Fire and smoke dampers are lifesavers.
They’re gateways that sit in air ducts and ventilation shafts in buildings, and ordinarily they let the air move around the building normally in the spaces between storeys. However, in the case of a fire, the damper closes to completely seal off the air channel and stop the smoke or fire moving to another part of the building.
For traditional dampers, this happens when the temperature reaches 72 degrees Celsius and the fuse that keeps the damper open melts, causing the door to drop. For more modern electronic dampers, all the dampers on a circuit drop when the fire alarm is triggered.
When installed and operating correctly, dampers have a burn time of two hours, which is vital when it comes to evacuating a building and limiting damage.
Unfortunately, if a fire and smoke damper isn’t working properly, or hasn’t been installed correctly, it won’t seal off the shaft completely. Smoke and flames can then simply travel along the duct into new areas of the building, spreading rapidly.
Our job is to ensure that these dampers work flawlessly when they’re needed to save lives.
To be compliant with BS 9999: 2017, every business must have its fire and smoke dampers tested each year. With a large team situated in every region in the UK, we’re always available to help you become or remain compliant, at every location in which you operate.
READ MORE
