Passive fire protection systems core focus is to prevent smoke, toxic gases, and fire from spreading as well as to compartmentalize a fire to a certain area. In layman's terms, you do not want the fire or smoke to spread from one area of the building to another area. Most of today's buildings have ductwork for either heating, ventilation or air conditioning. While designing a passive fire protection system, it is important to prevent smoke or fire to spread throughout the ducting system by the use of fire dampers, smoke dampers, or combination fire/smoke dampers. These three damper types performs differently and are installed and maintained differently as well. Knowledge of these differences is very important to make sure the dampers perform as it should during its life cycle. A fire damper will close once the temperature in the ductwork reaches a high enough level to melt a fusible link. A smoke damper closes instantly upon the detection of smoke. The most effective method of compartmentalization is through the use of the combination fire/smoke damper. It closes not only upon high duct temperature but also upon the detection of smoke. Curvent's fire dampers are designed that it can also close following receipt of an electrical signal from a fire alarm system utilising detectors remote from the damper, indicating the sensing of heat or smoke in the building occupied spaces or in the HVAC duct system. Contact one of their smoke and fire compartmentalization experts for further assistance on 011 826 5959.