Abstract
There is a continuing debate among fire protection specialists on the value and role of fire dampers in preventing fire spread via HVAC duct systems. It has been recognized that fire dampers are not required under all circumstances. For example, NFPA 90A,Standard for the Installation of Air Conditioning and Ventilation Systems, does not require the installation of fire dampers in ducts penetrating one-hour fire-rated walls and partitions. Additionally, there are circumstances where the closure of dampers may affect critical environmental air systems. In these situations, the value of fire dampers must be determined in terms of an overall risk assessment. It has been suggested that the role of fire dampers be considered in terms of the total building fire protection system, but a quantitative approach for such an assessment has been previously unavailable. In particular, there has been no data related to the performance of a duct system when subjected to a standard two-hour fire exposure. Gewain et al. have described an equivalency approach and full-scale fire test data for the protection of duct openings in two-hour fire-resistant walls and partitions. The objective of this paper is to review and summarize the equivalency rationale and test data and describe engineering methods available to apply an equivalency approach more generally. The approach was developed for situations where horizontal steel ventilation ducts penetrate fire-rated walls and partitions. The approach does not address smoke dampers or ducts containing combustible materials.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
NFPA 90A, “Standard for the Installation of Air Conditioning and Ventilation Systems,” National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA (1989Edition).
K. J. Schwartz, “The Role of Dampers in a Total Fire Protection System,” SFPE Technology Report 86-2, Society of Fire Protection Engineers, Boston, MA (1986).
R. G. Gewain, B. G. Campbell, J. H. Shanley, and J. L. Scheffey, “Protection of Duct Openings in Two-Hour Fire Resistant Walls and Partitions,”ASHRAE Journal,32,5, (May 1990).
UL 555, “Standard for Fire Dampers and Ceiling Dampers,” Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., Northbrook, IL, 4th Edition (1990).
ASTM E-119 88, “Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials,” American Society of Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, PA (1988).
W. H. Bauerschlag, H. M. Smith, and C. H. Yuill, “A Comparative Evaluation of the Performance of Air-Conditioning and Heating Duct Materials,” Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX (1954).
K. Rhodes and T. Plens, “Fact-Finding Report on Air Duct Penetrations Through One Hour Fire Resistive Wall Assembly,” Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., Northbrook, IL (1985).
L. A. Issen, “Fire Safety Study of Air Ducts and Fire Dampers Effect of Hanger Spacing, Hanger Size, and Wall Thickness, First Progress Report,” National Bureau of Standards, Washington, DC (1971).
SMACNA, “HVAC Duct Construction Standards, Metal and Flexible,” Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association, Inc., Vienna, VA, 1st Edition (1985).
Ad-Hoc Fire Endurance Test of Unprotected Steel Duct Systems, Oct. 1988, Southwest Research Institute for Hughes Associates, Inc., Wheaton, MD.
AISI,Fire Protection Through Modern Building Codes, American Iron and Steel Institute, New York, NY, 5th Edition, Chapter 3 (1981).
V. Babrauskas, “Burning Rates,”The SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering, Chapter 2-1, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA (1988).
NFPA 72E, “Standard on Automatic Fire Detectors,” National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA (1987 Edition).
R. C. Alpert and E. J. Ward, “Evaluating Unsprinklered Fire Hazards,” Factory Mutual Research Corp., Norwood, MA (1982).
G. Heskestad, “Fire Plumes,”The SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering, Chapter 1–6, National Fire Protection Assoc., Quincy, MA (1988).
K. S. Mudan, “Thermal Radiation Hazards from Hydrocarbon Pool Fires,”Progress Energy Combustion Science,10 (1984).
B. J. McCaffery, J. G. Quintiere, and M. F. Harkleroad, “Estimating Room Fire Temperatures and the Likelihood of Flashover Using Fire Test Data Correlations,”Fire Technology,17,2, pp. 98–119 (1981).
K. L. Foote, P. J. Pagni, and N. F. Alvares, “Temperature Correlations for Forced-Ventilated Compartment Fires,” Proceedings of the First International Symposium, International Association for Fire Safety Science, Hemisphere Publishing, pp. 139–148 (1986).
L. Y. Cooper, “A Mathematical Model for Estimating Available Safe Egress Times in Fires,”Fire and Materials,6, Nos. 3 and 4 (1982).
H. E. Mitler and H. W. Emmons, “Documentation for CFCV—The Fifth Harvard Computer Fire Code,” NBS-GCR-81-344, National Bureau of Standards, Washington, DC (1981).
D. C. Jeanes, “Predicting Temperature Rise in Fire Protected Structural Steel Beams,” SFPE Technology Report 84-1, Society of Fire Protection Engineers, Boston, MA (1984).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gewain, R.G., Shanley, J.H., DiNenno, P.J. et al. Evaluation of duct opening protection in two-hour fire walls and partitions. Fire Technol 27, 204–218 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01038447
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01038447