Free checklist
Fire and smoke damper annual maintenance checklist
The annual fire/smoke damper 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 80, NFPA 105, manufacturer's published instructions. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 6
- Photos required
- 10
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The damper service tech performing the operational test at the required interval, with the ceilings opened for access.
When in the schedule
At the operational test interval, coordinated with the fire alarm so smoke and combination dampers can be driven from an actual signal and the HVAC shut down for the test.
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.
Operational test
- 3 photos
Damper cycled fully closed and reopened
Fire damper dropped by releasing the link, smoke or combination damper driven closed from the actuator or alarm signal, full closure and reopen observed.
- 2 photos
Full closure and seating verified against airflow
Blades seat completely with no gap, spring or actuator closes them against normal duct airflow, latches or catches engaging.
Link and actuator
- 1 photo
Fusible link condition and rating checked
Link free of paint and corrosion, rating correct for the location, reinstalled or replaced per the manufacturer after a drop test.
- 1 photo
Actuator, springs and linkage serviced
Return spring and linkage move freely without binding, actuator drives fully and its wiring is sound on smoke and combination dampers.
Installation
- 2 photos
Sleeve, retaining angles and duct connection inspected
Sleeve gauge and length correct, retaining angles present on both sides of the barrier, annular space and breakaway connection per the manufacturer.
- 1 photo
Duct clear of obstructions at the damper
Duct interior at the damper free of debris, liner or dropped material that would block the blades from closing fully.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Damper 'cycled' by hand but never dropped on the link or driven from the alarm, so a spring too weak to close under airflow passes.
- Blades close but don't seat because duct debris or a bent blade leaves a gap, counted as closed without checking full closure.
- Sleeve and retaining angles wrong — oversized annular space or missing angles — so the assembly wouldn't hold the barrier's rating, never checked once the wall was closed.
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 10 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 fire and smoke damper annual checklist cover?
- 6 items across 3 sections, covering operational test, link and actuator, installation. 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 damper service tech performing the operational test at the required interval, with the ceilings opened for access.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- At the operational test interval, coordinated with the fire alarm so smoke and combination dampers can be driven from an actual signal and the HVAC shut down for the test.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 10 of the 6 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 fire and smoke damper annual inspection?
- Damper 'cycled' by hand but never dropped on the link or driven from the alarm, so a spring too weak to close under airflow passes. Blades close but don't seat because duct debris or a bent blade leaves a gap, counted as closed without checking full closure. Sleeve and retaining angles wrong — oversized annular space or missing angles — so the assembly wouldn't hold the barrier's rating, never checked once the wall was closed.
- 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.
Related checklists
2642 items and 4211 photo requirements in total.