West Sussex · Fire damper testing
Fire Damper Testing in Broadwater
Our technicians work in Broadwater on fire damper drop testing and smoke damper testing, with a record for each damper. Out-of-hours visits, a fixed quote and a written report with photos as standard.
- Dampers flagged on a fire risk assessment
- Motorised smoke dampers due for testing
- Gaps in the fire damper test log
Multi-site and managed buildings
Landlords, managing agents and facilities managers book us, not only the businesses that use the systems. Shared systems, like a riser serving several units, need a clear agreement on who books the work, and we can quote for the whole system.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person must assess and reduce fire risk, and that can be the employer, the owner, a landlord, a facilities manager or a managing agent. Where responsibility is shared, records matter even more.
Fire damper testing in Broadwater, done properly
The point of testing is to find dampers that fail. Where a blade sticks, a link is damaged or corrosion has set in, we note it and can quote to repair or replace the damper, so the fault does not just sit on a list. Common call-outs are for buildings with no damper register and dampers affected by leaks or condensation, across riser dampers, hospitals and care homes and motorised smoke dampers.
Around a place like Broadwater, dampers tend to be in schools, care homes, surgeries and hotels rather than big offices. The law on keeping them working doesn’t change with the size of the place.
Insurers, fire officers and environmental health officers all look at records. So every job comes with a written report and pictures, and grease extract cleans come with a TR19® certificate issued through the BESCA Vent Hygiene Elite portal.
- Where
- Broadwater (BN14, BN11)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Reporting
- Written report with photos
- Price
- A fixed quote up front
- Hours
- When your site is closed, plus a 24/7 line
- Telephone
- 0345 646 2711
- Page updated
- 30 October 2026
Between visits
No system stays clean for ever, but care slows the build-up. Our tips:
- Tell contractors where dampers are before they start work
- Keep to at least yearly testing
- Store test records alongside the fire risk assessment
- Update the register when ductwork changes
Put the next test in the diary within twelve months. The guidance is at least once a year, and booking the same month each year keeps it simple.
Keep a damper register: location, type, last test date and result. It stops dampers getting lost as the building changes.
What happens if it’s left?
When something goes wrong, people ask what checks were in place. Damper test records are part of that answer, and they only exist if the testing happened. In a smaller place like Broadwater, a site that has to close is felt quickly.
Several systems or sites on one quote often makes better use of the time. Mention every system or site you need covered, and you’ll get one fixed quote.
Why book with us
- Work around your opening hours, with 24/7 emergency cover
- Photo reports with every job
- A BESCA Vent Hygiene Elite member, cleaning to BESA TR19® Grease
- We are fully insured
Read our cost guide and how to check a contractor.
When something else is needed
A few issues sit outside what this work can do:
- Deciding where dampers should be fitted
- Ductwork crossing a fire wall with no damper fitted
- Approving the building’s fire strategy
If in doubt, give us a ring on 0345 646 2711, or email photos and we will say what we think before you book.
Parts of the system we cover
- Fusible link fire dampers
- Wall and floor dampers
- Motorised smoke dampers
- Hospitals and care homes
- Riser dampers
- Offices and schools
Do you need fire damper testing in Broadwater?
Building work often happens right next to dampers. A cable run through the blade path, a knocked link or a wedged blade is enough to stop a damper closing.
Any of these means the system needs a check-up:
- Dampers that can’t be reached without an access panel
- Dampers affected by leaks or condensation
- Dampers overdue for their annual drop test
- Dirty dampers that may not close
Hospitals such as Worthing Hospital, about 0.9 miles south-east, are a good example of buildings with dampers on many floors; if you manage a clinic, surgery or care home near Broadwater, the same annual testing applies.
Comparing quotes
- How they set the interval to the next visit
- What’s included in the scope, part by part
- Whether the figure could change on the day
- Which accreditations they hold, and whether you can check them
Broadwater: your questions answered
Which fire authority looks after Broadwater?
Fire safety enforcement in Broadwater is handled by West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service. If a fire safety officer audits the building, they may ask for the latest damper test records.
Does the sea air around Broadwater make a difference to fire damper testing?
Yes, to a degree: at about 2 miles from the coast, Broadwater gets salt-laden air that corrodes metal faster. Corrosion is one of the things that can stop a damper closing, so it’s noted at every test.
Do you test smoke dampers as well?
Yes, alongside fire damper drop testing. The results go into the same report, so you have one record.
