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Fire and Smoke Damper ITM

Mar 19, 2023 | Public | 0 comments

 

 

Fire, smoke, and combination fire/smoke dampers are crucial pieces of equipment used to reduce the spread of fire and smoke throughout a building. For an overview of the basics on fire and smoke dampers refer to this newly developed fact sheet. As with all fire protection and life safety equipment, fire and smoke dampers must be properly inspected, tested, and maintained to ensure that they will operate when needed.

This blog will break down the requirements for the inspection, testing, and maintenance (ITM) requirements of fire dampers, smoke dampers, and combination fire/smoke dampers. Although the ITM requirements for each seem similar, there are some variations in the inspection and testing requirements.

Fire Dampers

Chapter 19 of NFPA 80, Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives, provides the ITM requirements for fire dampers.

An operational test is performed (typically by the installation personnel) right after the damper is installed to confirm the following:

·      Damper fully closes.

·      There are no obstructions to the operation of the damper.

·      There is full and unobstructed access to the damper.

·      For dynamic dampers, the velocity in the duct is within the velocity rating of the damper.

·      All indicating devices are working and report correctly.

·      The fusible link (if equipped) is the correct temperature classification and rating.

An acceptance test is a test of the damper that is completed by a qualified person after the damper is installed, an operational test is completed, and the entire heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is complete. The acceptance test is performed to confirm the following prior to placing the entire system in service:

·      The damper is not damaged or missing any parts.

·      If actuated, dampers close fully upon disconnection of electrical power or air pressure.

·      If actuated, dampers fully reopen when electrical power or air pressure is reapplied.

·      If non-actuated, the damper closes upon removal of the fusible link and is manually reset to the full-open position.

Testing must be done under maximum airflow after HVAC system balancing, unless acceptance testing is being peformed for dampers with fusible links. In that case, it is permitted to turn the fan in the system off.

Fire dampers need to be inspected and tested 1 year after the initial acceptance test and then every 4 years, unless the dampers are installed in a hospital, in which case they can be inspected and tested every 6 years.

During the periodic inspection of an actuated fire damper, the following needs to be completed:

·      Confirm that the damper is in the full-open or full-closed position as required by the system design.

·      Visually confirm the damper moved to the full-closed or full-open position when commanded.

·      Visually confirm that the damper returns to the original operating position as required by the system design.

During the periodic inspection of a non-actuated fire damper, the following needs to be completed:

·      Confirm the fusible link is not painted.

·      Confirm the damper fully closes when the fusible link is removed or activated with the damper in the full-open position.

·      Where equipped, confirm that the damper latches in the full-closed position.

·      Confirm that the damper is returned to the full-open and operational position with fusible link installed.

Smoke Dampers

 

Chapter 7 of NFPA 105, Standard for Smoke Door Assemblies and Other Opening Protectives, provides the inspection, testing, and maintenance requirements for smoke dampers, which are outlined below. Smoke dampers that are part of a smoke control system need to be inspected and tested in accordance with NFPA 92, Standard for Smoke Control Systems.

An operational test is performed after the damper is installed and after the building’s heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system has been fully balanced to confirm the following:

·      Damper fully closes under both the normal HVAC airflow and non-airflow conditions.

·      There are no obstructions to the operation of the damper.

·      There is full and unobstructed access to the damper.

·      All indicating devices are working and report correctly.

An acceptance test is a test of the damper that is completed by a qualified person after the damper is installed, an operational test is completed, and the entire HVAC system is complete to confirm the following prior to placing the entire system in service:

·      The damper is not damaged or missing any parts.

·      Dampers close fully upon disconnection of electrical power or air pressure.

·      Dampers fully reopen when electrical power or air pressure is reapplied.

Testing must be done under maximum airflow after HVAC system balancing.

Smoke dampers need to be inspected and tested 1 year after the initial acceptance test and then every 4 years, unless the dampers are installed in a hospital, in which case they can be inspected and tested every 6 years.

During the periodic inspection, the following needs to be completed:

·      Confirm that the damper is in the full-open or full-closed position as required by the system design.

·      Visually confirm the damper moved to the full-closed or full-open position when commanded.

·      Visually confirm that the damper returns to the original operating position as required by the system design.

Combination Fire/Smoke Dampers

Combination Fire/Smoke Dampers need to meet the requirements for both fire dampers and smoke dampers when it comes to ITM.

Documentation

All inspections and tests of fire, smoke, and combination fire/smoke dampers need to be documented and maintained for at least three test cycles. These documents need to include the following:

·      Location of the damper

·      Date(s) of inspection

·      Name of the inspector

·      Deficiencies discovered, if any

·      Indication of when and how deficiencies were corrected, if applicable

Maintenance

Proper maintenance of fire, smoke, and fire/smoke dampers is crucial to ensure that they remain operational. If a damper is found to not be operational, repairs need to be completed without delay and a periodic test must be completed after the repair is completed to ensure the damper’s operation. All exposed moving parts of the damper need to be lubricated as required by the manufacturer and any reports of an abrupt change in airflow or noise from a duct system needs to be investigated to ensure that it is not related to the damper operation.

Summary

Proper inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire, smoke, and fire/smoke dampers ensure they are installed and operating properly in the event of an emergency. For more information about the basics of fire, smoke, and combination fire/smoke dampers, check out this fact sheet.

Important Notice: Any opinion expressed in this column (blog, article) is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the official position of NFPA or its Technical Committees. In addition, this piece is neither intended, nor should it be relied upon, to provide professional consultation or services.

The post "Fire and Smoke Damper ITM" appeared first on NFPA Today Blogs

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