LIFE SAFETY DAMPERS

CODES, STANDARDS &

INSTALLATIONS

ASHRAE

ILLINOIS

CHAPTER

MARCH 8TH, 2011

Life Safety Damper Seminar

Seminar #1 by Kyle Schultz

Codes, Standards & Testing

Seminar #2 by Wally Kurzeja

Review of Fire Damper, Smoke Damper & Fire/Smoke Damper Fundamentals

Installation Requirements

UL Tour

Seminar #3 by James Livingston

Air Control Considerations for energy conservation and BMS integration

Fire/Smoke damper performance

Fire/Life Safety Products

Fire Dampers

Smoke Dampers

Combination Fire Smoke Dampers

Ceiling Dampers

Codes and Standards-

Who’s Who?

NFPA, National Fire Protection Association (Installation Standards)

NFPA-90A (Installation in HVAC systems)

NFPA-92A (Smoke Control Systems)

NFPA 101- Life Safety Code

UL, Underwriter’s Laboratories (Testing standards) –UL 555, 555S, 555C

Building Codes (Locations)

Partial application detail from

NFPA 90A

UL, What do they do?

Independent Testing Lab

Tests and Classifies Fire Resistive Materials and Products

Follow Up Service (in plant inspections)

UL Standards

555 Fire damper test standard (6th edition)

555S Smoke damper test standard (4th edition)

555C Ceiling radiation damper test standard (1st edition)

Product Directories

Building Code

Requirements or Where are

the Dampers?

Code Location Requirements

Who’s Who? Building Codes-

Local Authorities

International Code- most suburbs

IBC2003,2006,2009

BOCA- still around some suburbs

IDPH (Illinois Department of Public Health)

Life Safety Code, NFPA 101

City of Chicago Building Code

2011 Building Code (still does not mention fire

dampers) Mechanical, Electrical and Energy

Conservation sections have been updated

Where are the Dampers?

Code Location Requirements

Occupancy Separation Walls

Shaft Enclosures

Stairwells

Mechanical Rooms

Building Exterior Walls

Exit Corridors

Atrium Enclosure Elements

Elevator Lobbies

Horizontal Assemblies

Occupancy Separation Walls

Occupancy Classifications

IBC Chapter 4

Occupancy Classification

Description Group(s)

Assembly A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4 and A-5

Business B

Educational E

Factory and Industrial F-1 and F-2

High Hazard H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4 and H-5

Institutional I-1, I-2, I-3 and I-4

Mercantile M

Residential R-1, R-2, R-3, R-3.1 and R-4

Storage S-1 and S-2

Utility and Miscellaneous U

Fire Barriers (SECTION 707)

Table 707.3.9

Fire-Resistance Rating Requirements For Fire Barriers Assemblies

or Horizontal Assemblies Between Fire Areas

Occupancy Group Fire-Resistance Rating (hours)

H-1, H-2 4

F-1, H-3, S-1 3

A, B, E, F-2, H-4, H-5, I, M, R, S-1 2

U 1

Fire Barrier – A fire-resistance-rated wall assembly of

materials designed to restrict the spread in which continuity

is maintained.

Occupancy Separation (partial)

Chicago Code 13-56-280

IBC Chapters

IBC Chapter 1

Scope and Administration

IBC Chapter 2

Definitions

IBC Chapter 3

Use and Occupancy Classification

IBC Chapter 4

Special Use and Occupancy

IBC Chapter 6

Types of Construction

IBC Chapter 7

Fire and Smoke Protection Features

IBC Chapter 9

Fire Protection System

International Mechanical Code

IMC Sections

513- Smoke Control Systems

606- Smoke Detection Systems

607- Duct and Air Transfer

Openings

FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION

LOCATIONS

Exterior Walls

Fire Walls

Fire Barriers

Shaft Enclosures

Elevator Lobbies

Fire Partitions

Corridors

Horizontal Assemblies

Smoke Barriers & Partitions

Duct and Transfer Openings

EXTERIOR WALLS (SECTION 705)

