Fire smoke damper testing: A vital component of life safety
Understanding the importance of fire smoke dampers and the codes surrounding their testing and maintenance will save lives and minimize property damage in the event of a fire.
Fire smoke damper insights:
- While only one part of a fire safety plan, fire smoke dampers are critical to mitigating the spread of hazards.
- Making sure that fire smoke dampers are regularly tested ensures code compliance and safer fire plans.
Fire smoke dampers are an integral component of a facility’s fire protection system and overall fire life safety program. Specifically designed to prevent the spread of fire and smoke through the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system during an emergency event, these devices protect building occupants and minimize property damage. However, their effectiveness hinges on regular testing and maintenance.
What is a fire smoke damper?
A fire smoke damper is a device installed in ducts and air distribution systems with the primary purpose of preventing flame and/or smoke distribution throughout the HVAC system and, in-turn, the building itself. Fire smoke damper devices include both an automated variation that works with the HVAC’s direct digital control system or fire alarm system and a manual variation that is triggered by heat. There are also variations of dampers designed for just smoke or fire control. It is necessary to ensure these devices are optimized for performance and regularly tested and maintained, no matter the type of device.

Figure 1: Fire dampers are a manual mechanism released by a fusible link that melts in the event of a fire. The mechanism will then close and seal itself off. Courtesy: NWESI
Fire smoke damper roles and impacts of a failed system
A fire smoke damper is one of many components in a fire life safety system and a fire safety program. Its success or failure has cascading effects on the rest of a facility’s fire life safety program. If a fire alarm is triggered by a small fire in a building, but that alarm fails to signal the fire smoke dampers to close, it will cause a rapid spread of fire and smoke throughout the building. This affects the safe evacuation of building occupants as well as the amount of damage done to the building.
To further demonstrate the impact of failed fire safety systems NFPA found the following key findings:
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In 2022, local fire departments responded to an estimated 1.5 million fires in the United States. These fires caused 3,790 civilian fire deaths and 13,250 reported civilian fire injuries. The property damage caused by these fires was estimated at $18 billion.
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NFPA has a series of requirements for the safety of buildings regarding installation, inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire life safety systems, including NFPA 80: Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives, NFPA 105: Standard for Smoke Door Assemblies and Other Opening Protectives, NFPA 101: Life Safety Code, NFPA 5000: Building Construction and Safety Code and NFPA 90A: Standard for the Installation of Air-Conditioning and Ventilating Systems.
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More than one-third of the fires (roughly 35%) occurred in or on structures. Most of the fire losses were caused by these kinds of fires, including 2,790 civilian fire deaths (77%); 11,720 civilian fire injuries (88%); and $15 billion of direct property damage (83%).
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Only one-quarter of the fires occurred in home properties, including one- or two-family homes, apartments and other multifamily housing. However, these fires caused almost three-quarters of the civilian fire deaths (72%) and injuries (75%).
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One of every five fires (19%) occurred in one- or two-family homes, yet these fires caused more than half the civilian fire deaths (59%) and civilian fire injuries (54%). Five percent of fires that occurred in apartments caused 16% of the civilian fire deaths and 21% of the injuries.
Why maintenance matters
So, this begs the question, how can we make sure that we maintain our dampers to keep buildings and the occupants safe?
First, fire safety codes and regulations, such as the NFPA codes, require periodic testing and inspection of fire smoke dampers in commercial buildings. These codes outline specific guidelines for testing intervals, methods and documentation. By conducting regular damper testing, building owners and facility managers can comply with these regulations, ensuring the safety of occupants and avoiding potential penalties or legal liabilities. According to NFPA, fire smoke dampers are to be tested every six years for hospitals and every four years for all other facilities.
Additionally, routine damper testing provides an opportunity to identify any failures or malfunctions that may have occurred since the previous inspection. Malfunctioning dampers may fail to close properly, allowing the passage of smoke and fire into unaffected areas of the building. Testing procedures, such as airflow testing, can help identify any issues, allowing for timely repairs or replacements to maintain the system’s integrity. Although NFPA code dictates a testing cadence of four or six years, you’ll greatly decrease the risk of malfunction when testing dampers more frequently.
Prioritizing occupant safety
Fire smoke dampers are crucial components of fire protection systems. By upholding the integrity of the fire protection system, building owners and facility managers prioritize the safety and well-being of the individuals inside the premises as well as protect the facility from unnecessary damage. Through a quality fire safety plan, routine maintenance and testing building owners and facility managers take a proactive approach in creating a safe environment for building occupants and mitigating potential hazards associated with fire emergencies.
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