Workload Ramps Up for Fire/Smoke Damper Installs
With growing awareness of fire safety in the wake of the 2017 Grenfell tragedy, the workload is beginning to ramp up for engineers across the UK. The recent focus has now shifted towards Fire Doors, along with Fire and Smoke Dampers as the UK fights to keep up with the demand.
Skills Gap in The Industry
A skills gap in the industry has recently been highlighted by The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), prompting the need to increase the number of workers able to install, maintain and repair fire dampers and smoke control dampers.
With building safety improvements now firmly at the forefront, the recent shortage has been flagged as “a worrying issue” by the industry.
Why Is There a Skills Gap
In the UK there are as many as 100 million fires and smoke dampers installed in buildings, but BESA believes only a tiny proportion are meeting regulations.
There is now pressure building to competently train staff across the UK to carry out these installs with this ready to overlap with those testing and inspecting the fire critical equipment.
What are Fire & Smoke Dampers?
Effectively, fire and smoke dampers are pieces of fire protection equipment that respond rapidly to heat or smoke respectively. When heat or smoke levels increase these systems kick into play.
Fire Dampers
Fire dampers work by preventing flames from crossing a fire barrier and will slam shut once the temperature reaches a set point.
Smoke Dampers
In the event of a fire it is well known that the largest cause of death is the inhalation of smoke and toxic gases, so having smoke dampers in place will stop its passage. These systems will close automatically and can be activated remotely.
If You Look After Your Dampers, Your Dampers Will Look After You
Effective testing and inspections can be the difference between life and death. With installs ready to increase across the UK so is the maintenance aspect.
Having trained over 8,000 persons in the last 3 years you could say we know a thing or two about the latest safety regulations.
Hydro-X Training provides many fire safety training solutions with locations across the UK. Accredited by City & Guilds, our Fire/Smoke Damper Testing and Inspection training course will give you the appropriate knowledge of statutory regulations that relate to the maintenance of ventilation systems. On top of this, we offer replica fire damper facilities, so you can get the hands-on experience that you will need in the real world.
Get in touch with our team today to organise your training requirements.
Other Fire Courses Hydro-X Training Offer
Fire & Damper Awareness Training
Sources:
Fire Damper testing – the next multi-million-pound industry (fire-damper.co.uk)
