Oxfordshire · Fire damper testing
Fire and smoke damper testing in Headington Quarry
Fire damper testing for Headington Quarry, with a survey first and a report with photos at the end. Call for a fixed quote.
- Buildings with no damper register
- Fire dampers that fail to drop shut
- Fire dampers nobody can get to
How we handle fire damper testing in Headington Quarry
For every damper, we record where it is, whether it passed and the state it’s in. Dampers that pass are reset and left open, ready to operate, and any that fail are listed with the reason. You end up with a clear record to keep with your fire safety documents. We are often asked to deal with dampers clogged with dust or grease and damper actions from a fire risk assessment, on wall and floor dampers, fusible link fire dampers and motorised smoke dampers.
A building in a smaller place like Headington Quarry might have only a few dampers, but each one still needs drop testing at least once a year, with the result recorded.
We’re CHAS and SafeContractor accredited, we hold ISO 9001 and we are fully insured. We’re also a BESCA Vent Hygiene Elite member, cleaning to BESA TR19® Grease, and we’ve been trading since 2009.
- Location
- Headington Quarry (OX3)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Reporting
- Report and photos after the visit
- Quotes
- A fixed quote up front
- Working hours
- After hours by arrangement; emergencies any time
- Telephone
- 0345 646 2711
- Checked
- 30 October 2026
How the job changes from site to site
Offices and retail
In shared buildings, some dampers sit inside tenants’ space. We agree access with the managing agent before the visit.
Fusible link fire dampers
For dampers closed by a spring, BESA guidance is annual testing as a minimum. Dropping the blade reveals springs that are tired and blades that drag.
What we are called out for in Headington Quarry
Corrosion is another common cause of failure. Condensation, leaks and damp plant rooms corrode the parts that need to move, so a damper can seize without anyone noticing.
Look out for these warning signs:
- Missing or out-of-date damper records
- Dirty dampers that may not close
- Smoke dampers with no recent test
- Dampers that cannot be reached without an access panel
Historic houses near Headington Quarry, with Holywell Manor about 2 miles west, are a reminder that older buildings can hold dampers in unexpected places.
Questions to ask before you book
- When they can work, and whether that’s outside your opening hours
- What insurance they carry
- How VAT is shown on the quote
- Whether the price is fixed
Multi-site and managed buildings
We regularly work with managing agents. Tell us the site, the work and the access arrangements and we will come back with a fixed quote.
For anyone managing more than one site, we can schedule visits across all of them on one quote. Each site gets its own report and photos, so records stay tidy.
Honest limits
To be straight with you, some problems need a different fix:
- Gaps in the wall or floor around the damper
- Ductwork crossing a fire wall with no damper fitted
- Faults in the alarm or building controls that signal smoke dampers
If in doubt, ring 0345 646 2711, or send details by email and we’ll say what we think.
Where we work
- Fusible link fire dampers
- Offices and schools
- Riser dampers
- Motorised smoke dampers
- Hospitals and care homes
- Wall and floor dampers
Towns and villages near Headington Quarry
More services for Headington Quarry
Common questions in Headington Quarry
Do you test dampers in schools in Headington Quarry during the holidays?
Yes, out-of-term visits are normal for schools. Around Headington Quarry, the Food Standards Agency lists about 16 schools and colleges with registered kitchens within a mile and a half or so. You can give us a ring on 0345 646 2711 or drop us a line with the dates the site is empty.
Is Headington Quarry within the area you cover?
Yes. Villages and rural sites across the South East are part of our work, Headington Quarry included. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
How much does fire damper testing cost?
We don’t publish prices, because the cost depends on the job: the size of the system, its condition, access and when we can work. You get a fixed price before work begins.
Do you offer emergency callouts?
Yes. If something urgent happens, like a fan failing or damage after a fire, call our 24/7 line, and we’ll advise on what to do next.
What’s TR19?
BESA’s ventilation hygiene specification in two main parts: TR19® Grease for kitchen extracts and TR19® Air for supply and extract systems. It is not legislation, but it’s the standard people check against.
What if parts of the system can’t be reached?
They’re marked on the report. In ductwork, new access panels are often the answer, which we can install.
Where does the waste go?
Waste is contained during the work and removed when we leave, from grease and debris to used cleaning water. We don’t leave it behind.
Who has the legal duty for fire safety?
The law calls them the responsible person. That is generally the employer or the person in control of the premises, and in shared buildings more than one person can have duties. Your lease and fire risk assessment should make it clear.
