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Fire damper maintenance – an increasingly professional skill


As regulations tighten and our industry becomes increasingly safety-critical, the expectations placed on ductwork maintenance technicians and fire damper maintenance teams are also rising – and rightly so, says Gary Nicholls, managing director of Swiftclean and Swift Fire Compliance


T


he ventilation sector has always played a central role in creating safe, healthy, and compliant buildings. Whilst this may not


have been clearly recognised in the past, now it certainly is. With that recognition came a number of specific guidance documents, evolving into the twin specifications TR19® Air and TR19® Grease. As a co-author of both, I’m pleased to note that the industry is now at a turning point in terms of professionalism, expertise and vocational training for fire dampers. We, like an increasing number of others, believe that it is time to create a register of experts who are competent to deliver fire damper function testing and maintenance services, along the same lines as the BESA’s established Vent Hygiene Register. Membership of a formal register, with a renewed


commitment to formal training and ongoing professional development, can only serve to ensure the competence needed to deliver safe, compliant fire damper services. Years ago, it was entirely possible for almost


anyone to set themselves up as a ductwork cleaner with minimal training. Today, thankfully, that landscape looks very different. We need a similar initiative for fire damper testing to keep pace with advancing professionalism. Until recently, DW145, the BESA’s guidance document for the installation, design, selection, inspection, and maintenance of fire and smoke dampers, was a relatively static document, which had started to lag behind successive versions of TR19, but this is no longer the case. The BESA issued a significant update to DW145 in 2024, and it is currently undergoing further revision, especially regarding the installation, inspection, and testing of fire and smoke dampers. BESA documents now play a critical role in shaping best practice, reflecting a broader shift toward professionalism, competence, and accountability within the industry. Fire dampers are potentially life-saving safety components. Their


Left: Gary Nicholls, managing director of Swiftclean and Swift Fire Compliance


Increasingly, stakeholders — including Swiftclean


— are reasoning that, in addition to training, a formal register of fire damper services providers is a logical next step. Requiring certified training and ongoing professional development, such a register would raise the bar across the industry — improving installation quality, strengthening maintenance standards, and giving building owners confidence that work has been carried out by competent professionals.


correct installation, function testing, and ongoing maintenance should be handled only by service providers with innate technical understanding of both DW145 and TR19® Air. Our industry now needs structured learning and


formally recognised competence, and, to further this aim, our training experts have been pleased to be helping in the formulation of the BESA’s new Fire Damper Awareness Course (DW145). Practical experience is vital, but we must also


ensure every professional has a solid grounding in the legal, technical and safety requirements. This new training combines both theory and practice, prompting Swiftclean and others to provide new, dedicated facilities, which allow training in the main challenges of fire damper testing and maintenance. The latest evolution of DW145 introduces


more stringent expectations, particularly around compartmentation. A compliant fire damper is only one part of the equation; equally important is the integrity of the surrounding fire barrier. Key changes include:


¡ Mandatory photographic evidence at each installation stage


¡ Greater enforcement of correct fire stopping around dampers


¡ Clear requirements for accessibility during maintenance


¡ Standardised expectations for installation and upkeep


¡ Stronger alignment with legal obligations under UK fire safety legislation


While achieving compliance in new builds is


generally straightforward, older buildings present far greater challenges. Missing documentation, absent drawings, and unclear specifications are all extremely common issues. In these cases, experienced professionals play a pivotal role in guiding clients through a structured compliance plan — helping to identify gaps, verify assets, improve access, and ultimately build a safer environment. Being able to appoint a member of a register to help record assets and achieve compliance will be a significant reassurance to facilities managers and building owners. Professional development must go hand in hand


with greater understanding from clients. Building owners and managers must also ask the right questions when appointing contractors: ¡ Are technicians trained to the latest DW145 standard?


¡ Do they understand the most recent fire safety requirements?


¡ Can they demonstrate ongoing professional development? These queries will not just represent regulatory


box-ticking — they will be essential to ensuring the safety of the people inside the building. The ventilation sector is evolving rapidly, and it is important that we bring older buildings into compliance as well as ensuring that newer ones are fully compliant from the outset. Ongoing professional development and assured competence is no longer optional; it is essential.


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