To end 2001 year, fire ventilation cut-off dampers were classified in the ITB Fire Test Laboratory on the basis of a fire test in "static conditions". In the smoke and gas extraction pipes, in all situations there is a negative pressure in relation to the protected zone. Thus, the fire testing of dampers under static conditions is more stringent than the practicable conditions, in which the fire ventilation shut-off damper could operate. However, it should be mentioned, that according to the draft European Standard PrEN 1366-10 [23], fire ventilation cut-off dampers used in such systems will also be tested under dynamic conditions (with this note, that there will be overpressure on the "cold" side), which will be preceded by a mechanical test 300 opening and closing cycles. Assessment of insulation of fire ventilation cut-off dampers constituting the end of the duct, fundamentally different from the method of assessment made in the case of fire dampers and fire ventilation dampers connected on both sides to the ducts. The temperature is measured over the entire surface of the damper, as shown in Fig. 10. For the record, measurement made during the test of fire dampers, takes place on the damper body and outside the ventilation duct connected to the damper.

Draft standard prEN 1366-10 [23] specifying the conditions for fire testing of fire ventilation cut-off dampers distinguishes between two groups of dampers. The first are the dampers serving only one zone
– for them, fire classification at a temperature of only 600°C is allowed. The second group consists of dampers serving more than one zone – for these dampers during the fire test, a standard curve of mean temperature rise over time will be applied.

When connecting the smoke exhaust ducts to the ventilation and air conditioning system, the fire resistance classification of fire ventilation cut-off dampers is performed similarly to fire cut-off dampers, based on a fire test under "dynamic conditions". However, solutions for such installations are not the subject of this Guide. According to the draft European Standard PrEN 12101-8, fire ventilation cut-off dampers used in this type of systems will be additionally tested for the operation of the control mechanism in the test 10.000 damper opening and closing cycles. If these dampers were to be used in facilities, in which a two-stage scenario of the development of events during a fire was adopted, during the fire test, they are additionally required to be opened and resealed starting from 25 min do 30 min after the start of the test. The above requirement corresponds to the situation, in which the dampers are activated by the emergency services with a time delay in relation to the moment of fire detection. According to the project, fire ventilation cut-off dampers, depending on its performance characteristics, in addition to the fire resistance class, they will get extra 13 class. The very fact of such a large number of criteria for assessing flaps proves it, that in the design of the fire ventilation installation the sequence of operation of the devices, the pressures that occur and the place of application of the individual dampers, determine the requirements for the devices used. The required fire resistance of fire ventilation cut-off dampers depends on the type of fire ventilation system and the location of the fire dampers in this installation..