fire and smoke damper (44 slides)

8/8/2019 Fire and Smoke Damper (44 Slides)

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FIRE AND SMOKE DAMPERTESTING

WHAT IS THE CODE AND WHY

IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.


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INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

Craig Rutledge

Managing Member with Life Safety Services,LLC

Life Safety Services, LLCThe Leading Fire and Smoke Damper

Inspection Company in North America

Specialize only in the Inspection and Repairof Fire and Smoke Dampers.


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TodayTodays Objectives ObjectiveExplain what the mandatory codes are for

inspecting fire and smoke dampers.

What the inspection of dampers is soimportant.

The importance of having a specialized firecontractor perform the inspection.

What documentation you as AHJ/Inspectors

should look for after a damper inspection hasbeen performed.


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Several Organizations Require DamperSeveral Organizations Require DamperTesting:Testing:

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

International Code Council (ICC)

Underwriters Laboratory (UL)


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Additional Organizations Requiring Damper TestingAdditional Organizations Requiring Damper Testing

The Joint Commission

Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)

Numerous other Local AHJs

Insurance Companies / Risk Auditors

Fire and Smoke Damper Manu factors


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What type of Facilities is the CodeWhat type of Facilities is the Code

Enforceable to?Enforceable to?

ALL COMMERCIAL FACILITIESALL COMMERCIAL FACILITIES

HOSPITALS SCHOOLS (UNIVERSITIES, K-12)

OFFICE BUILDINGS

INDUSTRIAL PLANTS

MARINE (E.G. CRUISE SHIPS)

HOTELS


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WHAT IS THE DAMPER TESTING REQUIREMENT?WHAT IS THE DAMPER TESTING REQUIREMENT?

NFPA 19.4 MANDATES THE TESTING OF DAMPERS. 19.4.1 States that each damper shall be inspected 1 year after installed

19.4.1.1 States that testing frequency shall then be every 4 years thereafter

except in hospitals. 19.4.4 If the dampers is equipped with a fusible link the link shall be removed for

testing to ensure full closure and lock-in-place if so equipped.

19.4.5 The operational test of the damper shall verify that there is no damperinterference due to rust, bent, misaligned, or damaged frame or blades, or

defective hinges or moving parts. 19.4.6 The damper frame shall not be penetrated by any foreign objects that

would affect fire damper operations

19.4.7 The damper shall not be blocked in closure in any way.

19.4.8 The fusible link shall be reinstalled after testing is complete

19.4.8.1 If the link is damaged or painted, it shall be replaced with a link of thesame size, temperature, and load rating.


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CONTINUTEDCONTINUTED

NFPA 80 19.4 CONTINUED

19.4.9 All inspections and testing shall be documented indicatingthe location of the fire and combination fire/smoke damper, dateof inspection, name of inspector, and deficiencies discovered.

19.4.10 ALL documentation shall be maintained and madeavailable for review by the AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction).

NFPA 105 VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL REQUIREMENTS BUT FORBUT FOR

SMOKE DAMPERS V. FIRE DAMPERS AND COMBINATIONSMOKE DAMPERS V. FIRE DAMPERS AND COMBINATION

FIRE/SMOKEFIRE/SMOKE DAMPERS.DAMPERS.


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CONTINUTEDCONTINUTED

NFPA 90A

Commissiong (New Installations) After installation is completed an operation test needs

to be conducted.

The damper needs to fully close (automatically) fromthe open position. Please note that the fusible linkneeds to be removed for this test. The fusible link

needs to be re-installed after the completion of thetest.


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NFPA 90A Continued..(Commissioning)NFPA 90A Continued..(Commissioning)The operational test needs to verify that there is full andunobstructed access to the damper and all components.

Following the completion of the test, a visual inspectionneeds to be made of the assembly to ensure no obstructionshave been introduced.

All inspections and testing need to be documented indicatingthe location of the damper, date of inspection, name of theinspector and deficiencies discovered.


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NFPA 90A (Periodic Inspection and Testing)NFPA 90A (Periodic Inspection and Testing)Tests and Inspections need to be completed in all

buildings every 4 years.

NOTE: Does not differentiate between healthcare andNOTE: Does not differentiate between healthcare andnonnon--healthcare.healthcare.

Unobstructed access to the damper needs to beverified and corrected as required.

The damper needs to be actuated and cycled as apart of the associated smoke detector testing inaccordance with NFPA 72 (as applicable). Smoke

Dampers tied to Alarm Panel.


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NFPA 90A (Periodic Inspection andNFPA 90A (Periodic Inspection andTesting)Testing)Continued.Continued.

If the damper has a fusible link (fire damper or

combination), the link needs to be removed for testingto ensure full closure.

