Choose Belimo Fire and Smoke Damper Actuators: The Sarah Connor Control Chronicles

Belimo Fire and Smoke Damper Actuators offer the control your building needs when disaster strikes.  Look to Stromquist to as your source for these important controls. In this edition of the Sarah Connor Control Chronicles, we investigate these life-saving actuators, and strive to better understand the function that they play in building ventilation.  Even Sarah Connor knows that the most sophisticated buildings can become toast if precautions aren’t taken.  But fire requires fuel and air, and being the controlling person that I am, Sarah Connor knows that if you control the air, you stand a better chance of controlling the disaster’s outcome.

While this explanation may be simplistic for you mechanical engineering-types, perhaps it will help you to explain the function of these key products to your building planners, builders, owners, and operators.  Let’s start with the concept of air and it’s role in the fire.

Long before the flames break out, hot and toxic smoke can begin to infiltrate a building.  So how do we control the smoke?  There are generally three methods: with fans, with smoke vents, and by closing doors.  But with general air circulation going through the ducts, all these methods need to be used in combination with dampers.  In order to control the dampers, we rely on fire and smoke damper actuators.  An actuator is a type of a motor that moves or controls something, and in this case, it controls the opening and closing of the damper.  When even low temperature toxic smoke is detected, dampers can close off air circulation to sections of the building in an attempt to contain the damaging gas produced before fire ever breaks out.

There are three types of dampers:

A fire damper is rarely actuated.  Most of these are a curtain-type, using a mechanical fusible link that melts at a particular temperature, like 165 degrees F.  It usually needs to be in the plane of the firewall, and auxiliary contacts prove the open or closed position.  In short, these are designed to slow the spread of the fire.

A smoke damper is actuated, and may be opened or closed for fresh air, or to stop smoke, as signaled by indicator lights.  Most are jackshaft mounted with a linkage to the damper blades, and are installed within 24 inches of a wall to enable this axle-shaft mounting.

The combo fire and smoke damper actuators are the ultimate in fire-rated control.  A temperature sensor activates the actuator control.  A fusible link restrains the shaft spring for fire dampening, while the actuator provides smoke control.  When the fusible link melts, it disconnects the damper blade spring to ensure closure, but until fire dampening is required, the actuator can open and close the damper for controlling fresh air or smoke containment.  The dual sensor is great because firefighters could reopen the damper as needed to provide fresh air for evacuation, or they could close it for smoke containment as necessary.  Pressurization of the air to promote and direct air movement is another important firefighting technique offered by the most sophisticated fire and smoke damper actuators.

Belimo offers a complete line of fire and smoke damper actuators to address the specific building requirements.

FSAFB Series:  Choose this when you need a fire and smoke fail-safe, spring return, proportional 2-10 VDC actuator with 180 in-lb torque min. It has a unique manual override that allows the setting of any actuator position within its 95 degrees of rotation with no power applied.

FSAF Series:  Use this two-position actuator to control UL555S-rated dampers mounted directly to the damper shaft or jackshaft with a 3/8 – 1.05” diameter.  It has an off/on, spring return. Choose this for 16 sq ft at 250 degrees F for a half hour, and 75-second time cycle.  It has a torque min. of 133 in-lb for control of air dampers.

FSNF Series:  Use this on/off spring-return actuator for combination smoke and fire dampers.  Choose this for 12 sq ft at 350 degrees F for a half hour, and 15-second time cycle.   It has a torque min. of 70 in-lb.

FSLF Series:  Choose this series, when you need an actuator for combination smoke and fire dampers, like the FSNF Series, but where the installation requires 4 sq ft at 350 degrees F for a half hour, and a 15-second time cycle.  It has a torque min. of 30 in-lb.

Belimo offers a complete line of Fire and Smoke Damper Actuators, and you can rely upon Stromquist to provide you with a full line of these great products.  Remember that Stromquist experts are just a phone call away, offering you the support you need to make sure that you select and install the perfect Fire and Smoke Damper Actuator that your building demands.  While you may not be able to control when a fire or smoke disaster strikes, your building will be prepared to contain and control the flow of air that is feeding that fire.  Be ready with the best damper actuators available.

CLICK HERE to watch a great Stromquist video on Fire and Smoke Damper Actuators.

CLICK HERE to download Belimo Fire and Smoke Damper Actuator product information.

CLICK HERE for FAQ about Belimo Fire and Smoke Damper Actuators.

CLICK HERE for access to product brochures and presentations.

CLICK HERE to learn more about building codes and how Fire and Smoke Damper Actuators are a part of important compliance.