Free checklist
Smoke control fan quarterly maintenance checklist
A quarterly smoke control fan round is short on purpose: it catches the wear items that fail between annual services. This checklist is sized for a tech with a phone. Every item says what to look at and the photo that proves the round happened. Work is commonly verified against NFPA 92, IMC (mechanical code). Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 5
- Photos required
- 7
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The mechanical or life-safety tech on the quarterly round; findings are documented, not certified.
When in the schedule
Every quarter between the annual dedicated tests, because a pressurization fan that sits idle all year is the one that fails when the alarm calls it.
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.
Fan and drive
- 2 photos
Fan starts on its smoke-control command, not just the local switch
Fan initiated through the fire alarm or firefighter's control interface and observed to start and run, not bumped from the disconnect.
- 1 photo
Belt, wheel and bearings sound with no rub or noise
Belt tension and alignment against spec, wheel spun free with power locked out, no bearing whine or vibration at speed.
Air path and dampers
- 2 photos
Associated smoke and control dampers stroke to their smoke position
Each damper in the path observed fully open (or fully closed) for its smoke mode, linkage free, blades not binding.
- 1 photo
Intakes, relief louvers and shafts clear
Pressurization intake, stair relief and exhaust path free of storage, snow screens and debris, nothing choking the opening.
Power and controls
- 1 photo
Standby or emergency power source to the fan confirmed
Fan observed running on its standby source (generator or alternate feed) where provided, transfer confirmed, not assumed.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Fan energizes on a smoke signal but the associated damper never strokes open, so it deadheads against a closed path.
- A tenant or trade has stacked storage or blocked the stair-pressurization intake or relief louver.
- Standby or emergency power to the fan was never confirmed, so it only ever ran on normal power during the round.
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 7 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 quarterly checklist cover?
- 5 items across 3 sections, covering fan and drive, air path and dampers, power and controls. 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 or life-safety tech on the quarterly round; findings are documented, not certified.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- Every quarter between the annual dedicated tests, because a pressurization fan that sits idle all year is the one that fails when the alarm calls it.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 7 of the 5 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 quarterly inspection?
- Fan energizes on a smoke signal but the associated damper never strokes open, so it deadheads against a closed path. A tenant or trade has stacked storage or blocked the stair-pressurization intake or relief louver. Standby or emergency power to the fan was never confirmed, so it only ever ran on normal power during the round.
- 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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