FSD Inspection & Testing Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to NFPA 80, how often must fire dampers in non-hospital occupancies be inspected and tested after the initial acceptance test?
- Every year
- Every 2 years
- Every 4 years
- Every 6 years (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Every 6 years
NFPA 80 requires fire dampers in non-hospital occupancies to be inspected and tested every 6 years after initial acceptance.
Question 2: What is the required inspection frequency for fire dampers installed in hospitals under NFPA 80?
- Every 1 year
- Every 2 years
- Every 4 years (Correct answer)
- Every 6 years
Correct answer: Every 4 years
Hospital occupancies require more frequent inspection — every 4 years per NFPA 80.
Question 3: When a fire damper is found to be obstructed by insulation or debris during inspection, what is the correct immediate action?
- Document and re-inspect in 6 months
- Remove the obstruction and verify full blade travel (Correct answer)
- Replace the damper immediately
- Notify the local fire marshal and take no other action
Correct answer: Remove the obstruction and verify full blade travel
Obstructions must be removed and the damper must be cycled to confirm full, unobstructed blade travel before closing the inspection.
Question 4: Which tool is most commonly used by an inspector to manually reset a fire damper fusible link after a test?
- Pipe wrench
- Reset rod or stiff wire (Correct answer)
- Torque wrench
- Magnetic wand
Correct answer: Reset rod or stiff wire
A reset rod or stiff wire is inserted through the access door to re-latch the damper blade after the fusible link is replaced.
Question 5: During a smoke damper inspection, the inspector confirms the blade moves to the closed position but the position indicator shows 'open.' What should be recorded?
- Pass — blade movement is all that matters
- Fail — position indicator malfunction must be corrected (Correct answer)
- Inconclusive — retest in 30 days
- Pass with notation if blade seals properly
Correct answer: Fail — position indicator malfunction must be corrected
A faulty position indicator is a deficiency because the building automation system relies on it to verify damper status.
Question 6: What does the term 'rated opening' mean in the context of fire damper inspection?
- The maximum airflow velocity the damper can handle
- The fully open position the damper must achieve for normal HVAC operation (Correct answer)
- The gap permitted between blade and frame when closed
- The temperature at which the fusible link activates
Correct answer: The fully open position the damper must achieve for normal HVAC operation
Rated opening refers to the full-open position required for normal HVAC airflow, which the damper must reach during functional testing.
Question 7: An inspector finds a fire damper whose access door is blocked by a newly installed cable tray. What is the proper course of action?
- Skip the damper and note it as inaccessible
- Cut a hole in the cable tray temporarily
- Require relocation of the cable tray or provision of alternate access before completing inspection (Correct answer)
- Complete inspection by feel without visual access
Correct answer: Require relocation of the cable tray or provision of alternate access before completing inspection
NFPA 80 mandates that access doors must remain unobstructed; the obstruction must be corrected before inspection can be completed.
FSD Inspection & Testing Procedures 2
According to NFPA 80, how often must fire dampers in non-hospital occupancies be inspected and tested after the initial acceptance test?