ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - November 2023 - 35

Ceiling radiation damper in a
combustible wood-truss
fl oor/ceiling assembly.
Image courtesy of Greenheck
many cases, the construction
of the test assembly, with the
exception of the dampers-
that is, the fl ooring system,
structural members, gypsum
board, etc.-being identical
ntic
to that of other designs. This is what is
known as a " proprietary " design. An " open " design
or used in applications requiring HVAC penetrations
through ceiling membranes.
■
With generic hinged-door-type dampers-A hingeddoor-type
damper is a design not specifi c to a given
manufacturer. In ANSI/UL 263 tests of fl oor/ceiling and
roof/ceiling assemblies, it often is employed so as not
to restrict the type of damper that can be used in the
construction of a building. In actual building construction,
however, it rarely is used. (Note: Standard ceiling
radiation dampers tested to UL 555C, Ceiling Dampers3,
are intended for use only in assemblies initially tested
and listed with a hinged-door-type damper. Typical
applications include fi re-rated lay-in acoustical-tile
ceilings in steel-truss assemblies rated for up to three
hours of fi re resistance.)
■
With manufacturer-specifi c damper models-When a
fl oor/ceiling or roof/ceiling assembly is fi re-tested with
a manufacturer-specifi c damper, that damper model
will be specifi ed in the Fire Resistance Directory, and
only that damper can be installed.
A company or an organization that contracts UL to
conduct an ANSI/UL 263 test of a building element is the
" sponsor " of the test and has fi nal say on the products
used in the design. Typically, damper manufacturers
allow only their damper models or damper models they
produce and license for other manufacturers to be listed
in designs they sponsor. The result is that many damper
manufacturers have their own fl oor/ceiling and roof/ceiling
design numbers in the Fire Resistance Directory, despite, in
www.amca.org
is one for which any product that passes required testing
can be listed by UL as approved for use.
International Building Code
According to the International Building Code (IBC)4,
ceiling radiation dampers shall comply with the requirements
of UL 555C or be tested as part of a fi re-resistancerated
fl oor/ceiling or roof/ceiling assembly in accordance
with ASTM E119, Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of
Building Construction and Materials5, or ANSI/UL 263.
Ceiling radiation dampers are not required to be UL-listed;
other third-party agencies can test and certify dampers
to the required standard.
For example, Intertek is Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) Nationally Recognized
Testing Laboratory (NRTL) Program-recognized to test
products to the specifications of applicable product
safety standards and can test and list a damper to an
applicable test standard. It is not uncommon to see a
ceiling radiation damper bearing Intertek's Warnock
Hersey or ETL Listed mark, which demonstrates compliance
with the requirements of widely accepted product
safety standards, as determined through independent
testing and periodic follow-up inspections. The Warnock
Hersey and ETL Listed marks include the same testing,
listing, labeling, and follow-up-inspection services as
competing certifi cation marks, such as UL and CSA, and
are accredited by the same organizations, agencies, and
regulatory bodies.
The guidelines for UL directory listings apply for
2023 AMCA inmot ion 35
http://www.amca.org
ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - November 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASHRAE Journal Supplement - AMCA InMotion - November 2023
