Fire Damper Inspection App

Yes. Fire dampers close to stop fire passing through a rated barrier, usually through a fusible link, while smoke dampers are controlled to limit smoke movement and are often operated by an actuator linked to the fire alarm or controls. Both are recorded in the same register with their type, so each gets the right checks and test fields. Teams commonly follow NFPA 80 for fire dampers and NFPA 105 for smoke dampers. Combination fire and smoke dampers can be recorded with both sets of checks.

Testing frequency depends on the standard your program follows, the type of building, and your authority having jurisdiction, so the app does not set one interval for everyone. You configure the frequency your own program requires for each damper type, and the app schedules inspections and shows which dampers are due, overdue, or never tested. Recording the result, access, and photos each time keeps the evidence surveyors usually ask to see. Agree the frequencies with your authority having jurisdiction before building the schedule.

It is recorded as inaccessible, not as passed or skipped. The app raises an action to create access, such as installing or clearing an access door, with an owner and due date, and the damper stays open in the register until it has been tested. This stops inaccessible dampers from quietly dropping out of the program, which is one of the most common gaps found when damper records are reviewed during a survey. Record the reason access failed, such as a missing access door or a blocked ceiling, so the fix is clear.

Fire doors, dampers, and firestopped penetrations all protect the same fire barriers, but they are different assets with different checks. A fire door inspection covers self-closing, latching, gaps, and seals. A firestop inspection covers the seals around pipes, cables, and ducts. A fire damper inspection covers dampers inside ductwork and their operational test. Keeping them separate gives each the right fields, while every record can still be reviewed by barrier or location. Each damper keeps its own repair history, separate from the doors and seals in the same wall.