A real need to prioritisefire damper compliance

A Fire Dampers guidance document (NAAD22) was published in 2022, clarifying the responsibilities of building owners and occupiers in relation to fire dampers in their buildings, in addition to those of their HVAC system suppliers. There is evidence to suggest, however, that of an estimated 100 million fire dampers in UK buildings, many are still not meeting regulatory requirements. The delay in meeting compliance is a problem for all existing UK building stock, but there is a particular urgency for those with responsibility for healthcare estates. This is because sites such as hospitals are designated as Higher Risk Buildings under the Building Safety Act 2022. This entails additional responsibilities, which need to be addressed by both organisations and designated individuals.

This article reviews the ways in which fire dampers are employed in health estates, provides details of the requirements now in place for compliance with the Building Safety Act 2022, and offers practical guidance for the selection and installation of fire dampers in buildings such as hospitals, care homes, and medical centres.

Fire dampers are installed in the ductwork of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems to isolate and prevent the spread of fire. Buildings are divided into fire compartments. Central air supply is usually managed by air-handling units, and every room is connected with a duct for supply and extract air. The ducts run horizontally and vertically through the entire building, passing through different fire compartments — see Figure 1.