FACT SHEET

FIRE AND SMOKE DAMPER BASICS

Fire and smoke dampers are used to reduce the spread of fire and smoke throughout a building and the building’s heating, venti-
lation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Codes and standards from the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) cover the
installation, inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire and smoke dampers to help ensure that they work properly and provide the
level of protection required in the event of a fire.

Common Types of Dampers

Fire Dampers
• A device that is designed to close automatically upon detec-
tion of heat (such as a fusible link or heat detector) and to
interrupt airflow and to restrict the passage of flame.
• Fire Dampers are listed in accordance with UL 555, Fire Dampers.
Smoke Dampers
• A device within an air-distribution system that controls the
movement of smoke by halting air movement automatically
upon the detection of smoke (such as a smoke detector).
• Smoke dampers are listed in accordance with UL 555S,
Smoke Dampers.

Multi-blade fire damper Interlocking blade fire damper Smoke dampers

Courtesy of Ruskin Air and Sound Control Courtesy of Greenheck Fan Corp.

Combination Fire/Smoke Damper

• It may be necessary to provide both a fire damper and a smoke damper in the same place. In that case, a fire/smoke damper
can be used to meet both the fire damper and smoke damper requirements.
• Combination fire and smoke dampers are listed in accordance with UL 555 and UL 555S.

Types of Fire Dampers

Types of fire dampers include single-blade, multi-blade (above left), and interlocking-blade types (above right). These different
types can be actuated by a fusible link, or a separate heat detector and actuator.

Fire dampers are classified for use in either static systems or dynamic systems. Dampers in dynamic systems need to be able to close
with air moving through the damper, while dampers in static systems do not, since the system is designed to shut down air flow upon
detection of a fire.

Fire dampers are available with different hourly ratings based on the fire resistance rating of the assembly that they are located in,
as shown in the table below.

Fire Damper Rating

Fire Resistance Rating of Assembly Minimum Damper Rating (hr)
3-hr or greater fire-resistance-rated assemblies 3
Less than 3-hr fire-resistance-rated assemblies 1½
Ceiling of floor/ceiling or roof/ceiling assemblies See 8.8.8.6 of NFPA 5000, 2021 ed.
Source: Table 8.8.8.2.1, NFPA 5000, 2021 edition.

©2023 National Fire Protection Association. March 2023

 FACT SHEET

FIRE AND SMOKE DAMPER BASICS continued

Where Fire Dampers Are Used Where Smoke Dampers Are Used
Fire dampers are installed in ducts passing through or in air Smoke dampers are installed in ducts passing through or in
outlet openings terminating at fire barriers and other fire- air outlet openings terminating at barriers designed to resist
resistance-rated partitions as required by the building code the spread of smoke as required by a building or life safety
and applicable NFPA codes and standards. See examples code and other applicable standards. See example shown
shown below. Fire dampers are also present in commercial below.
cooking systems,
waste and linen Fire damper
handling chutes, Air-handling duct

and in some
vertical openings. Damper
smoke
detector
Damper

Smoke
barrier

Rated wall

Air grille

Air grille
Nonrated FD FD
barrier < 2-hr
barrier 2-hr
barrier
Air
transfer
FD
ITM for Dampers
openings

FD — Fire damper Fire, smoke, and fire/smoke dampers must be properly

inspected, tested, and maintained to ensure that they will
operate when needed. Chapter 19 of NFPA 80 addresses the
inspection, testing, and maintenance (ITM) of fire dampers
Applicable NFPA Codes and Standards and combination fire/smoke dampers. For the ITM of smoke
dampers, refer to Chapter 7 of NFPA 105.
• NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code®: Mandates where smoke
dampers are required as well as their ratings, access and
identification requirements, and activation requirements.
• NFPA 5000®, Building Construction and Safety Code®:
Identifies where fire dampers are required and their
required ratings as well as access and identification
requirements for fire and smoke dampers.
• NFPA 90A, Standard for the Installation of Air-Condi- Learn More
tioning and Ventilation Systems: Mandates additional
locations where fire and smoke dampers are required. � View an NFPA blog on fire and smoke dampers at:
• NFPA 80, Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening nfpa.org/dampers.
Protectives: Installation details as well as ITM require- � Get free digital access to NFPA documents at:
ments for fire dampers and fire/smoke dampers. nfpa.org/Codes-and-Standards.
• NFPA 105, Standard for Smoke Door Assemblies and � Review NFPA training programs at: nfpa.org/BLSSolutions.
Other Opening Protectives: Installation details as well as � Subscribe to NFPA LiNK® for digital access to NFPA codes
and standards with enhanced content at nfpa.org/link.
ITM requirements for smoke dampers.

This information is provided to help users navigate NFPA® requirements. It is not intended to be a comprehensive list of require-
ments. Check with the local jurisdictions for specific requirements. This material does not represent the official position of NFPA
or its technical committees on any referenced topic, which is represented solely by the NFPA documents in their entirety. For free
access to the complete and most current version of all NFPA documents, please go to nfpa.org/docinfo. NFPA disclaims liability for
any personal injury, property, or other damages of any nature whatsoever resulting from the use of this information. In using this
information, you should rely on your independent judgment, and when appropriate, consult a competent professional.

©2023 National Fire Protection Association. March 2023