The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has launched a training programme for fire damper inspection and maintenance as part of its ongoing campaign to improve fire safety standards in UK buildings.
The new BESA DW145 Fire Damper Inspection and Maintenance course is mapped to the industry’s primary guide to good practice, DW145*, and the sector’s National Occupational Standard, BSEFSD04.
It is approved by specialist awarding body EAL and delivered by the BESA Academy in partnership with its training providers across the UK.
The hybrid training programme includes three days of practical work and assessments at a BESA-approved training centre, alongside online learning and the development of an on-site portfolio. Anyone who successfully completes the training will be eligible to apply for the appropriate SKILLcard, allowing them to access project sites.
The Association updated DW145 in 2024 following a surge in reports that annual maintenance inspections were uncovering significant numbers of incorrectly installed dampers that did not comply with manufacturers’ instructions. Many others were damaged, had never been tested or were impossible to access.
The new training course therefore focuses heavily on the role of dampers in meeting legal life-safety requirements. It helps ensure systems comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 for England and Wales, the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 and the Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010.
It also reflects the need to comply with BS 9999, which stipulates that dampers must be tested at least annually, depending on the system type.
Competent Fire Damper Inspection And Testing
All testing must be carried out by a competent person, as defined by DW145. Testing and maintenance work must be supported by accurate and verifiable records, along with a full asset register documenting the condition and location of each damper.
The training takes operatives through the entire inspection process, from checking and recording the physical condition of the damper, including damage to the blades or frame, to assessing the condition of actuators and penetration seals.
It also covers functional testing and resetting dampers, as well as their interface with fire alarms and building control systems. This demonstrates that dampers often operate as part of a wider fire-control system rather than in isolation.
“When inspecting and testing fire dampers, you’re essentially verifying that they will operate correctly in a real fire scenario and maintain compartmentation,” said BESA technical director Kevin Morrissey.
“Will they contain the spread of smoke and/or fire at the critical moment, helping to keep people and property safe?”
He added that the training reflected the increased focus on competence and compliance across the sector. It also forms part of BESA’s wider response to the heightened attention on building safety following the Grenfell Tower disaster.
The course is designed to support those responsible for demonstrating that fire safety systems are compliant, functional and properly documented.
“Unsurprisingly, UK fire authorities are taking an in-depth interest in this aspect of building safety, and many clients, although not all, are now more aware of their legal and social obligations,” said Morrissey.
“This, in turn, places greater pressure on damper and ductwork contractors to provide evidence of their own competence and ability to comply with legislation, hence the need for this kind of specific, targeted training.”
You can access the fire damper training course through the BESA Academy and download DW145 here.
*Full title: DW145: Guide to Good Practice for the Installation, Design and Selection, Inspection and Maintenance of Fire Dampers.