Fire safety in residential buildings and public buildings is a paramount issue on which the health and life of people inside depend. What is a fire damper used for, how does it work and when should it be used?
Check fire dampers at the Onninen wholesaler
How does a fire damper work?
Fire is a condition that directly threatens human health and life and can also completely destroy property. Lack of proper protection would cause the fire to spread extremely quickly. One of the elements that are intended to protect against such a situation are fire dampers. A fire damper is a special partition that cuts off the fire zone and stops the spread of fire, smoke and toxic gases generated during a fire, which could escape to other parts of the facility through air conditioning or ventilation ducts.
On a daily basis, the protection remains open, but in an emergency the flap closes automatically, increasing safety in other zones. These elements should be located in the general ventilation system, as well as in places where it passes through ceilings and walls.
When should fire dampers be used?
Installation of fire dampers, in accordance with the regulation of the Minister of Infrastructure of April 12, 2002 on the technical conditions to be met by buildings and their location is mandatory in buildings other than single-family houses.
Fire dampers are solutions with a special design. The housings are made of metal, most often stainless steel or galvanized sheet metal. The control system and the cut-off partition are also important elements. The latter must be made of high-quality fire-resistant material. Depending on the flap variant, the cut-off mechanism is activated in the temperature range from 45–250°C, but usually the temperature is 70°C. If the temperature in the ventilation duct rises above the set temperature, the flap will close before the signal from the fire protection control panel appears.
Various variants of fire dampers are currently used. Taking into account the variant of the drive used as a criterion, the following are distinguished:
- flaps with thermal fuse or ampoule release;
- automated flaps, with electric drive;
- flaps with electromagnetic trigger mechanism;
- rectangular flaps with a single-plane cut-off partition;
- multi-faceted flaps;
- circular flaps;
- fire ventilation cut-off flaps, also called smoke exhaust flaps.
In accordance with applicable regulations, fire dampers should be checked periodically to ensure that they operate properly in emergency situations.
Fire dampers at the Onninen wholesaler
The use of a fire damper can significantly improve safety in the facility. At the Onninen hydraulic wholesaler , we have a wide range of flaps with a high fire resistance class. Flaps are classified depending on the mechanism responsible for closing them. One of them is the Smay KTM fire damper with a spring mechanism .
An alternative solution is Smay KTM fire dampers with an actuator . The cut-off flap stays in the open position every day, and when a threat occurs, it moves to the closed position, effectively cutting off. The model is characterized by a high level of smoke, temperature and fire resistance, thanks to which it prevents the spread of the threat. The fire resistance of the cut-off partition is high, and the model is prepared in accordance with applicable standards.