Fire dampers are an important part of your facility’s fire and life safety systems. They do their part to keep us safe from any potential hazard. However, there are two different types of fire dampers: static and dynamic. But trying to decide between a static fire damper or a dynamic fire damper might seem a bit overwhelming. Therefore, understanding what fire dampers do and how they do it is an important part of determining what will work best for your HVAC system.
What Is a Fire Damper?
Fire dampers help prevent the spread of fire and smoke within the ventilation and ductwork of a building by containing it to its original location.
How Does a Fire Damper Work?
In general, a fire damper works when the heat from the fire causes the normal temperature of a room to rise to about 165 degrees Fahrenheit. The fusible link attached to the damper would then melt, causing the damper’s door to close. In rooms where the normal temperature of the room is consistently higher, a higher degree fusible link would be attached to the damper. These particular fusible links would melt at a temperature of about 212 Fahrenheit. With the damper now shut, the air distribution and oxygen supply to the parts of the building where a fire is present would be cut off. In other words, there wouldn’t be any oxygen to help feed the fire, and smoke wouldn’t be able to circulated throughout the building.
Fire dampers also help to contain the fire to its origins, because fire dampers resist the passage of flames through them. All of these functions are crucial to containing a fire and keeping yourself and your employees safe.
Types Of Fire Dampers
Static Fire Dampers
Static fire dampers are designed to cut off airflow as soon as there is a fire. These particular fire dampers would be installed in horizontal barriers, and would have a curtain like design. When a fire is detected by your building’s alarm system, it will automatically trigger your HVAC system, telling it to shut off. This causes your HVAC system to stop, and the door of the damper will fall due to gravity, because there is no air pressure within the ducts. Once static fire dampers close, no air can pass through the ducts.
Dynamic Fire Dampers
Dynamic fire dampers also cut off airflow to a fire and protect your building from fire damage. However, these particular fire dampers are typically found within the vertical barriers of your HVAC system. They are spring-loaded, which means the doors of the damper have a spring like action when they are forced to shut.
In the event of a fire, the HVAC system where the dynamic fire dampers are placed will continue to operate. Since a dynamic fire damper will need to shut against circulating air, they have built-in fans that turn on to activate the spring-loaded system.
Fire Damper Inspections and Repairs
Understanding how a fire damper works can help you determine the best system for your facility’s HVAC System. However, dampers have a tendency to fail, which is why inspecting and repairing fire dampers are so strictly enforced. It only takes about 30 seconds for a small flame to grow and become a major fire. By cutting off the passageways for flames to travel, the fire will be contained to one specific location.
For more information about fire dampers, Contact Us Here or call 888-675-4519 to find out how LSS can help you keep your fire dampers in compliance.
