What does NFPA 90A cover?

Duct construction, materials and support; Fire and smoke dampers where ducts pass through rated barriers; Duct-mounted smoke detector placement and system shutdown; Materials permitted inside return-air plenums; Penetration and sealing of rated walls and floors by ductwork.

What does a field inspection against NFPA 90A look at?

Damper locations photographed at each rated wall and floor the duct crosses, before the ceiling closes on them. The access door to every fire and smoke damper shown reachable, not buried behind other trades. Duct detector shown mounted in the run it serves, with the run and the detector in one frame. Plenum-rated cable and materials photographed in the return space rather than assumed compliant. Penetration seals shot as installed where a duct leaves a rated barrier.

Which checklists verify work against NFPA 90A?

2 free checklists in the RTI library reference this family. Each is listed on this page with the photo evidence every item needs before it can be submitted.

National Fire Protection Association

NFPA 90A

NFPA 90A governs how air-conditioning and ventilating systems are built and arranged so the ductwork does not become a path for fire and smoke through a building. It is the standard behind the fire and smoke dampers where ducts cross rated walls and floors, the detectors that shut a system down, and the materials that are allowed to sit inside a return-air plenum.

Adoption varies by jurisdiction. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction enforces before you run a walk against it.

What it covers

Duct construction, materials and support
Fire and smoke dampers where ducts pass through rated barriers
Duct-mounted smoke detector placement and system shutdown
Materials permitted inside return-air plenums
Penetration and sealing of rated walls and floors by ductwork

What the evidence looks like

Damper locations photographed at each rated wall and floor the duct crosses, before the ceiling closes on them.
The access door to every fire and smoke damper shown reachable, not buried behind other trades.
Duct detector shown mounted in the run it serves, with the run and the detector in one frame.
Plenum-rated cable and materials photographed in the return space rather than assumed compliant.
Penetration seals shot as installed where a duct leaves a rated barrier.

Checklists that verify work against NFPA 90A

2 free checklists, each with the photo every item needs before it can be submitted.

Duct smoke detector QuarterlyDuct smoke detector quarterly maintenance checklistSampling tube orientation, detector cleanliness and the remote LED observed at the duct smoke detector4 items5 photos Duct smoke detector AnnualDuct smoke detector annual maintenance checklistFunctional actuation and the HVAC fan-shutdown interface observed alongside the alarm technician's annual test5 items7 photos

See the whole checklist library

Common questions

What is NFPA 90A?: Air-conditioning and ventilating systems: duct construction, dampers at rated barriers, duct detectors. It is published by the National Fire Protection Association. NFPA 90A governs how air-conditioning and ventilating systems are built and arranged so the ductwork does not become a path for fire and smoke through a building. It is the standard behind the fire and smoke dampers where ducts cross rated walls and floors, the detectors that shut a system down, and the materials that are allowed to sit inside a return-air plenum.
What does NFPA 90A cover?: Duct construction, materials and support; Fire and smoke dampers where ducts pass through rated barriers; Duct-mounted smoke detector placement and system shutdown; Materials permitted inside return-air plenums; Penetration and sealing of rated walls and floors by ductwork.
What does a field inspection against NFPA 90A look at?: Damper locations photographed at each rated wall and floor the duct crosses, before the ceiling closes on them. The access door to every fire and smoke damper shown reachable, not buried behind other trades. Duct detector shown mounted in the run it serves, with the run and the detector in one frame. Plenum-rated cable and materials photographed in the return space rather than assumed compliant. Penetration seals shot as installed where a duct leaves a rated barrier.
Which edition of NFPA 90A applies to my project?: Adoption varies by jurisdiction. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction enforces before you run a walk against it.
Which checklists verify work against NFPA 90A?: 2 free checklists in the RTI library reference this family. Each is listed on this page with the photo evidence every item needs before it can be submitted.

A standard is only met if the evidence exists

RTI holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and the photos are attached, then chains the record so it can be proven untouched later.

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