Failure to test and maintain fire prevention components in ducting can have serious consequences, ventilation maintenance and duct cleaning specialist, Ductbusters, warns.
MD, Dermott Quinn, explains: “The heat build-up inside ducts can cause combustible materials nearby to ignite, while dust, debris, and drafts within ductwork will also exacerbate the spread of fire.”
Ductbusters emphasises that ‘all mechanical ventilation systems should have fire dampers installed (Building Regulation 38)’. HTM 03-01 Part A specifies the requirements for their fitting in healthcare premises. The company added: “‘Drop’ testing – to ensure that, should a fire occur, fire dampers will do their job – is essential. Fire Damper Regulation BS9999 states that ‘all fire dampers should be tested by a competent person at regular intervals not exceeding two years, and repaired or replaced immediately if faulty’.
“Spring-operated fire dampers should be tested annually, and fire dampers in dust-laden and similar atmospheres much more frequently. Periodic maintenance of smoke detector systems used to operate fire dampers is also vital to determine whether detection occurs at the appropriate design smoke density.”