Fire-Resistance Rating, tables 601 & 602

Occupancy

Construction type

Distance from other structures

Ducts/ Air Transfer openings are

protected and shall comply with section

716

FIRE DAMPER required with exceptions

FIRE WALLS (SECTION 706)

Table 706.4

Fire Wall Fire-Resistance Ratings

Group Fire-Resistance Rating (Hours)

A, B, E, H-4, I, R-1, R-2, U 3a

F-1, H-3b, H-5, M, S-1 3

H-1, H-2 4b

F-2, S-2, R-3, R-4 2

a. Walls shall be not less than 2-hour fire resistance rated where separating buildings of Type II or V

construction.

b. For Groups H-1, H-2 or H-3 buildings, also see Sections 415.4 and 415.5.

Fire Wall – A fire-resistance-rated wall having protected openings, which

restricts the spread of fire and extends continuously from the foundation to

or through the roof, with sufficient structural stability under fire conditions to

allow collapse of construction on either side without collapse of the wall.

FIRE WALLS (SECTION 706)

Used to create separate buildings

(Party walls)

Ducts/ Air Transfer openings are

protected and shall comply with

section 716

FIRE DAMPER required

SMOKE DAMPER required when fire

wall serves as a horizontal exit.

FIRE BARRIERS (SECTION 707)

Table 707.3.9

Fire-Resistance Rating Requirements For Fire Barriers Assemblies

or Horizontal Assemblies Between Fire Areas

Occupancy Group Fire-Resistance Rating (hours)

H-1, H-2 4

F-1, H-3, S-1 3

A, B, E, F-2, H-4, H-5, I, M, R, S-1 2

U 1

Fire Barrier – A fire-resistance-rated wall assembly of

materials designed to restrict the spread in which continuity

is maintained.

FIRE BARRIERS (SECTION 707)

Fire Barriers are used for:

Occupancy Separation

Shaft Enclosures

Exit Enclosures

Exit Passageways

Horizontal Exit

Atriums

Control Areas

Fire Areas

FIRE BARRIERS (SECTION 707)

Ducts/ Air Transfer openings are

protected and shall comply with

Section 716

FIRE DAMPER required with

exceptions

SMOKE DAMPER required when

fire barrier serves as a horizontal

exit

SHAFT ENCLOSURES (SECTION 707)

Fire-Resistance Rating

Constructed as a Fire Barrier or Horizontal Assembly

Enclosure at the Bottom

Enclosure at the Top.

Opening in the top are not allowed.

Shaft Enclosure – The wall or construction forming the

boundaries of a shaft. An enclosed space extending through one or

more stories of a building, connecting vertical openings in successive

floors, or floors and roof.

SHAFT ENCLOSURES (SECTION 707)

FIRE DAMPER required (exceptions)

Steel 22” Sub-Duct with

continuous upward air flow

Parking garage

Kitchen, Clothes Dryer Exhaust

ducts

Ducts/ Air Transfer openings are protected and

shall comply with Section 716

SHAFT ENCLOSURES (SECTION 707)

SMOKE DAMPER required

(exceptions)

Combination Fire/Smoke Dampers

can be used (exceptions)

Parking garage

Kitchen, Clothes Dryer Exhaust ducts

ELEVATOR LOBBY (SECTION 707.14.1)

Fire-Resistance Rating of minimum of 1 hour

Constructed as a Fire Partition or Smoke Partition

FIRE DAMPER required (exceptions)

SMOKE DAMPER required (exceptions)

Elevator Lobby – An enclosed elevator lobby shall

be provided at each floor where an elevator shaft

enclosure connects more than three stories. An

elevator lobby is an area of refuge.

FIRE PARTITIONS (SECTION 708)

Fire Partitions are used for:

Walls Separating Dwelling Units

Walls Separating Sleeping Units

Walls Separating Tenant Spaces in Covered Malls

Corridor Walls

Elevator Lobby Separation

Fire Partition – A vertical assembly of materials

designed to restrict the spread of fire in which

openings are protected.

