Fire Damper Testing for Schools

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Keeping Pupils and Staff Safe

Limiting the impact of fire is important for every type of building, but especially so for schools and educational settings where there are many young and potentially vulnerable children on the premises.

Fire dampers play a crucial role in preventing the spread of smoke and fire and are a vital part of a buildings fire safety system which is why it is vital that they are well maintained and fully functioning.

At Swiftclean, our dedicated team of experienced fire safety experts can provide comprehensive fire damper testing for primary schools, secondary schools, colleges, universities and academic institutions of all sizes and types.

The Importance of Fire Dampers

Within the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems of a school building there is an important passive fire protection product called a fire damper. These are fitted at specific points within the ductwork where it passes through a fire containment zone such as fire-resistant walls and floors.

In the event of a fire, these fire dampers are designed to close, and seal shut, preventing smoke and flames from quickly spreading through the fire zones. Without them, the ductwork can act as a conduit for the fire and smoke to freely pass through and move rapidly to other areas of the school building.

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Effective fire dampers in a school help to;

Slow the fire and spread of smoke significantly.
Allow the time needed for teachers and staff to evacuate all children quickly and safely.
Reduce the amount of damage to the building and equipment.
Maintain the integrity of fire exits and escape routes.
Provide extra time for emergency services to arrive and put out the fire.

The importance of fire dampers within a school setting cannot be underestimated, which is why ensuring that they are properly and regularly maintained so that they are fully functioning is essential.

Professional Fire Damper Testing

The team at Swiftclean are experts on fire dampers and can carry out comprehensive testing and maintenance to ensure that they function as they should.

If dampers are not properly maintained then they can fail to work at the most crucial time they are needed and if a fire does occur, it puts the building and those inside at greater risk.

Our professional fire damper testing service for schools is reliable and cost-effective and helps to ensure everything is in working order to keep staff, pupils and visitors safe.

As part of our fire damper testing service, our Swiftclean engineer will;

Identify and locate all of the building’s fire dampers
Add on and retrofit access panels for any fire dampers that are inaccessible
Perform fire damper testing, cleaning and drop testing
Properly reset each fire damper
Provide accurate documentation and records of what was carried out including before and after photographs
Identify any problems and make recommendations for any remedial action that needs to be taken
If required carry out remedial work

If you manage, are in charge of, or are responsible for a school or education building and would like to know more about fire damper drop testing for schools then please get in touch and one of our advisors will be happy to help and answer any questions you have.

FAQ’s

How fire dampers work

Fire dampers are installed in the ductwork of systems such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC). They are strategically placed in areas where the duct passes through fire compartment barriers such as fire rated floors and walls. The design is like that of a shutter which springs shut in the event of fire and works to prevent smoke and fire from spreading through the ductwork to other areas of the building.

The dampers can be triggered in two ways;

Thermally – When the predetermined temperature is reached either a bi-metallic strip will activate the system or the ‘fusible link’ holding the shutters apart will melt, triggering them to slam shut.
Electrically – Electronic dampers are activated by smoke and fire detectors that are linked to the dampers trigger mechanism which closes the shutters.

What causes fire dampers to fail?

Unfortunately, fire dampers can and do fail for a number of reasons if they are not regularly tested and maintained, which can be catastrophic in the event that a fire does break out.

Some of the most common reasons for dampers to fail are;

Obstructions and blockages
Corrosion and rust
Failed linkage
Debris and dirt
Broken, damaged or faulty parts such as springs, blades, actuators
Poor installation

Ensuring that fire dampers are regularly checked, inspected, tested and maintained is key to keeping them in full working order and functioning as they should so that if they are ever needed, they do their job properly to protect the building and those inside.

How often do fire dampers need testing?

In the UK, fire dampers are governed by the British Standard BS9999: 2017 The Fire Safety Code of Practice for the Design, Management and Use of Buildings. This states that ‘all dampers must be tested and maintained at a maximum interval of 12 months’.

It might be tempting for some to put off or simply not bother with what they consider to be an ‘obscure or unnecessary fire safety regulation’ but there can be severe consequences for failing to comply such as large fines, penalties, business closures and even time in prison.

Swiftclean commitment:

Identify and locate each fire damper
Retrofit access doors if any of these are inaccessible
Carry out fire damper testing, cleaning and drop testing and reset each fire damper
Provide accurate records of fire damper testing, cleaning and drop testing, including before and after photographs of cleaning
Identify any problems and recommend remedial action
Carry out remedial work where required

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