As fire safety, facility and maintenance professionals, it’s amazing how much time we spend trying to decipher building codes. Their anything-but-direct language can leave a person easily stumped. We find ourselves looking for straight-forward codes – the ones that are in black and white that clearly say “you must do this” or ” you don’t have to do that”. Unfortunately, building codes just aren’t that easy. In the end, despite how the reader might interpret their meaning, the interpretation and enforcement of building codes is ultimately up to your Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). We get a lot of calls about the requirements for fire damper inspections, fire door inspections and firestopping here at LSS.
Luckily, the portion of the codes that require our damper inspection services are relatively straight forward. In regards to fire and smoke damper inspections the NFPA , International Building Code (IBC) and International Fire Code (IFC) state quite frankly [that]: 1.) fire and smoke dampers must be inspection either every four or six years 2) documentation must be kept, and 3) repairs must be made. Pretty straight forward, huh?
While reading through the Fire and Smoke Protection Features Chapter of the International Building Code, I also ran across another pretty straight-forward portion of the code for dampers that I want to remind you about. Chapter 716.4 of the 2009 International Building Code states, :
“Access points shall be permanently identified on the exterior by a label having letters not less than 1/2 inch (12.7mm) in height reading: FIRE/SMOKE DAMPER, SMOKE DAMPER, or FIRE DAMPER.”
This is an important note to make about access doors. The codes states that fire and smoke dampers shall be provided with an approved means of access (typically an access door). If you are contracting with a company to perform these inspections for you, make sure to remind them that your state has adopted and is following the 2009 IBC so they can make sure to follow this requirement.
Here is a list of states that have adopted the 2009 International Building Code:
- Alabama
- California
- Colorado
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Don’t forget! Just because your state isn’t on this list doesn’t mean your city isn’t following the code. Be sure to check with your local AHJ for requirements!
