TECHNICAL FEATURE

This article was published in ASHRAE Journal, May 2019. Copyright 2019 ASHRAE. Posted at www.ashrae.org. This article may not be copied and/or distributed
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Remote Fire and Smoke

Damper Testing Methods
BY LARRY FELKER, LIFE MEMBER ASHRAE

Building codes require periodic testing of life-safety dampers. Actuated damp-

ers, such as smoke and combination fire and smoke, may be remote tested per the
2019 versions of the NFPA 801 and NFPA 1052 standards, which are referenced in the
International Building Code (IBC)3 and International Fire Code (IFC).4 The initial
remote inspection shall include a visual inspection confirming that the position indi-
cation method accurately reflects the full open and full closed positions.
Among the advantages of remote testing are code
compliance before any intervention by the fire official,
cost avoidance, no ceiling membrane disturbance, and
ability to test inaccessible dampers. These equate to an
overall safety increase without undue cost increase.
A small number of single- and multi-blade fire damp-
ers are actuated. The same methods discussed below
for combination fire and smoke can be used for these.
They are not discussed here as a separate subject. In
most cases, only smoke and combination fire and smoke
dampers are actuated. Ceiling radiation and most fire
dampers must be manually inspected and tested.
Actuated dampers are applied in two general building
applications. First, those required to meet Chapter 7 of
the IBC, Fire and Smoke Protection Features, require-
ments for structural fire resistance. These are referred
to as “containment” or “compartmentation” dampers.
Second, those required in Chapter 9, Fire Protection
and Life Safety Systems, for engineered smoke control
systems. They are referred to as “smoke control system
dampers.”
Code Required Testing Frequency
Table 15 shows the intervals at which various types of
life-safety dampers must be tested.
Typical Actuated Life-Safety Dampers and Control Methods
Variations exist in many situations; however, the fol-
lowing examples exemplify the majority of cases.
Figure 1 shows the typical wiring for a Chapter 7 smoke
damper. As shown, the smoke detector can also be wired
to a fire alarm system — upon detection of smoke, the
detector opens its contacts and removes power to the
damper actuator, closing the damper.

Larry Felker is product manager fire & smoke actuators for Belimo Americas. He is the co-author of ASHRAE’s Dampers and Airflow Control.

