Safety is always compromised if the design and installation teams fail to work together, says Bob Towse, head of technical and safety at the HVCA.
The productivity and profitability problems created by poor communication and lack of teamwork throughout the supply chain are well publicised, but the serious implications for safety are less well highlighted.

Thankfully, tightening regulations are making it more difficult for companies to compete and secure work if they are unable to work as part of a properly integrated team. This is particularly true in the area of fire safety with new regulations meaning fire safety officers take far more interest in how contracts are awarded and managed.

Ventilation ductwork is a key area of potential fire risk and too many systems have failed to meet fire safety guidelines in the past - often because of problems at the design stage, failure to use fully competent design and installation companies, poor or completely absent maintenance, and/or inadequate communication between the parties involved at installation.

Like many aspects of building services, fire and smoke dampers are often disregarded because they are rarely seen. However, they perform a vital role. For example, smoke is the main cause of injury and property damage in a fire so ensuring the damper fits perfectly into the ductwork and does not allow smoke leakage around its edges and seals is imperative.

Test standards have been in place for many years, but there was, surprisingly, no nationally recognised criteria covering the integration of dampers into the building structure. In the past, it was left to various members of the project team to make their own decisions about how dampers should be installed - often those decisions were based on individual preference or opinion rather than certified test results.

Therefore, the guidance newly published by the HVCA's Ductwork Group: Guide to Good Practice: Installation of Fire and Smoke Dampers (DW/145) has already received an enthusiastic reception from all parts of the supply chain including architects, consulting engineers, manufacturers, building control officers and end clients.

The new guidance is focused on the practicalities of damper installation and highlights the responsibilities of all team members including designers, builders, manufacturers and local authorities as well as mechanical services contractors.

It also looks at how all team members can meet their responsibilities by making sure they understand all aspects of the process from design to handover and that they do not solely concentrate on their own area of expertise. Working in isolation from the rest of the process will, almost inevitably, result in a non-compliant installation.

DW/145 explains the basic principles contained in the design and installation process. For example, damper manufacturers and suppliers are reminded they should provide dimensionally detailed guidance on how the damper assembly is to be installed including any requirements for damper unit expansion. Fire strategy drawings must clearly indicate fire and smoke compartmentation; the type and classification of the fire barrier and its construction.

Clear lines of communication between all parties in the professional chain are critical if damper and fire barrier installers are going to be able to provide sufficient levels of fire protection in ductwork. This long-awaited guidance should provide welcome reassurance for industry and clients facing increasing pressure from regulators, insurance companies and building occupants.

Copies of DW/145 can be ordered from: www.hvcapublications.co.uk