CPD PROGRAMME
Damper supply – Dampers must be supplied with dimensionally detailed guidance on how the damper assembly is to be installed and evidence that the method has been appropriately fi re tested. Fire separating elements/barriers – A responsible person must ensure that fabric, including fi re barriers, have appropriate penetrations formed to accommodate dampers, in accordance with tested specifi cations. Penetration seals – Any seal that is applied around the damper should be in accordance with tested specifi cations, and the installer must be clearly aware of the required standard of work. Compliance with Building Regulations – Building control authorities must be satisfi ed that the design shows compliance with Building Regulations. The methods of installation must have been successfully fi re tested by an independent body on behalf of the damper manufacturer.
• Installation should meet design specifi cation;
Managing the installation process The Building and Engineering Services Association’s (B&ES) DW/145 Guide to Good Practice for the Installation of Fire and Smoke Dampers highlights the role of the CDM (construction, design and management) coordinator (as required by the 2007 CDM regulations) and the principal contractor, who have key roles in the planning and management required to assure a coherent and compliant installation. Resources such as the BSRIA Design Framework4 may be employed to help schedule the designated responsibilities of, and actions for, individuals. The CDM coordinator will clearly identify specifi c responsibilities for appropriately competent members of the team, which may include, for example, project manager, building control, fi re consultant, damper manufacturer and installation contractor. Specifi cally, for successful damper installation, the principal criteria are:
• Dampers must be installed in accordance with tested methods; and
• Manufacturers’ test data sheets and dimensions with detailed technical
illustrations;
• Performance characteristics and associated controls specifi cation;
• Materials’ specifi cation and critical dimensions;
should provide to the damper installation company. This includes:
• Project-specifi c detail including relationship of damper with fi re barrier,
connection to ductwork, damper supports, and expansion arrangements around damper. This would include detailed fi tted drawings, such as the example in Figure 3 (note that this is an incomplete extract of a example full drawing from DW/145);
• Overall system design drawings, with cross-reference numbering system
identifying dampers; and
• Programme identifying installation sequence, installation and hand over
(DW/145 has indicative programmes). Practically, there will be issues on site that
require some deviation from the expected design detail. Although the whole team have responsibility, any variations are likely to require approval of building control and/or the local fi re authority. Damper manufacturers are not empowered to provide that approval. Requesting approval after the event is not acceptable. To ensure a smooth transition, the whole
team must complete a list of information at the handover – DW/145 provides generic
1 Vertical builderswork barrier to have, if necessary, appropriate sized lintel to ensure, on opening, clearance for the expansion frame
2 Alternative break-away fl anged joint (see note 6)
This is a partial representation of a typical arrangement – not to be used in practice
checklists that can be used as the basis for this. The completed checklist is likely to form part of the legislative requirements in the future, as part of the evidence trail that appropriate processes have not only been followed, but also properly monitored. The building owner/operator has responsibility for continuing fi re safety, and requires handover information for both the initial installation and commissioning details, to allow future testing and inspection. Although out of sight, fi re and smoke dampers cannot be out of mind. © Tim Dwyer, 2012.
Further reading: DW/145 – Guide to Good Practice for the Installation of Fire and Smoke Dampers, B&ES, 2010. BRE Good Building Guide 81– Installing fi re- resisting ductwork and dampers, BRE 2011. Disjointed Approach – CIBSE Journal, September 2011 p55-57
• Thanks to Kevin Munson at Ruskin for assistance with this article.
References 1
Fire Statistics, Great Britain, 2010 – 2011, DCLG, November 2011, p44.
2 The Building Regulations (England & Wales) 2000, Approved Document B – Fire safety (2006 rev 2007 & 2010), Vols 1 & 2. DCLG.
3
www.ec.europa.eu/CEmarking. 4 BSRIA BG6/2009 Design framework for building
5 Damper
6 Appropriate break-away/fl exible joint between damper spigot and adjoining ductwork on both sides of assembly. Typical break-away joint would be socket and spigot (as illustrated) or, alternatively, fl anged (see note 2) with appropriate fi xings, e.g., plastic cleats, clips, clamps, bolts, aluminium alloy rivets, etc.
• Dampers should be fi xed either directly in, or immediately adjacent to,
the fi re barrier and must be supported independently of the duct work. By meeting these criteria, untested ad- hoc installations will be eliminated.
Specifying an assured installation DW/145 provides a list of technical information that the system designer
www.cibsejournal.com
3 Penetration seal as tested by the damper manufacturer
4 Damper set inside factory- fi tted expansion frame. Damper/ frame assembly to be fi xed on the centre of the barrier or positioned to a minimum 50 mm on the maintenance access side of the barrier
Figur e 3: Partial extract of fi re damper installation detail (Source: DW/145)
7 Expansion frame to have factory- fi tted galvanised steel building ties, which should be bent out prior to the application of the penetration seal.
Important note: Always ensure that the ties are secured back to the structure in accordance with the individual damper manufacturer's test data/instructions. Failure to do so could result in a non-compliant installation
September 2012 CIBSE Journal
61
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80