FIRE PARTITIONS (SECTION 708)

Fire-Resistance Rating

1 Hour Rating

Ducts/ Air transfer openings are

protected and shall comply with section

716

FIRE DAMPER required (exceptions)

SMOKE DAMPER required for Corridors

(exceptions)

CORRIDOR ENCLOSURE (SECTION 716)

Fire-Resistance Rating

1 Hour Rating

Ducts/ Air transfer openings are

protected and shall comply with section

716

SMOKE DAMPER required (exceptions)

FIRE DAMPER required (exceptions)

Corridor – An enclosed exit access compartment that

defines and provides a path of egress travel to an exit.

HORIZONTAL ASSEMBLIES

(SECTION 712)

Horizontal Assemblies are used for:

Floor assembly separates mixed occupancies

Floor assembly separates a single occupancy

into different fire areas

Floor assemblies separating dwelling units in

the same building and horizontal assemblies

separating sleeping units

Horizontal Assembly – A fire-resistance-rated floor or roof

assembly of materials designed to restrict the spread of fire

in which continuity is maintained.

HORIZONTAL ASSEMBLIES (SECTION 712)

Fire-resistance rating varies Minimum 1 hour

Ducts/ Air Transfer openings shall comply with Section 716

Trough penetrations – Fire Damper required or Combination Fire/Smoke Damper (exceptions)

Membrane penetrations – Ceiling roof assemblies Ceiling Radiation Dampers (exceptions)

Non-fire resistance-rated assemblies – FIRE DAMPER (exception)

SMOKE BARRIERS (SECTION 710)

Smoke Barrier are used for Institutional

Group I

I-1 – Housing clients, on a 24 hour basis, live

in a supervised residential environment that

provides personal care service

I-2 – Medical, surgical, psychiatric, nursing or

custodial care on a 24 hour basis.

I-3 – Inhabited by one or more persons who

are under restraint

I-4 – Day care facilities

Smoke Barrier – A continuous membrane, either vertical or

horizontal, such as a wall, floor, or ceiling assembly, which is

designed and constructed to restrict the movement of smoke.

SMOKE BARRIERS (SECTION 710)

Fire-Resistance Rating 1 Hour Rating

Ducts/ Air transfer openings are protected and shall comply with section 716

SMOKE DAMPER required (exceptions)

FIRE DAMPER (exceptions)

Smoke Barrier – A continuous membrane, either vertical or

horizontal, such as a wall, floor, or ceiling assembly, which is

designed and constructed to restrict the movement of smoke.

SMOKE PARTITIONS (SECTION 710)

Smoke Partitions are used for:

Corridor Walls

I-1 – Housing clients

I-2 – Medical, surgical, psychiatric,

nursing or custodial care

I-3 – Inhabited by one or more persons

who are under restraint

I-4 – Day care facilities

Smoke Partition – A continuous membrane, either vertical

or horizontal, such as a wall, floor, or ceiling assembly,

which is designed and constructed to restrict the movement

of smoke.

SMOKE PARTITIONS (SECTION 710)

Fire-Resistance Rating

Not Required

Ducts/ Air transfer openings are protected and shall comply with section 716

SMOKE DAMPER required

FIRE DAMPER (Not Required)

Special Inspection and Testing Requirements

Design requirements

Analysis

Temperatures, winds, stack effect

Airflow design methods

Pressurization

Airflow velocity

Exhaust method

Chicago Code 18-28-513 refers to section 18-9-909 ( editors note: does not exist)

SMOKE CONTROL SYSTEMS

IBC 909 IMC 513

SMOKE CONTROL SYSTEMS

IBC 909 IMC 513

Equipment

Fans

Ducts

Dampers

Power systems

Smoke control panel

Stair pressurization

DUCT & AIR TRANSFER OPENING

Fire damper testing, ratings, link temperatures

Smoke damper leakage classifications, actuators

Access door requirements

Ceiling radiation damper

Chicago Code Section 18-28-607 refers to 18-7-716 (does not exist)

