Free checklist
Smoke control fan annual maintenance checklist
The annual smoke control fan service is the deep pass: the measurements, cleanings and tests a quarterly round doesn't reach. This checklist keeps the full service on record with the photos that make it defensible later. Work is commonly verified against NFPA 92, IMC (mechanical code). Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 4
- Photos required
- 6
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The mechanical service lead inspects and documents; the licensed tech runs and certifies the annual dedicated test with the AHJ witnessing.
When in the schedule
Once a year, scheduled around the dedicated test so the fan, dampers and controls are already clean and verified before the AHJ walk.
The checklist
Every item, and the photo that proves it
The photo count on each row is what RTI would require before the item can be submitted. Copy the list as is, or load it into RTI and let the gate enforce it.
Deep clean and mechanical
- 2 photos
Wheel, housing and dampers cleaned and fasteners re-torqued
Blades clean to bare surface, housing sound, mounting and curb hardware tight, curb flashing and sealant intact.
- 1 photo
Motor and drive inspected under load
Windings clean, connections tight, no heat discoloration, drive quiet and free of vibration transferring to the curb or duct.
Damper actuation
- 2 photos
Each control and smoke damper actuator exercised to both positions
Actuator drives fully open and fully closed, spring return works on loss of signal, end switches prove the position.
Test support and documentation
- 1 photo
Condition documented for the tech's dedicated test
As-found condition, cleaning and any repairs photographed and logged; readings taken by the tech recorded against the fan's design intent.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Wheel and housing cleaned around, not off, so the fan cannot make its rated pressure or airflow during the witnessed test.
- Damper actuators and end switches never exercised, and one fails to prove its position when the AHJ calls the sequence.
Run it with the Photo Gate
A checklist nobody can submit half-finished
Load this list into RTI, stick a QR tag on the area it covers, and the submit button stays locked until every mandatory item is answered and the 6 required photos exist. Approved walks roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper-evident record behind every line.
Submission state
The gate is enforced on the server, so it holds even if the phone is offline when the walk happens.
Verified against
Common questions
- What does this smoke control fan annual checklist cover?
- 4 items across 3 sections, covering deep clean and mechanical, damper actuation, test support and documentation. Each item spells out what the person walking the job is actually looking for, not just a box to tick.
- Who should run this inspection?
- The mechanical service lead inspects and documents; the licensed tech runs and certifies the annual dedicated test with the AHJ witnessing.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- Once a year, scheduled around the dedicated test so the fan, dampers and controls are already clean and verified before the AHJ walk.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 6 of the 4 items call for photo evidence. A checklist answer without the photo is a claim; the photo is what makes the record worth something in a dispute and lets a reviewer approve work without re-walking the job.
- What most often fails a smoke control fan annual inspection?
- Wheel and housing cleaned around, not off, so the fan cannot make its rated pressure or airflow during the witnessed test. Damper actuators and end switches never exercised, and one fails to prove its position when the AHJ calls the sequence.
- Can I use this checklist in RTI?
- Yes. Start a free RTI workspace, build this list as a checklist, and the Photo Gate holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and its photos are attached. Approved inspections roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper-evident audit trail.
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