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 TABLE 1   Periodic testing requirements. FIGURE 1  
Containment smoke damper wiring.
DEDICATED NON-DEDICATED
Smoke Damper
Commissioning Commissioning
Semi-Annually Annually Duct Smoke Detector or Relay
CHAPTER 9 Contact from an Area Smoke
Mechanical Smoke Removal Dampers and Auxiliary Fire Extinguishing Equipment (CO2) Detection System
Damper
Commissioning
Annually
120 or N or COM
Fire Detection and Smoke Control Systems 24V ac/dc
DEDICATED NON-DEDICATED a
Weekly Self-Test Not Required Actuator
aSubject to the Exception in 909.12.1 of both IBC and IFC
To Alarm System
Figure 2 shows the typical wiring for a combination
fire and smoke Chapter 7 containment damper. For a FIGURE 2  
Containment combination fire and smoke damper wiring.
more complete description of the types of life-safety
dampers see the three-part series “Basic Fire and Smoke Combination Fire and Smoke Damper
Dampers”6 in the ICC Building Safety Journal. If smoke Smoke Detector or
Relay Contact Damper
is detected, power to the actuator is removed and the
damper springs closed. This damper also contains a heat Actuator
165°F
responsive device (normally a bi-metal, not a fusible 120 or 24V N or COM
link) that is factory supplied at a temperature of 165°F
to 350°F (74°C to 177°C). If the duct temperature rises
High Limit
above the damper’s heat responsive device setpoint the (Primary Heat Sensitive Device)
contact opens and removes power to the actuator thus To Alarm System
closing the damper.
Visual inspection is the only means of notating the
damper cycling for an inspection. be experienced due to a fire in a space. However, 250°F
Figure 3 shows the wiring details of a smoke damper in (121°C) indicates that the fire is near the barrier wall and
a typical Chapter 9 application. In this case we see the the damper must close to prevent fire jumping the bar-
damper is connected to the fire fighters’ smoke control rier. 350°F (177°C) is sometimes specified to give the fire
system (FSCS) panel. In case of an event, the incident fighters longer to remove smoke if the damper has been
commander can override the dampers position or leave overridden open. Code is 250°F (121°C).
it in automatic. The position of the damper—open or
closed—is indicated by lights in the control panel. The Remote Damper Testing
damper can be factory supplied with open or closed Only actuated dampers can be remotely tested for
position switches (via actuator auxiliary switches or inspection if they incorporate factory supplied posi-
damper blade switches) to supply a signal to the control tion indication. Therefore, ceiling dampers and curtain
panel indicating the dampers position. fire dampers using a fusible link must still be manually
Figure 4 shows a re-openable combination fire and and visually tested. If actuated, single- and multi-blade
smoke damper. In this case there is a secondary heat fire dampers could be remote tested using the methods
responsive device (usually 250°F or 350°F [121°C or shown below.
177°C]) present. The primary heat responsive device Dampers installed per Chapter 9 requirements lend
(usually 165°F or 212°F [74°C or 100°C]) can be bypassed themselves to remote testing with no additional wiring.
at the FSCS panel until the damper experiences the Remote operation and position indication are included
secondary heat responsive device temperature. At this initially and can be used for periodic testing. At times
point, the power will be removed from the actuator, they are automatically tested in the weekly smoke
closing the damper. It is assumed that 165°F (74°C) will control system equipment tests. When inspection and

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TECHNICAL FEATURE 

testing could interfere with normal functions, such as FIGURE 3   Smoke control system—smoke damper.
when fans must be off to avoid duct damage and safety
Re-Openable Smoke Damper
concerns, step-by-step manual intervention allows test-
Area Smoke
ing. Both fire alarm and building automation system Detectors
companies have UL 864 UUKL7 listed panels. Central Damper
connection to either can be used for remote testing
Smoke
depending on local codes. Typically, a networked system, Relay
rather than the hard-wired methods shown in Figures 3
and 4 would be used. The typical combination damper
wired to a network module is shown in Figure 5. Actuator
A very large system may have as many panels as shown Fire Fighters Smoke Control Panel
and an additional workstation that connects to both the Damper
building automation and the fire alarm and smoke con- Detail Smoke
trol panels. Small systems may have only one panel with Relay
N
the fire alarm panel doing many smoke control func- FSCS Panel
tions as well as containing the FSCS panel overrides and Auto
Close Actuator
position indication. Hot
Open
Since the controls must be installed for smoke control, Switches
Hot
there is no extra cost in equipment for remote testing Open
with dampers installed for Chapter 9 smoke control sys- N
tems. Not all systems use a digital graphics display. Most Closed
Damper N

FIGURE 4  Smoke control system—re-openable combination fire and smoke damper.

Re-Openable Combination Damper

Damper
Heat Responsive Devices
Primary Secondary
Smoke Control Panel Smoke Relay 165°F 250°F
COM

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Close Actuator
Hot
Open
Damper Open
Open
COM
Closed Damper Closed
Hot
FSCS Panel

commonly a separate indication and override panel is

used.
Chapter 7 containment dampers do not require cen-
tral connections thus remote testing would require
additional wiring. A trade-off exists between the extra
initial cost and the periodic testing cost. Some building
owners may desire more frequent testing to maintain