The operation test of the damper needs to verify that

there is no damper interference due to rusted, bent,misaligned or damaged frame or blades, or defectivehinges or parts.

The damper frame must not be penetrated by anyforeign objects that would affect fire damperoperations (e.g. screws in tracks).


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NFPA 90A (Periodic Inspection andNFPA 90A (Periodic Inspection andTesting)Testing)ContinuedContinuedThe damper must not be blocked from closure in any

way.

The fusible link (if applicable) needs to be reinstalledafter the completion of the testing.

If the fusible link (if applicable) is damaged or painted,

it should be replaced with a link of the same size,temperature and load rating.

All Inspections and testing need to be documented

indicating the location of the damper, date ofinspection, name of inspector and deficienciesdiscovered.


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NFPA 90ANFPA 90A MaintenanceMaintenanceAll exposed moving parts of the damper need

to be lubricated as required by the

manufacturer.

If a damper is inoperable (fails inspection),

repairs need to begin without delay.Following any repairs, the damper needs to

be tested for operation in accordance with the

requirements for Periodic Inspection andTesting.


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Analysis of the CodeAnalysis of the Code Why so much focus on the NFPA Code?

The other organizations use the NFPA Code as the

basis of their Fire and Smoke Damper Code. For example The International Code Councils Code says

that the NFPAs Requirement for damper testing must befollowed. The Joint Commission requires HealthcareFacilities to following the NFPA Code. SOLAS requiresNFPA to be followed on Marine Vessels, and UL requiresthat dampers be maintained in accordance with NFPA.

Insurance Companies require that building ownershave inspected dampers as required by NFPA.


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Analysis of the CodeAnalysis of the Code

When should the inspection be completed. During the commissioning process. One year after installation. Every 4 years after thereafter.

Why the difference in the two NFPA Codes forHealthcare facilities for testing frequency? Because Healthcare facilities were performing the testing so

frequently the healthcare facilities felt that they could have alonger duration.

However almost every AHJ requires that Healthcare facilitieshave the test performed in accordance with 90A every 4 yearsbecause of the importance of fire safety in Healthcare Facilities.

Damper Manufacturers also recommend more frequent testing ofdampers to lessen the failure rate.


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Analysis of the CodeAnalysis of the Code Why testing in Healthcare Facilities (Hospitals, Nursing

Homes, etc.) is so important.

The Joint Commission and Local Authoritiesstrictly enforce the damper testing codes inhealthcare facilities..Why?


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Why Damper Testing is so important in HealthcareWhy Damper Testing is so important in Healthcare

Facilities.Facilities.

Healthcare Facilities are Defend in PlaceDefend in Place facilities. In the event of a fire patients tied to life saving machines, or being

operated on can not be evacuated from a hospital. Many patientsare unable to be moved or are too sick to move quickly enough toescape danger in the event of a fire.

This is why Fire and Smoke Dampers and all life safety componentsMUSTMUSTwork and be maintained in Healthcare facilities if not theloss of life could be immense. This is why the testing requirementshave been strictly enforced at four years and in some casesannually by some AHJs for Healthcare Occupancies.


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WHY ARE DAMPERS TESTED?WHY ARE DAMPERS TESTED? ITS REQUIRED THE CODES MANDATE THAT DAMPERS BE TESTED.

THE CODE IS THERE FOR A REASON DAMPERS SERVE A

VALUABLE PURPOSE IN FIRE SAFETY.

The NFPA implemented the fire and smoke damper codesin large part due to fires in two The Las Vegas hotel fires(MGM Grand, and Hilton) NFPA investigation showed

that in both cases the fire spread in part because of failingfire and smoke dampers. Those fires led to over 80fatalities and substantial damages to the facilities.

Picture of the MGM Grand Hotel Fire


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Fire and Smoke Dampers are part of the overall FireSafety Plan of a building AllAllof the componentsmust work for the plan to be effective.

Even if fully sprinkled a building needs other lines offire safety defense that works. The non-profit groupCenter for Campus Fire Safetys Director Ed Comeauhas stated that the most common factors of fatal fires

in student housing are disabled smoke alarms andpoorly maintained sprinkler systems. Thusheightening the need for fire and smoke dampers to

lessen the spread of fire and smoke.


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Fire and Smoke Dampers Maintain the integrity of othermeans of Passive Fire Protection (Fire and SmokeWalls, Fire Stopping).

Without working Fire and Smoke Dampers Fire and Smoke

Walls are rendered useless.

Fire Damper in rated wall Smoke Damper in rated wall


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Why are Dampers Tested/Inspected?Why are Dampers Tested/Inspected? They often fail the items the code looks for as reasons

for failure are often found during inspection. FrequentInspection is the only way to find failures on valuablesafety protection devices.

