Do Industrial Facilities Need a Fire Damper?
A fire damper maintains the integrity of the fire and prevents the heat, smoke, and fire from spreading to other areas. They help close the passage of airways, duct, and other structures that can be penetrated by the fire and are usually installed at locations where the ventilation or air conditioning ducts goes inside the wall.
Fire dampers are passive safety systems and help reduce property damage and any on-site injuries due to the fire. Fire dampers are set up in the HVAC systems and in critical areas to contain the smoke and fire. Industrial facilities need fire dampers as they helpcontrol the spread of the fire by shutting down the valves of the HVAC system.
Why is Fire Damper Installation Important?
Industrial facilities may contain chemicals, special machinery, and equipment. They are also usually involved in large-scale operations or productions. Having a fire damper adds another level of safety in the event of a fire.
Without a fire damper, a fire may spread and result in other major threats such as chemical and gas leakage, which can mix with the smoke and gases in the fire. These gases and chemicals may spread quickly and may be fatal to people in small doses depending on the substance.
Fire dampers contain special seals that are gas-tight which help to prevent harmful gases from spreading and mixing with the fire. Fire dampers are heat-sensitive devices that can detect fire when temperatures increase above the established set trip point.
Once the temperatures reach the trip point, the heat response device built within the fire damper is activated and melted, which causes the damper blades to close. This prevents the fire, heat, and smoke from escaping to adjoining areas.
Types of Fire Dampers
Industrial facilities use a wide variety of fire dampers that perform various functions such as regulating airflow, ventilation, and more.
Butterfly fire dampers are better designed to isolate and regulate airflow and are commonly used in industrial applications with harmful exhaust gases such as wastewater treatment, nuclear power generation, and manufacturing of fertilizer. Other types of fire dampers such as volume control dampers have pivot blades that will spring shut once the temperature reaches the trip point.
Applications of Fire Dampers
Industrial fire dampers are important components of industrial air systems and passive fire protection systems in industrial buildings. They allow for the timely evacuation of residents from the building while protecting the building. Numerous industrial facilities such as power generation, paper mills, and oil drilling sites have fire dampers as part of their passive fire protection in addition to their active fire protection, which includes fire extinguishers and smoke alarms.
Fire dampers complement the on-site active fire protection systems to ensure complete safety. They are also very versatile and have numerous applications for pressure relief, ventilation, and exhaust in industrial settings. They can also be connected to the HVAC systems to be controlled during emergencies.
Was your industrial facility damaged by a fire? Contact our public adjusters today.