Ventilation duct systems may be out of sight but should never be out of mind when it comes to fire prevention. Ducting provides the perfect conduit for fires to spread rapidly through buildings – and into neighbouring buildings. The heat build-up inside ducts can cause combustible materials nearby, such as roof joists, to ignite; dust, debris and drafts within ductwork will also exacerbate the spread of fire, leading to significantly higher insurance claims and presenting fire fighters with a more difficult task than it need be.
All mechanical ventilation systems should have fire dampers installed and in the UK, Building Regulation 38, and for healthcare facilities, the Department of Health’s Health Technical Memorandum [HTM] 03-01 Part A, specify requirements for fitting of fire dampers. Dampers are designed to drop down in the event of a fire, effectively containing it by creating a physical barrier in the duct.
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