SMOKE CONTROL DAMPER BOOK

Who needs this book? If you are in anyway considered a responsible person for an apartment/accommodation block or an office block that is of any reasonable size, you may have a smoke control system installed alongside any fire alarm system that may be required.
This is particularly relevant to common areas. Smoke control is also relevant to some car parks, especially basement ones and other institutions such as hospitals, shopping centres and entertainment venues. If you know that you have a smoke control system that involves shafts, dampers and vents this is definitely for you.
People can be deemed a responsible person at different times in the life of a building. This can be during design, installation, commissioning handover, occupation and facilities management. So as an architect, developer, owner, contractor, specialist smoke contractor, fire engineer, building user/occupant, facilities manager, or fire risk assessor this book will be either essential reading or background for more information and knowledge.
If you thought that Smoke Control Dampers were someone else’s problem, think again. You may be responsible.
Although often dismissed as an afterthought and one of those things that someone just has to order, they are actually a complicated product in their application, testing, certification and installation. There are many nuances with regard to systems, testing, certification, integration and installation that are often dismissed or misunderstood. Each part of the design chain, selection, installation and then on-going upkeep is extremely important.
One other myth is that Fire Dampers can be used as Smoke Control Dampers. The main reason for this is misuse or misunderstanding of the phrase “Fire and Smoke Damper” Since 1999 this product has essentially been a Leakage Rated or ES Fire Damper as defined in the Fire damper test standard. It only means that it reduces the spread of smoke when closed. And it has a fusible link to make sure that it does close.
Smoke Control Dampers have no failsafe position as they may have to close to stop smoke and maintain compartmentation or open to allow smoke and air release. They must not have a fusible link and must be actuated in both directions – opening or closing. They are a separate product with their own set of standards. If nothing else is learnt from this book, then knowing the difference is one of the most important (Written by Paul White CEng BEng MIMechE)