Things you should Know about UL Listed Fire Damper

Fire dampers are essential equipment, and they have become an indispensable part of heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. These dampers are of high importance because they offer passive fire protection. These dampers prevent the spreading of flames inside the ductwork. The dampers have fire resistance floors and walls which prevent the fire flame from reaching inside the main system through ducts.

All fire dampers must be thoroughly checked before installation, and they should qualify to meet underwriter’s laboratory requirements. Only UL fire dampers are allowed to be placed inside an air conditioning system.

These ducts must be installed in every HVAC system, and they cannot be ignored, because systems like air conditioner are prone to catch fire during high temperature, and if an air conditioner gets exposed to fire, then it can lead to severe fire hazards.

These dampers are essential to keep us safe during an emergency; they are life savers, so fire dampers must never be ignored. They functioned when heat from the fire caused a rise in normal room temperature, rise in temperature leads to the closure if the lock that is attached with the damper.

The attached link when exposed to fire has the property of melting, and cause the door to get closed. The main function of these fusible links is to melt when there is an increase in temperature and prevent the spread of flame.

Depending upon their mode of operation, they are broadly classified into dynamic fire damper and static fire damper. Both the types employ a different method to prevent the flow of fire into the system. The Dynamic fire dampers are placed in vertical barriers, whereas the static fire dampers are placed in barriers where the fan of the system will shut down in a case of fire. These dampers play a crucial role in any HVAC system, so there are special guidelines and measures that must be taken.

UL listed fire dampers are tested at higher temperatures, different pressures, and velocities. This is done to ensure reliability and provide a safety factor. All the dampers, whether they are used at commercial sites or residential sites are supposed to undergo a safety check before their installation and surpass under UL listed fire dampers. In case, they do not meet the required standards, and they should not be installed in the system.

What You Need to Know about a UL Classified Fire Damper

Not many people who are not implicitly familiar with the industry will know the details about fire dampers, in fact, the general consensus is that it is a helpful part of the framework of a building in the event of a fire emergency. Fire dampers play an essential role in helping to curb the spread of fire. A UL classified fire damper is used to maintain the fire ratings of other fire rated walls, floors, etc. when they are interrupted by ducts.

Fire dampers shut close in the event of a fire emergency to prevent the flame from spreading further, especially through ductwork and eventually the supply ceiling diffuser in Dubai. This is possible because of a fusible link installed in the ductwork, which is designed to melt at 73.8 degrees Celsius, thus causing the UL classified fire damper to close. There are certain situations where the fusible link is designed to withstand hotter environments and respond to a temperature of 100 degrees Celsius. This is because some environments create a hotter “normal” temperature that is not indicative of a fire. Being an Underwriters Laboratories or UL classified fire damper means that the damper has been certified to carry a fire resistance rating which is measured in hours. This rating usually goes from 1.5 to 3.0 hours.

There are two major types of fire dampers. These are Dynamic Fire Dampers, and Static Fire Dampers. Dynamic Fire Dampers are used in situations where the building’s HVAC system’s blower will keep working in the event of a fire, or the Fans On mode. Static Fire Dampers are meant to used in emergencies when the HVAC system’s blower will be in Fans Off mode. This distinction is important because Dynamic Fire Dampers are specially designed to be able to function correctly against a strong air flow.

This post outlining the purpose, function, and types of fire dampers reveals how important they are to the structural integrity of a building’s fire safety standards. Highly rated fire dampers are responsible for containing a fire to as small a size as possible, preventing quick spread and heavy losses in densely populated areas.