ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 18
THE AMCA FIRE AND SMOKE
DAMPER TASK FORCE
The Case for Allowing
Remote Testing
of Life-Safety Dampers
F
ire-resistance-rated construction, which compartmentalizes buildings into fire and smoke zones, has been
used for decades as part of a balanced approach to protecting
lives and property during fire events. Of course, when constructing a building, it is necessary to penetrate rated walls
and floors with doors, HVAC ducts, pipes, conduit and other
utilities. Each of these penetrations must be protected in
order to maintain the integrity of the rated construction.
Building codes require penetrations caused by duct and air
transfer openings to be protected by fire, smoke or combination fire-smoke dampers. These products are often grouped
together under the term "life-safety dampers."
As with any mechanical device, life-safety dampers must be
periodically tested to confirm that they are operating properly.
This article will discuss the current requirements for testing
life-safety dampers, as well as proposed changes that would
make the testing of actuated life-safety dampers quicker, more
feasible, more frequent and less evasive, thus adding to the
overall safety of our buildings.
CURRENT PERIODIC TESTING
REQUIREMENTS FOR LIFE-SAFETY DAMPERS
Both the International Fire Code (IFC)1
and the National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA) Life Safety Code (NFPA 101)2
require that fire dampers be periodically
tested in accordance with NFPA's Standard
for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives (NFPA 80).3 Both codes also require
that smoke dampers be periodically tested
in accordance with the association's Standard for Smoke Door Assemblies and Other
Opening Protectives (NFPA 105).4 Combination fire-smoke dampers are required
to be tested in accordance with both
standards.
The periodic testing requirements for
life-safety dampers in NFPA 80 and NFPA
105 are very similar. Both standards require
that life-safety dampers be tested one year
after installation and then every four years
after that, with the exception of buildings
that contain a hospital. For these, the test
frequency is once every six years. Test
Figure 1. Blocking access doors to smoke dampers, in this case wall framing requirements themselves are straightforward:
members, can make testing and maintenance disruptive and expensive. the standards simply require confirmation
Image courtesy of David Sellers, P.E., Facility Dynamics Engineering. that the damper is able to fully open and
18
Summer 2016
AMCA
inmotion
W W W. A M C A . O R G
http://WWW.AMCA.ORG
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016
Contents
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - BB1
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - BB2
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - Cover1
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - Cover2
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - Contents
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 2
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 3
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 4
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 5
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 6
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 7
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 8
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 9
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 10
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 11
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 12
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 13
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 14
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 15
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 16
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 17
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 18
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 19
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 20
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 21
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 22
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 23
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 24
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 25
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 26
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 27
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 28
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 29
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 30
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 31
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 32
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 33
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 34
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 35
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 36
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - Cover3
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - Cover4
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