IBC Section 716

IMC Section 607

OTHER FIRE DAMPER REFERENCES

IMC

HAZARD EXHAUST DUCTS (Section 510)

Fire dampers are prohibited CLOTHES DRYER EXHAUST (Section 504)

Fire dampers are prohibited GREASE DUCT PENETRATION (Section 505 through 507)

Fire dampers are not used DUST COLLECTION (Section 511)

Fire dampers are not usually applicable

Guillotine type fire dampers may be acceptable

QUESTIONS?

Fire Damper Fundamentals

Designed to STOP the passage of flame

Fire Dampers

A Device:

Installed in a fire-rated wall or floor

Interrupts airflow automatically through

part of an air system

Close automatically in the event of fire

Maintain the integrity of the fire-rated

separation

Part of the wall not the duct work

Restrict the Passage of FLAME

Fusible Links

Hold open damper under normal conditions

Designed to “melt” at certain temperatures, typically 165, 212, 265, 286 degrees, allowing the damper to close

Per NFPA 90A, links shall be used that will open at approximately 50 degrees above normal operating temperature

Fire Damper Ratings

1 1/2 Hour

3 Hour

NFPA-90A Chapter 5 …protected openings with fire resistance ratings of less

than 3 hours shall have 1 ½-hour fire protection…

3 hours or more shall have a 3-hour fire protection…

Ratings

What hourly rated damper do I install in a 2

hour wall? (NFPA-90A)

What hourly rated damper do I install in a 4

hour wall? (NFPA-90A)

1-1/2 hour

3 hour

Types

Static Fire Dampers “Fans Off” Systems

Not required to close under airflow or

pressure

Dynamic Fire Dampers “Fans On” Systems

New UL Standard 555 1999 (6th edition)

Tested to close with heated air, 2000 fpm, 4”

sp

New stringent testing requirements limits

the available sizes, also may require extra

heavy duty springs

Types

Vertical

Wall mount

Horizontal ductwork

Horizontal

Floor mount

Vertical ductwork

Spring assist to close

Types

IBD (interlocking blade) Type

Curtain style

Gravity close or spring assisted

Vertical and/or Horizontal

Multi-Blade

Spring loaded blades held open by fusible link

Larger dynamic rated sizes available

Typical Installation –

Access Doors

Per NFPA 90A , Duct access doors must

be provided adjacent to fire dampers

Allows service and replacement of

fusible links

Must be large enough for resetting of

links, If duct size allows, minimum 16

x18” size, for smaller ducts, no minimum

listed

Removable inlet or outlet

openings/grilles allowed in lieu of doors

“Typical”

Fire Damper Installation

FD Must be installed

in a sleeve and be

located within the

plane of the wall/floor

Sleeve is held in place

with mounting angles

Ductwork is

connected to the

sleeve with either

break-away or solid

connection

“Typical”

Fire Damper Installation

Sleeves can be

factory provided

or contractor

fabricated

Angles can be

factory provided

or contractor

fabricated

Style A

Fuse Link

Interlocking

Blades

Frame

Style B

Duct Connection

B

H

A

Style C damper

Jackshaft Over Center Link Fuse Link

Multi-Blade Jamb Seal

Blade Seal

Spring

B Hood

DIBD2 Dynamic rated Style B

Blade

Catch

Mounting

Label

Closure

Springs

“Typical”

Fire Damper Installation

Sleeve Length

Gauge

Expansion Gap

Orientation Damper position

Labels

Floor/Wall

Mounting Angles

Breakaway or Rigid Connections

“Typical” Fire Damper Installation

Sleeve

Length –extend 3”-6” beyond wall/floor Gauge

Breakaway connection- equal to or greater than duct ga.

