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Functional test of fire dampers: What you need to consider

Fire dampers should close in the event of a fire. To do this, they are triggered by a thermal release device and the damper blade is automatically moved from the "open" position to the "fully closed" safety position by an operation unit at an increased temperature. This creates the room closure E, the thermal insulation I and the smoke-tightness S, thus preventing the spread of fire and smoke.

To ensure safe closing, regular functional tests of fire dampers are required by law and standards in accordance with building regulations and occupational health and safety legislation. But how should fire dampers be tested, who is responsible for this and when and how often should it be carried out? We provide you with the most important answers on this topic here.

Do you have any questions about the functional test of fire dampers or would you like to find out more about our versatile fire protection products? Please feel free to contact us!

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Are fire dampers subject to testing?

Functional tests of fire dampers are mandatory, as they are relevant to safety. As with fire protection closures in general (gates, doors, dampers), fire dampers must also be tested regularly during operation due to legal requirements. As early as the 1980s, the first test certificates required functional tests.

This applies to all fire dampers, regardless of their design. Accordingly, the functional test is mandatory both for fire dampers with a general building authority approval and for fire dampers that fall within the scope of DIN EN 15650.

Regular testing of fire dampers makes a significant contribution to ensuring the safety and protection of people in the building.

An overview of the framework conditions for functional tests for fire dampers can be found in VDMA standard sheet 24000.

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Who is responsible for testing fire dampers?

The owner or operator of the ventilation and air conditioning system must arrange for and be responsible for the testing of fire dampers.

Wildeboer will be happy to advise you on this if you have any queries.

How often do fire dampers need to be checked?

In accordance with legal regulations, fire dampers must always be subjected to a functional test at the beginning, i.e. when the entire ventilation and air conditioning system is commissioned, as well as after a significant change to the system. In addition, testing is required at regular intervals. An interval of six months to one year is recommended here. Special buildings may also require recurring inspections by recognised inspection experts every three years in accordance with building regulations. Testing is required over the entire life cycle of the fire damper.

How are fire dampers tested?

The functional test of fire dampers involves at least closing and opening the damper to be tested. This is particularly quick and easy with all Wildeboer fire dampers, such as the FK 90 fire damper. Wildeboer fire dampers are maintenance-free fire dampers. Wildeboer dampers do not require any functional cleaning, recurring lubrication or adjustment. Only the functional test needs to be carried out regularly, as this is the only way to reliably confirm the safety function of a fire damper.

A functional test basically consists of the damper blade of the fire damper being completely closed and then completely opened again. With Wildeboer fire dampers with a thermal-mechanical release device, this can be easily recognised by the external position indicator on the fire damper.

The functional test can be carried out conveniently and automatically by equipping the fire damper with a motorised actuator and connecting it to the Wildeboer-Net control system.

Finally, the functional test of fire dampers must be documented in a traceable manner in order to be able to prove that the operator has fulfilled his obligation to carry out regular functional tests of the fire dampers in the event of damage or recurring tests by test experts.

Do you still have questions about the functional test of fire dampers? We are happy to help you.

Further information can be found in VDMA Standard Sheet 24000 (German). Of course, we at Wildeboer are also available to answer any questions you may have and are interested in our fire protection products. Feel free to contact us!

Further information

VDMA standard sheet 24000 "Functional test of fire dampers":
The fire protection and smoke extraction working group of the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) has drawn up this standard sheet to highlight and standardise the different requirements for functional tests of fire dampers in accordance with DIN EN 15650, particularly for Germany. This standard sheet is intended to provide the various target groups affected, such as owners, operators, installers, site managers, maintenance companies, test experts, planners, manufacturers, etc., with an overview of the necessary statutory functional tests for fire dampers. It also provides information on how and at what intervals they should be carried out. VDMA standard sheets are available from Beuth Verlag, 10772 Berlin, (www.beuth.de). VDMA members can obtain the standard sheets free of charge from the VDMA office or as a download from the VDMA database.
IS-Argebau - Information system of the Conference of Construction Ministers:
The Conference of Building Ministers discusses issues and makes decisions on housing, urban development, building law and construction technology that are of common importance to the federal states in Germany. The portal contains, for example, the current and archived versions of the Model Building Code (MBO), the Model Ventilation Systems Directive (M-LüAR) and the Model Inspection Ordinance (MPrüfVO) and Model Inspection Principles.

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