An average of Life Safety Services, LLC projects showsthat approximately 10% of dampers fail inspection.10% of dampers fail inspection.NOTE: That figure is based largely in facilities that

have regular inspections. More than likely facilitiesthat have not had regular inspections will experiencea much higher failure rate.

Photographic Examples of Damper Failures.


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No Actuator for Damper

Wiring going through damper (obstruction)preventing closure.


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Static (e.g. gravity) Damper Installed in Vertical Shaft(needs dynamic damper).

Damper Rusted Open


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Damper wired opened

Damper installed

upside down


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Damper with broken springs/parts prohibiting closure.

Damper being held open by metal and mastic gluing damper openand blocking tracks.


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WHY ARE DAMPERS TESTED?WHY ARE DAMPERS TESTED?

Defending in PlaceDefending in Place Beyond HealthcareBeyond Healthcare Often in Life Safety we have to look at the concept of defend in place. Aside from Healthcare

Facilities we must Defend in Place in Correctional Facilities and for Ships at Sea. There is also defending in place the companies assets.

Expensive IT assets, Pharmaceutical Assets, Equipment, etc. The financial losses of a fire are substantial. Loss of assets,

damage to property, loss of revenue (e.g. loss of occupancy for ahotel, loss of production for a business, etc.)

Insurance Companies when investigating whether to pay for a loss

could look for the testing of dampers per code if damper areinvolved in the event.

High Occupancy Facilities/High Rise FacilitiesHigh Occupancy Facilities/High Rise Facilities Easiest Path for smoke to travel is often the Ductwork/HVAC System.

High Rise facilities have ductwork risers that allow smoke to rise floor-to-floor. Failed dampers will often close and cause hot and cold spots in buildings and cause your

buildings HVAC Systems to be out-of-balance and cause T&B problems.


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High Occupancy Facilities/HighHigh Occupancy Facilities/HighRise FacilitiesRise Facilities Easiest Path for smoke to travel is often the Ductwork/HVAC System.

High Rise facilities have ductwork risers that allow smoke to rise easilyfloor-to-floor.

Smoke can easily fill stairwells when occupants are evacuating a facility.

Fire and Smoke Dampers are installed between floors to

prevent the spread of fire and smoke between floors. Dampers need to be maintained to allow occupants

adequate time to evacuate high rise buildings (e.g. officebuildings, hotels) in the event of a fire.


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WHY ARE DAMPERS TESTED?WHY ARE DAMPERS TESTED?

It is less expensive to test fire and smokedampers on a regular basis because it

decreases failures and repair costs.

The leading manufacturers of fire and smoke

dampers recommend frequent testing ofdampers.

Stating that more frequent testing will increase the life

of fire and smoke damper testing and then in turnlessen the replacement cost for new dampers andmake buildings safer.


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Who Should Perform the Fire & Smoke DamperWho Should Perform the Fire & Smoke Damper

Inspection?Inspection?

A company or individual that specializes in

the Inspection of Fire & Smoke DamperTesting.

Why having a Specialist is Important.

Fire Safety is too important to have a contractorthat does not specialize to perform the inspection.

Substantially reduces liability on the property

owner.


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Why select a Fire & Smoke Damper Specialist toperform the Inspection.Companies that do not specialize too often do not find

all of the dampers during the inspection. Have to remember unlike other fire safety inspectionsHave to remember unlike other fire safety inspections

the devices are not visible so knowing the code aboutthe devices are not visible so knowing the code aboutwhere the devices should be located and finding thewhere the devices should be located and finding thedevices is imperative.devices is imperative.

Missing Dampers During an inspection puts the propertyowner, building occupants, and all stakeholders andsubstantially greater risk.

Our company has followed countless contractors that did not

specialize in this inspection and found that they have notfound very larger percentages of the dampers, often many ofwhich are failed dampers.


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Knowing all the models and types of Dampers.There are not just Fire and Smoke Dampers.

There are HUNDREDSHUNDREDS of models of Fire Dampers andHUNDREDSHUNDREDS of models of Smoke Dampers.

Knowing how to inspect all models is only possible with acompany that has been trained and specializes in the testing ofdampers.

What could happen if you dont know all models It slows down the testing process which in turn is a much

larger inconvience to the property owner (and moreexpensive.

Could potentially close a damper and not be able to openre-open the damper. This would block the airflow for theHVAC System, which blocks off the air to all buildingoccupants.

Could damage the damper. Could wrongly report a damper inspection result. For

example, stating incorrectly a damper passed or failed(e.g. false positive or false negative).


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Why Use a Damper Testing Specialist?Why Use a Damper Testing Specialist?

