AMCA International inmotion Magazine - Fall 2011 - (Page 23)

Standards With Post-Installation Guidance When designing damper systems for ﬁre and smoke protection, engineers need to consider how they will be tested and maintained over the years they will be in place. Two standards published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) provide operation, maintenance, and testing requirements: Chapter 6 of NFPA 105-2010, Standard for Smoke Door Assemblies and Other Opening Protectives, and Chapter 19 of NFPA 80-2010, Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives. Together, these standards cover operational testing and inspection immediately after installation; periodic inspection and testing; and maintenance of smoke dampers, ﬁre dampers, and combination ﬁre/smoke dampers. They also include requirements for documentation of the inspection, tests, and maintenance. Figure 5b: An “out of the wall/ partition” ﬁre damper installed on a 2-hour-rated steel/gypsum ﬁrewall. Photo courtesy of United Enertech. however, ﬁre/smoke dampers are available with electric heat release devices instead of fusible links. The electric release devices are resettable and allow the damper to close in a controlled manner rather than slamming closed and causing pressure problems in the HVAC system. System designers should insist upon these electric fuse links when selecting a combination ﬁre/smoke damper. Models designed with airfoil blades perform better (less pressure drop) than others. Less pressure drop in a system means energy savings. System designers should select products that certify their performance through a third party, such as the Air Movement and Control Association International (AMCA). Locations, sleeve attachments, and sealing of combination ﬁre/smoke dampers follow the same criteria as ﬁre dampers. Important Note on Installation The installation of life/safety dampers should always be accomplished in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions as tested by UL or another code-compliant approval agency. Installation instructions provided by a manufacturer should never be used to install the dampers of a different manufacturer as the dampers may not have been tested to and passed the speciﬁc installation. Recently, many damper designs, particularly combination ﬁre/smoke dampers, have increased their application and installation ﬂexibility, including “out of the wall/partition” installations (Figure 5a and 5b). The number of UL tests performed on FSDs has increased dramatically to accommodate the new designs and installation methods. These designs have made it easier to select and install the right damper without creating undue burden on the engineer, contractor, and the local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). Mechanical inspectors and plan review teams are being educated on these changes and are becoming increasingly aware of the new installation methods. Again, it is important that the damper manufacturer’s approved installation sheets be available for the AHJ during installation review. W W W. A M C A . O R G As with any building system, inspection and maintenance of components is essential to proper operation. This is especially true of a ﬁre/safety system! The National Fire Protection Association NFPA 105: Standard for Smoke Door Assemblies and Other Opening Protectives states each damper shall be tested and inspected one year after installation. The test and inspection frequency shall then be every 4 years, except in hospitals, where the frequency shall be every 6 years. The code also states that the damper shall be actuated and cycled. The inspections must be documented indicating the location of the damper, date of inspection, name of inspector, and deﬁciencies discovered. Similarly, NFPA 80: Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives, states that ﬁre and combination ﬁre/ smoke dampers shall require inspection and testing one year after installation. In addition, the testing and inspection frequency shall then be every 4 years, except in hospitals, where the frequency shall be every 6 years. NFPA 80 also requires documentation of the inspections. The use, proper installation, and maintenance of ﬁre, smoke, and combination ﬁre/smoke dampers in sprinkled or nonsprinkled buildings is a vital part of a properly designed life safety system. When ﬁre emergencies happen, the ﬁre, smoke and combination ﬁre/smoke dampers will help contain the ﬁre and resulting smoke to the compartment of origin and thus minimize life and property loss while helping the ﬁreﬁghters extinguish the blaze. References 1. AMCA Publication 503-03, Fire, Ceiling (Radiation), Smoke and Fire/Smoke Dampers Application Manual, Air Movement and Control Association International, 2003. 2. UL 555S, Standard for Safety—Smoke Dampers, Underwriters Laboratories, June 1999. A M C A I N T E R N AT I O N A L inmotion FA L L 2 0 1 1 23 http://WWW.AMCA.ORG

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AMCA International inmotion Magazine - Fall 2011

AMCA International inmotion Magazine - Fall 2011
President’s Message
News
Code Watch
Fan Efficiency Grades: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Fans and Atrium Smoke Control
Fire Dampers and Smoke Dampers: The Difference is Important
Fan and Damper Guide Specs Update
Calendar

AMCA International inmotion Magazine - Fall 2011