testing.
We are the north of England’s HVAC commissioning specialists. We work across all sectors and are trusted for our professional approach and attention to detail.
Call 01535 600688 or email info@ecs-yorkshire.co.uk to find out more about our services.