Fire dampers are one of the most critical components in HVAC. They prevent fire from spreading from one room to the other rooms. However, incorrect installation can lead to a fire damper malfunction and wrong configuration and joint method can hinder the inspection work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many engineers don’t pay enough attention to how their fire dampers are configured, connected and installed in wall and slab openings, leading to their fire dampers not doing what they’re supposed to do in critical situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most of the time, the configuration, size and joint method of a fire damper are decided based on “as long as it fits into the duct”. Now, we should revisit how fire dampers are supposed to be installed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To understand why fire dampers should be installed in certain ways, we must first understand what is a fire damper and what it supposed to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In HVAC, large air conditioning ducts often need to penetrate through walls and slabs. We usually locate the air handling unit (AHU) in a dedicated room and run the duct toward the room that needs air conditioning. So, it is inevitable that one or more wall penetrations are required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whenever a duct penetrates through a wall, the penetration point which we call duct opening or wall opening, must have a fire damper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In case of a fire outbreak, the fire damper will close to prevent the fire from spreading to the adjacent room. In fire protection, this is known as fire compartmentation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, most of the time, any wall penetration must have a fire damper, unless both rooms (before and after the penetration) are not a fire compartment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If we’re dealing with offices, hotels and hospitals, fire dampers are certainly required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n