ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 23

not address the use of mullions

to be installed successfully. With

in horizontal floor applications.

building conditions varying from

The installation instructions of

site to site and the obstacles faced

some manufacturers (Figure 3)

by installers often unforeseen,

do, however, and these instruc-

addressing all possible modifi-

tions typically are UL-approved.

cations is impossible.

Horizontal support mullions for

I n st a l lat ion i n st r uc t ion s

dividing oversized floor open-

vary by manufacturer. Thus, it

ings-typically, concrete floors

is imperative that all supplied

only-may vary from manufac-

i nsta llat ion i nst r uct ions be

turer to manufacturer, so it is

reviewed prior to, and followed

important to review installation

during, the installation process.

instructions for proper applica-

Another best practice is to cycle a

tion, construction, and instal-

damper after any modification is

lation, as well as the mullions'

made to ensure the damper will

maximum fi re-resistance rating.

function properly.

When conditions requiring

In some cases, mullions can be

modifications falling outside of

used with dampers having a fi reresistance rating of up to 3 hr.

FIGURE 4. Combination fire/smoke damper

manufacturer-supplied instal-

This allows the mullions and

installed outside of a rated barrier.

lat ion i n st r uc t ion s a r ise, it
always is a good idea to contact

dampers to be installed in floors
with a fire-resistance rating of more than 3 hr, as 3-hr-rated

the manufacturer to determine the best path forward.

dampers can be used to protect openings in barriers rated

In addition to providing guidance for the installer, the

for 3 or more

hours.3

manufacturer can help the local AHJ understand the
modifications that were performed and how those modi-

Damper Blades

fications apply to the damper's installation, certification,

For a fi re- or a combination fi re/smoke-rated damper to

and overall function.

protect an opening in a fi re-rated barrier, the blades of
the damper must close within the barrier. Many manu-

References

facturers, however, have options for factory-supplied

1) UL. (2016). Dampers marking and application guide. Retrieved
from https://bit.ly/Dampers_Marking

dampers with blades that close outside of a barrier. These
dampers, which undergo additional testing, typically
require an insulated blanket around the damper sleeve.
If a traditional damper needs to be installed outside of

2) UL. (2011). Fire resistance, directory C. Northbrook, IL: Underwriters Laboratories.
3) ICC. (2017). 2018 international building code. Washington, DC:
International Code Council.

a fire-rated barrier (Figure 4), manufacturers have installation instructions detailing the materials needed to modify

About the Author

the damper. This type of modification falls outside of the

James Carlin is product manager, dampers, for Pottorff,

UL certification service and typically requires approval

a position he has held since 2015. The eight years prior

from the local AHJ.

to that, he was a design engineer developing UL-rated
and air-control dampers for the company. A graduate of

Summary

Stevens Institute of Technology with a bachelor's degree

This article only begins to address the different types of

in mechanical engineering, he chairs the AMCA Fire and

modifications that may be needed for life-safety dampers

Smoke Damper Subcommittee.

w w w. a m c a .o r g

2020 A M CA i n m o t i o n

23


https://www.bit.ly/Dampers_Marking http://www.amca.org

ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020

Contents
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - BB1
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - BB2
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - Cover1
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - Cover2
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - Contents
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 2
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 3
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 4
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 5
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 6
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 7
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 8
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 9
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 10
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 11
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 12
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 13
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 14
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 15
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 16
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 17
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 18
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 19
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 20
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 21
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 22
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 23
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 24
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 25
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 26
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 27
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 28
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 29
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 30
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 31
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 32
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 33
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 34
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 35
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 36
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 37
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 38
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 39
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 40
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 41
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 42
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 43
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - 44
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - Cover3
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - October 2020 - Cover4
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