Kent · Fire damper testing
Fire damper inspection in Hicks Forstal
One call covers fire damper testing in Hicks Forstal: survey, fixed quote, work and sign-off. Fully insured, with CHAS, SafeContractor and ISO 9001.
- Dampers that cannot be reached without an access panel
- Dampers affected by leaks or condensation
- Buildings with no damper register
Fire damper testing in Hicks Forstal, done properly
Under BESA guidance, every fire damper is tested on completion of installation and then at least once a year. For spring-operated types, annual testing is the minimum. Our job is to do the testing and hand you the paperwork that shows it. If you have missing or out-of-date damper records and fire damper items raised by an assessor, we can put it right, from fusible link fire dampers, riser dampers and offices and schools onwards.
Rural buildings that have been converted or extended can have ducts passing through fire-resisting walls, where the dampers are easy to overlook. A first test normally starts with finding them all.
Duct Doctor has been trading since 2009, as a BESCA Vent Hygiene Elite member, cleaning to BESA TR19® Grease. CHAS, SafeContractor and ISO 9001 are in place too, and we carry full insurance.
- Place
- Hicks Forstal (CT3)
- Region
- Kent
- Records
- Photo report after each visit
- Price
- A fixed price before we start
- When we work
- When your site is closed, plus a 24/7 line
- Telephone
- 0345 646 2711
- Reviewed
- 30 October 2026
Leave it or put it right?
If a damper can’t close, the wall it sits in has a hole in it during a fire. The rest of the compartment can be built perfectly and still be bypassed by the duct. It’s far better to find that out on a test than in a fire. In a place like Hicks Forstal, ductwork and fans are easy to forget until something goes wrong.
Putting the work off seldom saves money. Build-up, wear and faults tend to get worse, not better, and a neglected system can mean more work. If you are not sure what’s needed, call 0345 646 2711 or use the quote form for straight advice and a fixed quote.
Why book with us
- Every visit written up, with pictures
- Trading since 2009
- CHAS, SafeContractor and ISO 9001
- We’re fully insured
Read our cost guide and how to check a contractor.
What staff can safely do
Day-to-day cleaning is something your team can do: wiping down canopy surfaces, cleaning filters and keeping a simple log. What they cannot safely do is clean inside the ductwork, the fan or the risers, which is where we come in.
When your team notices a problem between visits, such as dripping grease, a noisy fan, a smell or a filter that will not come clean, it’s best reported rather than tackled in-house. We can diagnose it and quote.
Multi-site and managed buildings
Running several sites is easier with one contractor. We work across London and the South East, so a run of sites can go into one programme and kept to a regular schedule.
Where a tenant occupies the premises but the landlord owns the building, it’s worth checking the lease for who maintains the systems. We can quote either party and send the paperwork to whoever needs it.
Also near Hicks Forstal
Also in Hicks Forstal
What fire damper testing can’t fix
A few issues sit outside what this work can do:
- Ductwork crossing a fire wall with no damper fitted
- Fire risk assessments, which need a fire risk assessor
- Sign-off of the whole building’s fire safety
If in doubt, call 0345 646 2711, or email photos and we will say what we think before booking.
Where we work
- Hospitals and care homes
- Wall and floor dampers
- Fusible link fire dampers
- Riser dampers
- Motorised smoke dampers
- Offices and schools
What happens on the day
The first job on site is protection: floors, worktops and anything near the work are covered. After that, the system is made safe and the work begins. It takes a morning or an afternoon for a small number of dampers, longer where there are many, and we clear up before we go. Visits to a village like Hicks Forstal are booked in advance, at a time that suits whoever runs the site.
- First we check the schedule and the last set of results.
- We locate every damper and note any we cannot reach.
- We test fire dampers by dropping them and smoke dampers by operating them through the controls.
- Dampers that pass are reset, and failures are logged with what we found.
- We report the results and offer remedials on failed dampers.
Before we arrive
- Name a contact who can let us in at the agreed time
- Tell us about access, such as roof hatches, plant rooms, ceilings or locked areas
- Tell us where we can park and unload
Get a fixed quote
Quoting starts with a diagnosis, from your pictures and details or, where that is not enough, a survey on site. Then we send a fixed price so you know the cost before work begins.