How it works
Before we leave, we walk the area with whoever is on site. We point out anything that couldn’t be reached or needs a follow-up, and it goes on the report too. The visit takes a few hours for a single floor, with bigger buildings phased over more than one visit. Your opening hours decide when we come to Headington Quarry, not ours.
- We start with whatever records exist: registers, drawings or old 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.
- Dampers that close fully are reset and left open.
- The results go into a report, with failed dampers and remedials listed.
Getting ready for the visit
- Clear the space around the work
- Name a contact who can let us in at the agreed time
- Mention any sign-in, permit or induction we need
Get a fixed quote
Every quote begins with a look at the system, either from pictures and details you send or from a site visit. Then we send a fixed price, before we start.
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What fire damper testing looks like in Headington Quarry
There are about 16 schools, colleges and universities, about 25 hospitals, care homes and childcare premises and about 7 hotels, B&Bs and guest houses on the FSA’s food hygiene register in and around Headington Quarry, up to about a mile and a half out. Schools, care settings and hotels are the kind of buildings where fire dampers are commonly found. Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre is the nearest hospital, about 0.5 miles south-west of Headington Quarry. A hospital is the kind of building where dampers sit on every floor, and clinics, surgeries and care homes need the same annual testing for any they have. Headington Quarry is covered by Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service. Fire and rescue authorities enforce the Fire Safety Order in most non-domestic premises, and keeping dampers working is part of the responsible person’s duty.
Healthcare buildings such as Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre (about 0.5 miles south-west) rely on fire compartments, and the dampers in them need testing at least annually. Site managers at schools such as Headington Quarry Foundation Stage School typically find the summer break the easiest time for ceiling work like damper testing.
Headington Quarry is about 2 miles north-east of Oxford, in Oxfordshire. For fire damper testing in and around Headington Quarry, it’s easy to get a fixed quote: please ring 0345 646 2711 or drop us a line. Our area covers London and the South East, including Headington Quarry. Our Oxfordshire coverage runs to 443 places, and Headington Quarry is one of them.
Here we cover the OX3 postcode area for fire damper testing. Whether your site is on Old Road, Mark Road and York Road or anywhere close by, we can help. We also cover the places around Headington Quarry: Headington (1 mile north-west), Headington Hill (1 mile west), Northway (1 mile north-west), Oxford (2 miles south-west) and New Marston (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Didcot (11 miles south), Bicester (10 miles north), Abingdon-on-Thames (7 miles south-west), Witney (13 miles west), Thame (10 miles east) and Wantage (15 miles south-west).
Landmarks near Headington Quarry
We work in commercial kitchens and buildings around Parish Church of St Mary, The Chequers pub and Bury Knowle Park and the streets around them. You will also find Cheney School (1.1 miles south-west), Windmill Primary School (less than half a mile south-west) and English Faculty Library (2 miles west). The closest station to Headington Quarry is Oxford station, roughly 3 miles west. A little further out are Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre (0.5 miles south-west) and Templars Square (2.1 miles south). Open spaces near Headington Quarry include CS Lewis Nature Reserve and Shotover.
How we price fire damper testing
There’s no set price list, because sites vary so much. The quote depends on:
- The condition of the system
- Travel, parking and unloading
- When the work can happen, such as evenings, overnight or weekends
- Site requirements such as sign-in and permits
Kitchens, offices, schools and hospitals are all priced the same way: how much there is, how we reach it, what state it’s in and when we can work. Ask for a fixed quote and we will go through it with you.
What we need to know
Photos let us diagnose from a distance. The most useful are:
- Photos showing the whole system and its surroundings
- Close-ups of filters, grilles, hatches or access panels
- The times we could work without disrupting the site
- The roof, plant room or outside wall the system runs to
If you need fire damper testing in Headington Quarry, give us a ring on 0345 646 2711, or email photos. Tell us what kind of premises it is and when it’s open, plus pictures or the previous report if they’re to hand. A fixed quote usually follows within one working day.
Leave it or put it right?
Sites in Headington Quarry tested every year build up a history for each damper so repeat problems show up early. If the same damper keeps giving trouble, the record shows it before it becomes a failure. When a site near Headington Quarry shuts unexpectedly, the people who rely on it notice at once.
Combining work into one visit or one programme often makes better use of the time. Tell us about everything you’d like looked at, and you will get one fixed quote.
Why us?
- One number for every site across the South East and London
- A fixed price before any work starts
- We’re fully insured
- BESCA Vent Hygiene Elite member, cleaning to BESA TR19® Grease
Take a look at what affects the cost and our accreditations.