Solid connection- 16 gauge < 36x24, 14 gauge > 36x24

Expansion Gap- 1/8” per foot 1/4” minimum

Orientation

Damper position- Air Flow Direction labels, Up Arrows

Floor/Wall- Horizontal or Vertical

Mounting Angles- minimum 1-1/2” 20 ga. Both sides, must overlap opening by 1”, fasten to sleeve, not wall

Breakaway Connections-”s” slip, flanged breakaway, minimum amount of screws allowed, only approved sealants can be used.

“Non - Typical”

Fire Damper Installations

Some manufacturers have developed

and UL tested unique products to

meet installation difficulties

One side angles

Out of the wall dampers

Grille dampers

Integral sleeves and angles

Always have the UL installation

details available at the jobsite for

local inspectors

One Side Angle

Used in applications where access is

limited on both sides

Angle attaches to wall

Size limitations

Out of Wall or Concrete

Floor

•Angle one side

•Fire resistant

insulation

•Sleeve attached to

inside of opening

FD’s Grille Application

Single section

sizes

Max. size-36”x

36”

Damper in Wall

Must be 6” wall

Grille By Others

QUESTIONS?

COMMENTS?

CEILING RADIATION DAMPERS

Designed to STOP the spread of flame and heat

Ceiling Dampers

A Device: Protects the HVAC penetrations in ceiling

membranes

Available for more than 20 years

Misapplications are widespread

Prevents the spread of Flame and Heat.

Ratings

Assembly Rating of 3 Hours or Less

Key Word is Assembly

UL Rated Ceiling Design

Types

Surface Mount Gypboard

Grille

Types

Lay-In Acoustical Panel

Diffuser

QUESTIONS?

COMMENTS?

SMOKE DAMPERS

Actuator

Required! Designed to STOP the passage of smoke

Smoke Damper

A Device:

Installed in a duct which penetrates a smoke

barrier

Seals duct against smoke leakage

Passive

Dynamic

Limited multiple section maximum sizes

Leakage Rated to UL555S

*Fire Dampers tested to UL555 do not qualify*

Smoke Damper Installation

No Openings Between

Barrier and Damper

No sleeve required

Smoke Dampers

Dynamic

Leakage Classes

Class I, II, III & IV

Blade & Jamb Seals

Airflow Both

Directions

QUESTIONS?

COMMENTS?

Fire Smoke Dampers

Designed to STOP the passage of flame and smoke

Fire Smoke Dampers

(FSD)

Combines the performance of a Fire Damper and a Smoke Damper

Installed in partitions rated as both fire and smoke barriers

In many ways it installs like a curtain type fire damper

*Older Codes do not specifically mention fire/smoke dampers*

Separate fire dampers and smoke dampers could be used

Ratings

Tested and rated as both a fire damper and smoke damper

1 1/2 hour

3 hour

Leakage Class I,II,III,IV

Fire/Smoke Damper Operation

Under standard operation, the damper will close upon elevated temperature or from a loss in smoke control signal

Closing on elevated temperature will require manual re-setting of linkage

Dynamic smoke control systems will require remote operation to re-open the damper even upon fire closure. This will require additional controls.

Dynamic Smoke

Management Systems

FSD Installation

Vertical

Horizontal

Not Centered

Mounting

Maximum Size

Sleeves

Mounting Angles

QUESTIONS?

Suggested website links

iccsafe.org

ul.com – certifications - UL category

code “EMME” (Manufacturer’s

damper certification listing)

nfpa.org

ruskin.com

Underwriter’s Laboratories Tour

UL555C Ceiling Dampers

Fire Test

Flame Exposure

Radiation Test

Heat Stop

Cycle Test & Salt Spray

Operation Reliability

Ceiling Fire Damper Test Standard

Tanks filled with water to simulate load on ceiling

assembly

After approx. 1 hour gypsum board has fallen

CFD remains in place… Successful Test !

DUCT DROP TEST

Damper is cycled to confirm operability

Thank You!

Working Together For Life Safety!

Ruskin Co. &

You!