How often does BESA say fire dampers should be tested?
The guidance from BESA is at least annually, by a competent person. Dampers should also be tested when they’re first installed.
Which kinds of sites do you work on?
Any commercial site with kitchens or ventilation, from a small pub to a hospital. We work with hotels, schools, care homes, offices, retail and leisure sites.
Is TR19 cleaning required by law?
No. The law sets the duty, and TR19® is the recognised benchmark for meeting it. Under the Fire Safety Order 2005, the responsible person must reduce fire risk, and many insurers can refuse or reduce a claim without proof of cleaning.
What accreditations do you have?
CHAS, SafeContractor, ISO 9001 and BESCA Vent Hygiene Elite membership, cleaning to BESA TR19® Grease. We have been trading since 2009 and we are fully insured.
What about areas you can’t get to?
They’re marked on the report. Often the fix is extra access, such as new panels in ductwork, which we can install.
What the work involves, part by part
Access panels
Access panels sometimes get painted over, screwed shut or hidden by new ceilings. Clear access makes the test quicker and less disruptive.
Smoke dampers
A smoke damper is opened and closed by a motor, not a link. Testing means operating them from the controls and check each blade travels fully.
What we do, step by step
When we arrive, we check the system against the survey or the pictures you sent. Anything unexpected is raised with you before we go further. From there, it takes anything from a couple of hours for a handful of dampers to a full day for a large building. In a smaller place like Broadwater, parking is rarely the issue, but tell us about gates, roof access and opening hours.
- First we look at any damper register, drawings or earlier test reports.
- We find every damper and open it up through the access panel.
- We release each fire damper blade and operate smoke dampers from their controls.
- We reset every damper that passes and check it’s left open.
- You get a report listing each damper, its result and any remedials needed.
Before we arrive
- Mention any locked doors, roof access or ceiling voids
- Dig out any earlier paperwork for the system
- Tell us about site rules, permits or sign-in
Get a fixed quote
Need a price for fire damper testing? Please call us on 0345 646 2711 or send us an email with a few details about the site. We’ll talk you through the work and send you a fixed quote before anything is booked.
Advice
Broadwater buildings and fire safety
Broadwater is within about 2 miles of the coast. Dampers close to louvres and air intakes can corrode in sea air, and a corroded blade may not drop. There are about 12 schools, colleges and universities, about 89 hospitals, care homes and childcare premises and about 10 hotels and guest houses on the FSA’s food hygiene register within about 1.5 miles of central Broadwater. Buildings like these often have ducted ventilation, and wherever a duct crosses a fire-resisting wall or floor there should be a damper, tested at least once a year. Broadwater’s nearest hospital, Worthing Hospital, is about 0.9 miles south-east. Healthcare buildings rely on fire compartments to protect people who cannot easily move, and dampers keep those compartments sealed.
Site managers at schools such as Broadwater CofE Primary School typically find the summer break the easiest time for ceiling work like damper testing. If you manage offices, shops or flats near Worthing station, the ductwork in them may pass through fire-resisting walls and floors, and any dampers need testing at least once a year.
Broadwater is about 1 mile east of Worthing, in West Sussex. Whatever kind of site you run in Broadwater, fire damper testing is something we can help with. Visits can be booked for evenings, overnight or weekends so trading is not interrupted. Our West Sussex coverage runs to 371 places, and Broadwater is one of them. There’s also a page for Brighton, about 11 miles away.
Every address in BN14 and BN11 is within our area for fire damper testing, from busy streets to back roads. Fire damper testing is available to premises on Forest Road, Turner Road and Langton Road and the roads around them. Other places close to Broadwater include Offington (1 mile north-west), Worthing (1 mile west), Salvington (1 mile north-west), East Worthing (1 mile south-east) and Sompting (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Bognor Regis (14 miles west), Burgess Hill (14 miles north-east), Littlehampton (7 miles west), Shoreham-by-Sea (5 miles east), Rustington (6 miles west) and Storrington (7 miles north-west).
Around Broadwater
In Broadwater, that means kitchens and buildings near Thomas A Becket First School, Bohunt School Worthing and Beach House Park and the streets around them. The closest station to Broadwater is Worthing station, roughly 0.7 miles south. Other landmarks nearby include Museum of Sussex Folklore (0.9 miles west) and Old Castle (0.8 miles west). Not far away are Widewater Lagoon and Steep Down.