Author Topic: Fire dampers  (Read 3545 times)

Offline Firemac

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Fire dampers
« on: December 11, 2008, 12:44:04 PM »
Fire codes seem to prohibit the use of fire dampers in the extract from kitchens because of the build up of grese etc. However what is the alternative to stop the spread of fire into an adjoining compartment?
The new BS9999:2008 specifies that dampers with sliding blades should not be used, Does this mean all other types are now ok?
Is the code refering to the prohibition of the damper in the actual hood over the cooking appliances and not where the duct pass through a compartment wall? I have a proposed design in a pizzeria where the duct will pass through the a compartment wall 3 metres from where the inlet in the kitchen will be. Does grease travel 3 metres. the local fire officer thinks so
Any help/insight would be great.

Offline wee brian

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Re: Fire dampers
« Reply #1 on: December 11, 2008, 12:47:15 PM »
Use protected ducts.

The gunk goes a long way. It was a duct fire from a burger joint that closed Heathrow Airport for a day.


Offline Firemac

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Re: Fire dampers
« Reply #2 on: December 11, 2008, 03:06:45 PM »
Thanks for the help wee brian. what do you mean by protected ducts? Is it fire reisting ductwork? How do I get around the problem of not having a damper somewhere in the system as per diagram 28 of BS9999:2008 if I used that approach.
Is a pizzeria with ovens a kitchen? there would be no cooking other than the ovens themselves. No grease!

Offline Mark Newton

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Re: Fire dampers
« Reply #3 on: December 11, 2008, 03:31:27 PM »
Approved Document B and the relevant parts of BS5588 (now late and lamented, I guess) specifically prohibit dampers in kitchen (and car park) extract ductwork, requiring fire resisting ductwork should it be necessary to pass through another compartment. As Wee Brian so rightly says, the grease goes a long way, bakes hard, and prevents dampers from operating. And besides, the speed of the flame front is so fast that it would be past the damper before it were able to operate.
Another aspect of kitchen ductwork fires is the quantity of nasty smoke: close a damper, and all of that will be forced back into the kitchen/rest of the building. Many of those restaurant kitchens are airless little rooms in the basement anyway, and I would certainly not wish to deliberately prevent heat/smoke from escaping to the open air, rather forcing it back into the building.
Other threads have highlighted bits of BS9999 that don't seem to be correct, I think this should be added to the list.

And Wee Brian mentions Heathrow: unfortunately, I can come up with a a depressingly long list of other sites totalled by cooking fires..............

Oh, and what makes you think cooking pizzas doesn't produce grease?
« Last Edit: December 11, 2008, 03:33:37 PM by Mark Newton »

Offline wee brian

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Re: Fire dampers
« Reply #4 on: December 11, 2008, 04:23:04 PM »
the Diagrams in 9999 are a bit confusing. you don't always need a damper.The trick with an FR kitchen duct is to extend the compartment all the way to outside the building.

It depends on the layout of the building and where your Pizaa Joint is.

If its a really huge building there are scrubbing units you can use (not filters) that remove the grease but they are pretty expensive and only a last resort solution.