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ASHE official: EC.5.40 may soon recognize six-year damper testing

Hospital Safety Connection, August 15, 2007

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The Joint Commission might formally adopt six-year damper testing frequencies starting in January, according to a posting on the American Society for Healthcare Engineering's (ASHE) listserv this week by society Executive Director Dale Woodin.

Currently, facilities need to test dampers every four years under EC.5.40, which sets various requirements for inspecting and testing of fire protection equipment. A specific provision in the 2007 edition NFPA 105, Installation of Smoke Door Assemblies and Other Opening Protectives, allows damper testing for hospitals only to occur every six years, however.

ASHE has asked The Joint Commission to recognize the six-year frequency, and the commission is in the process of taking the request through various committees, Woodin wrote.

Until The Joint Commission adopts the proposal, though, "the surveyors' expectation for compliance remains at testing every four years regardless of what the NFPA code requirements are," he added.

If you need help with fire protection issues that life safety surveyors will review, join us next Wednesday for our 90-minute Webcast, "The Joint Commission's life safety survey: Demonstrated techniques to avoid pitfalls."

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