The Building Engineering Services Association has launched a new training programme designed to improve competence in fire damper inspection and maintenance across UK buildings.
The BESA DW145 Fire Damper Inspection and Maintenance course is mapped to the industry’s primary guide to good practice, DW145, and the National Occupational Standard BSEFSD04. It is accredited by specialist awarding body EAL and delivered by the BESA Academy with training partners across the UK.
The hybrid programme combines online learning, an onsite portfolio build and three days of practical work and assessments at a BESA-approved training centre. Successful learners will qualify to apply for the appropriate SKILLcard, supporting access to project sites.
BESA said the launch follows its 2024 update of DW145, which came after annual maintenance inspections revealed a rise in incorrectly installed fire dampers. Issues identified included dampers that did not follow manufacturers’ instructions, were damaged, had never been tested or could not be accessed for inspection.
The new course focuses on the role of dampers within legal life safety requirements, including compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in England and Wales, the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 and the Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010. It also reflects BS 9999, which states that dampers should be tested at least annually, depending on system type.
Competence and record keeping central to training
Under DW145, testing must be carried out by a competent person, with inspection and maintenance activity supported by accurate, verifiable records. A full asset register should also be maintained, showing the location and condition of each damper.
The training covers the full inspection process, from checking and recording the physical condition of the damper, including damage to blades or frames, to assessing actuators and penetration seals.
It also includes functional testing and resetting of dampers, as well as their interface with fire alarms and building control systems, recognising that dampers often operate as part of a wider fire control strategy.
Kevin Morrissey, technical director at BESA, said: “When inspecting and testing fire dampers, you’re essentially verifying that they will operate correctly in a real fire scenario and maintain compartmentation. Will they contain the spread of smoke and/or fire at the critical moment so helping to keep people and property safe?”
Morrissey said the programme reflected the sector’s wider focus on competence and compliance, as well as BESA’s response to increased scrutiny of building safety following the Grenfell Tower disaster.
He added: “Unsurprisingly, UK fire authorities are taking an in-depth interest in this aspect of building safety and many clients, although not all, are now more aware of their legal and social obligations. This, in turn, places greater pressure on damper and ductwork contractors to provide evidence of their own competence and ability to comply with legislation – hence the need for this kind of specific, targeted training.”
The course is available through the BESA Academy, while DW145 can be downloaded from BESA.