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TECHNICAL FEATURE 

a higher level of safety. FIGURE 5   Networked fire and smoke control system architecture.
Life-safety dampers in
many buildings do not Damper and Damper Mounted Controls
have periodic testing per- Network Smoke
Connection Detection, etc. Input-Output Primary Secondary Actuator
formed. Remote testing Module Sensor Sensor
Sensors, etc. 165°F 250°F
can greatly increase the FSCS Graphic Panel COM
percentage of dampers Damper X
to be periodically tested. Open Smoke Control
System Panel Sensors are
Where dampers are hid- Auto
Close Manually Reset
den or difficult to access Position Indication Status Switches
Open
remote testing offers the Damper Open
benefits of ensuring test- Fire Alarm Panel
Closed
ing as well as reducing
Hot Damper Closed
the cost of that periodic Fault
Sensors, etc.
testing—for example in
hospitals, when ceiling
containment must be maintained or lifts required to FIGURE 6   Remote testing panel hard wired to combination fire and smoke damper.
access the damper. (Photos courtesy Pottorff)
Figure 6 shows a cost-effective method of remote testing Local Test Switch and Position Indication
containment dampers. While the damper itself is usu-
ally in a duct and requires penetrating both the ceiling Smoke Relay 165°F
and duct for visual access, a local momentary override COM
switch and position indication light panel can be uti- Test Switch
lized. The switch assembly is available from the damper Hot Actuator
manufacturer and should be ordered with the damper. Position Indication
The assembly can be key switch protected from tamper- Status Switches
ing and/or located where convenient for maintenance Hot
Open
but out of public access. COM
Electrical power drives the damper open via the Closed Combination Fire and
actuator; the Open light is illuminated. The test switch Smoke Damper
breaks the power causing the actuator to spring closed;
the Open light goes off and when the damper closes,
the Closed light illuminates. Releasing the test switch
returns the damper to the open position and the lights
reverse. A smoke damper would use the same method
and the wiring would be the same except there would be
no 165°F (74°C) primary heat responsive device.
The use of a central controller for testing has wiring
similar to that shown in Figures 5 and 7. Momentary Keyed

Summary Chapter 7 will require additional controls and wiring to

Remote testing of life-safety dampers is permitted in
the 2019 NFPA standards that regulate actuated fire and
smoke dampers. Existing controls applied to smoke con-
trol system dampers installed per IBC and IFC Chapter 9
already provide methods for remote testing. However,
containment dampers installed per IBC and IFC
allow remote testing.
The most common existing methods for actuated con-
trol of smoke and combination fire and smoke dampers
are described.
Damper open and closed position verification upon
command is the proof required. Two methods for

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TECHNICAL FEATURE 

remote testing are discussed. FIGURE 7  Remote testing using building automation. (The visual display is often shown on the workstation’s screen.)
One, a local test switch with
position indication lights can Building Automation Panel Used for Damper Testing
Damper N
be installed. Or two, use of the
fire alarm or building automa- 120V ac or Actuator
Visual Display 24V ac/dc
tion system to remote test. 165°F
Damper N N or COM
Sensors, etc.
References Auto
1. NFPA 80-2019, Standard Test
for Fire Doors and Other Opening Open Building
Protectives. National Fire Protection Automation Panel
Association. Position Indication
Closed Damper Open
2. NFPA 105-2019, Standard for the
Installation of Smoke Door Assemblies and Fault
Network
Other Opening Protectives, ibid. Connection
3. ICC. 2018. International Hot Damper Closed
Building Code. International Code
Council, Inc. www.iccsafe.com.
4. International Fire Code 2018.
ibid. 7. UL 864 Control Units and Accessories for Fire Alarm Systems,
5. Chart taken from Felker, L. 2014. “Codes and damper testing.” 2003 with revisions dated Feb. 17, 2010, Underwriters Laboratories,
ASHRAE Journal 56(10). UL, Northbrook, Illinois 60062-2096, www.ul.org UUKL is the
6. Building Safety Journal, Dec 2016, Feb 2017, April 2017. ICC, category listing for the smoke control requirements contained
op.cit. within UL 864.

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