The inspection process will be faster and will notrequire the assistance of property

managements staff.Specialist will be able to inspect more dampers in a

day, saving the property manger time and money and

much less disturbing to the staff and occupants.Specialist knowing how to find dampers, not set off

alarms, not blocking off airflow with close dampers,

etc. will not need an escort from the propertymanagement department. Therefore not utilizingexpensive human resources and money.


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Why use a Specialist?Why use a Specialist? In Healthcare Facilities greatly reduces the risk to

patients. Damper testing companies that specialize will be familiar with

Infection Control Measures to protect Immune Compromised

Patients from the contaminants above the ceiling that can bereleased during the testing process.

Damper testing professionals will be familiar with the InfectionControl Risk Matrix to determine what measures need to be

used in different areas of a hospital depending on the risk. Damper Specialist will know what an ICRA (Infection ControlRisk Assessment) is and how to implement the ICRA.

What all of this means is that not using a company familiar withwork in a healthcare environment is putting patient safety at risk

but increasing the chances of infection.


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Why Use a Specialist?Why Use a Specialist? Fewer NonFewer Non--Accessible DampersAccessible Dampers

Companies that specialize in damper testing will know better

know how to better reach hard to access dampers. This saves the property owner money and reduces their liability.

NFPA States that non-accessible dampers must be madeaccessible as soon as possible.

Many insurance companies will not cover losses if a propertyowner knows a damper is non-accessible but does not make adamper accessible for inspection.


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Why use a Damper Testing Specialist?Why use a Damper Testing Specialist?

The DocumentationThe Specialist Will

Know the Code(s)

Know what the code(s) requires in regards to documentation.

Know what the AHJ requires.

Have professional, complete documentation that will not

require that will meet the code requirements for the propertyowner.

Our company has performed inspections for property ownerswho have paid to have the dampers inspected by anothercompany that was not a specialist and did not provide

documentation approved by the AHJ. So the property ownerpaid twice for the test.


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What Type of Documentation Should the AHJWhat Type of Documentation Should the AHJRequire for the Property Owner?Require for the Property Owner?

Detailed Inventory of every damper. List the location of damper

Type of Damper (Fire, Smoke) Damper Number

Result of the Inspection (Pass, Fail) If Damper Failed Why the Damper Failed

Column listing what the corrective action is for when the failed damper isfixed.

Drawings with every dampers marked with the dampernumber and type of damper noted.

Damper Tag and the physical location of every damperwith the damper number and type (fire or smoke).


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The beginningof the report

needs toprovide a floor

by floorsummary of

the inspection.


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Digital Picture of Every Damper TestedDigital Picture of Every Damper Tested This is the onlyonly way in a report to prove

that every damper was tested.

Ensures that the contractor actually testedthe dampers.

Reduces liability. For Failed Dampers it assists the repair

contractor to see the failed damper.


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Sample of What Documentation ShouldSample of What Documentation ShouldLook Like in Final Report to AHJLook Like in Final Report to AHJ

SampleSample

FireFire

DamperDamperPicturesPictures


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Sample of What Documentation ShouldSample of What Documentation Should

Look Like in Final Report to AHJLook Like in Final Report to AHJ

SampleSample

SmokeSmokeDamperDamper

PicturesPictures


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WHAT TO DOCUMENT & DO DURING YOUR INSPECTION

FIRE DAMPERS REMOVE THE FUSIBLE LINK

CLEAN ALL TRACKS OF DIRT & DEBRIS THAT CAN PREVENT DAMPER FROM

CLOSING LUBRICATE MOVING PARTS

REPLACE BAD FUSIBLE LINKS

ENSURE DAMPER FULLY CLOSES AND THERE ARE NO GAPS

MAKE SURE ON DYNAMIC DAMPERS THAT ALL SPRINGS ARE WORKING

SMOKE DAMPERS ELECTRIC SMOKE DAMPERS REMOVE POWER SOURCE TO ENSURE DAMPER

FULLY CLOSES AND ACTUATOR IS WORKING

PNEUMATIC SMOKE DAMPERS REMOVE THE AIR LINE TO ENSURE THE DAMPER

FULLY CLOSES AND ACTUATOR IS WORKING. NOTE****THIS IS A DIFFERENT TEST THAN TESTING OF THE RELAY TO YOUR

ALARM PANEL


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QUESTIONS AND CONTACT INFORMATION

LIFE SAFETY SERVICESCRAIG RUTLEDGE

OFFICE: 888-675-4519CELL: 502-836-2875

EMAIL: [email protected]

WEB: WWW.LIFESAFETYSERVICES.COM
mailto:[email protected]://www.lifesafetyservices.com/http://www.lifesafetyservices.com/mailto:[email protected]

fire and smoke damper (44 slides)

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