TECHNICAL GROUPS

TG6 TASK GROUP SUMMARY

ASFP Technical Officer Dr Andrew Taylor reviews the work of the ASFP’s Technical Task Group 6 – Ducts and Dampers.

The ASFP operates a number of Technical Task Groups (TGs) which undertake the Association’s important work in developing industry guidance and best practice. In the last edition of Ignite we summarised the work done by each of the TGs. In this article, we will look in more detail at the work of TG6 which covers ducts and dampers.

TG6 is unusual in its remit, in that its work covers the development of two colour books. The Blue Book on fire-resisting and smoke control ductwork. It provides guidance on the use of the historical British Standard (BS) testing regime, while a more recent version, published in 2020, covers the newer BS EN testing regime.

TG6 is also responsible for the Grey Book which covers fire-resisting and smoke control dampers. The terminology of fire-resisting dampers (which can include a smoke resistance classification) and smoke control system dampers (which include a level of fire resistance) is a source of error and confusion in the marketplace, and one we are looking to correct. The first part of the Grey Book covering fire-resisting dampers is currently in draft, and we hope to publish later in the year.

Further Guidance

We are currently revising another of the key documents produced by TG6, Technical Guidance Document 18, which covers the installation, inspection and maintenance of fire-resisting ductwork.

TG6 is also considering how to approach developing a new product standard for fire-resisting ductwork, which is needed to cover a kit approach. This cannot be addressed until legislative change related to the Building Safety Bill is clear.

Recent publications from TG6 include Advisory Note 26, a new guidance document on combined penetrations, covering the situation where a duct or damper is contained in the same service penetration as pipes and/or cables. This was published in October 2021.

More recently, we have published an update to TGD20 entitled Fire Test Standards and the Construction Products Regulation in Relation to Fireresisting Ventilation and Smoke Control Ductwork. Although only published in August 2020, this document needed a review given the effects of Brexit and the forthcoming Building Safety Bill secondary legislation on construction products.

TG6 has a healthy work programme going forward, and will be involved in collaborative work with other similar trade associations such as Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), Association of Ductwork Contractors and Allied Services (ADCAS) and National Association of Air Duct Specialists UK (NAADUK). As always, we look to ensure that best practice advice is available for this important fire-resisting product family.