Read more
What fire damper testing looks like in Hicks Forstal
Sea air reaches Hicks Forstal, which sits within about 3 miles of the coast. Salt air speeds up corrosion, and corrosion is one of the things that can stop a fire damper closing. Going by the FSA’s register, there are about 6 caring premises (care homes, nurseries and hospitals) serving food within 1.5 miles or so of the middle of Hicks Forstal. Larger buildings like these are often divided into fire compartments, with dampers where ducts pass between them. Hicks Forstal sits within the area of Kent Fire and Rescue Service. Its fire safety officers enforce the Fire Safety Order in most non-domestic buildings, and that covers fire safety systems such as dampers.
For schools like Spires Academy, damper testing is easiest in the holidays, when corridors and ceilings are clear. St Martins Hospital, about 3.9 miles south of Hicks Forstal, is the kind of building where dampers protect every compartment; smaller care sites need the same annual tests.
Hicks Forstal is about 2 miles south of Herne Bay, in Kent. For fire damper testing in and around Hicks Forstal, please call 0345 646 2711 or email us for a fixed quote. We work across South East England and London, including Hicks Forstal. Hicks Forstal is one of 922 towns, villages and districts in Kent where we work for fire damper testing. Our Maidstone page covers sites nearby, about 26 miles away.
We work across the CT3 postcode area for fire damper testing and the streets around it. We also cover Calcott (1 mile south-west), Herne Common (1 mile north), Knave's Ash (1 mile east), Herne (1 mile north) and Bullockstone (1 mile north-west). Larger places within reach include Canterbury (4 miles south-west), Margate (12 miles east), Dover (15 miles south-east), Ramsgate (12 miles east), Broadstairs (13 miles east) and Whitstable (4 miles west).
What’s near Hicks Forstal
We work in commercial kitchens and buildings around Curtis Wood, among other places. The closest station to Hicks Forstal is Sturry station, roughly 2.2 miles south. A little further out are St Martins Hospital (3.9 miles south) and Canterbury Castle (4.6 miles south-west). Open spaces near Hicks Forstal include West Blean and Thornden Woods.
Part by part
Smoke dampers
If a smoke damper will not operate when signalled, it goes on the report as a failure, along with what we saw.
Ceiling voids and risers
Many dampers sit above suspended ceilings. Ceiling tiles are lifted for access and replaced afterwards.
Aftercare tips
No system stays clean for ever, but care slows the build-up. A few tips:
- Make sure access panels stay clear and usable
- Fix water leaks in plant rooms and risers promptly
- Never wedge or tie a damper open
- Diary the annual test well ahead
When we finish, we send a report covering every damper on the visit, with its location and its result. File it with your fire safety log so it’s to hand for assessors and insurers.
Water is a damper’s enemy, so fix leaks and condensation near them promptly. Corrosion is a common reason blades stick.
FAQs for Hicks Forstal
Is Hicks Forstal within the area you cover?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. Just mention lanes, gates or anything else about the site when you book.
Can you work in Hicks Forstal outside opening hours?
Yes. We work evenings, overnight and at weekends. The site is handed back ready to open. Tell us your opening hours when you ask for a quote.
Does the law say we must follow TR19?
Not in itself. TR19® is the benchmark insurers, fire officers and EHOs check against, and many insurers ask for proof of cleaning to it. The legal duty sits in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in England and Wales.
Do you have a 24/7 line?
Yes. Our emergency line runs 24/7 for anything that can’t wait until a planned visit. Call us any time and explain what’s happened.
What happens if a damper fails its test?
Failed dampers are reported and we can quote to repair or replace them. Once fixed, the damper is drop tested again and the record updated.
What does TR19 mean?
It’s the industry benchmark for cleaning ventilation and kitchen extract systems, written by BESA. It covers how systems are inspected, cleaned and checked, and it takes a risk-based approach.
What do you need from me for a quote?
Some pictures and a quick description of the system, with the address and opening hours. If we need more, we’ll ask.
Who has the duty to keep fire dampers working?
It’s the responsible person, under the Fire Safety Order 2005. Testing at least yearly and keeping the reports is how they can show it’s being done.