Hampshire · Fire damper testing
Fire damper inspection in Mottisfont
Professional fire damper testing in and around Mottisfont, booked around your opening hours and signed off in writing with pictures.
- Dampers that can’t be reached without an access panel
- Motorised smoke dampers due for testing
- Dust or grease build-up on damper blades
How we handle fire damper testing in Mottisfont
Wherever a duct crosses a fire-resisting wall or floor, there should be a fire damper inside it. A fusible link holds the blade open until heat melts it, and the blade then drops to shut the duct. A drop test shows that the damper still does that when it matters, and we record the result for every damper we test. Common call-outs are for rusted damper blades and springs and blades that jam part-way when released, on fusible link fire dampers, motorised smoke dampers and hospitals and care homes.
Rural buildings that have been converted or extended can have ducts passing through fire-resisting walls, and the dampers in them are easily forgotten. A first test typically starts with finding them all.
Duct Doctor has been trading since 2009, and we’re a BESCA Vent Hygiene Elite member, cleaning to BESA TR19® Grease. We also hold CHAS, SafeContractor and ISO 9001, and we carry full insurance.
- Place
- Mottisfont (SO51)
- Region
- Hampshire
- Records
- Written report with pictures
- Price
- A fixed quote up front
- Working hours
- When your site is closed, plus a 24/7 line
- Telephone
- 0345 646 2711
- Reviewed
- 30 October 2026
Part by part
Smoke dampers
Smoke dampers are motorised and run by a control system. We test them through their controls to confirm the blade moves all the way.
Offices and retail
Multi-let buildings may have dampers inside tenant areas. We agree access with the managing agent before the visit.
The process
The first job on site is protection: sheeting goes over floors and surfaces close to the work. After that, the system is made safe and the work begins. It takes a couple of hours for a few dampers, and a day or more across a big site, and the area is cleaned down before we leave. If the van will struggle with a lane or gateway near Mottisfont, let us know and we will plan around it.
- We plan access and timing with you first, including any out-of-hours work.
- Ceiling tiles and hatches are opened and each damper’s access panel removed.
- The blade is released and watched to make sure it closes fully.
- We reset it and record any dirt, corrosion or damage.
- Panels and tiles go back, and the results are written up.
Getting ready for the visit
- Tell us the best time to work, such as after service or at a weekend
- Mention any locked doors, roof access or ceiling voids
- Tell us where we can park and unload
Ask for a quote
There’s no standard price list, because every site is different. We look at your system first, from photos or on a visit, and then send you a fixed quote. To start, give us a ring on 0345 646 2711, or email photos.
Read more
For landlords and multi-site operators
When the building owner and the occupier are different, it’s worth checking the lease for who maintains the systems. We’re happy to deal with either side, and the report can go to both.
From a single site to a large estate, the standard is the same: a survey first, a fixed quote, the work timed around the site and a report with pictures.
Between visits
Here’s the after-treatment advice, short and simple:
- Act on failed dampers rather than leaving them on file
- Tell contractors where dampers are before they start work
- Update the register when ductwork changes
- Do not let anything obstruct a damper’s blade
Share the results with your fire risk assessor so their assessment matches what was found. Faults on the report are worth closing off quickly.
The simplest way to avoid failures is to test on time, every year. A blade that’s just starting to stick is easier to deal with than a seized one.
Common problems we fix in Mottisfont
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person has a duty to keep fire safety measures working, and dampers are part of those measures. Whoever that is, whether employer, owner, landlord, facilities manager or managing agent, needs to be able to show the dampers work.
Keep an eye out for these warning signs:
- Dirty dampers that may not close
- Dampers that stick or will not close fully
- Smoke dampers that need testing through their controls
- Buildings with no damper register
For buildings around Mottisfont & Dunbridge station with ducted ventilation, any fire dampers need an annual test at least.
Questions to ask before booking
- How VAT is shown on the quote
- If the quote is a fixed price or an estimate
- Whether the quote is based on a survey or pictures
- What paperwork you get at the end
What a clean will not put right
We’d rather tell you now than book work that will not help, so these are the things it won’t cover:
- Holes around ductwork in fire-resisting walls
- Dampers that were never installed where they’re needed
- Deciding where dampers should be fitted
If in doubt, give us a ring on 0345 646 2711, or email photos and we will say what we think.
What the work covers
- Offices and schools
- Hospitals and care homes
- Riser dampers
- Motorised smoke dampers
- Fusible link fire dampers
- Wall and floor dampers
Fixed quotes for fire damper testing in Mottisfont
Sites vary more than people expect. What affects the quote:
- Whether several sites go on one quote
- The scale of the work
- Access, including roofs, risers and ceiling voids
- Any permits to work or inductions
Every site is different, so each one gets its own fixed quote. Size, access, the condition of the system and when we can work all play a part.
What we need to know
There’s no need for technical detail. It helps if you can send:
- Photos showing the whole system and its surroundings
- Any symptoms, from odd noises to smells or leaks
- Close-ups of filters, grilles, hatches or access panels
- When the site is open and when it’s quiet
Some systems can be priced from photos; others need a survey. Big or complicated sites, and systems that are hard to see in photos, get a survey first. Either way, you get a fixed price before we start.
Fire dampers in Mottisfont buildings
Mottisfont is covered by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service. In most workplaces and other non-domestic buildings, it’s the fire and rescue authority that enforces the Fire Safety Order. About 4 miles south-east of Mottisfont is Romsey Community Hospital, the nearest hospital. Smaller healthcare sites, from surgeries to care homes, need the same annual damper test as a hospital.
Romsey Community Hospital, about 4 miles south-east of Mottisfont, is the kind of building where dampers protect every compartment; smaller care sites need the same annual tests. If you manage a historic building in the area (Mottisfont Abbey is about 0.2 miles north-east), dampers fitted during conversions can be hard to reach and need recording.
Mottisfont is about 4 miles north-west of Romsey, in Hampshire. Anywhere in SO51, we cover fire damper testing for commercial sites. 683 places in Hampshire are on our list, from busy centres to quieter spots. Southampton is in our area too, around 10 miles away.
Fire damper testing in SO51 is surveyed, quoted and booked the same way as anywhere else. That includes premises on Mottisfont Lane, Church Lane and Hatt Lane and the roads around them. If your site is just outside Mottisfont, we cover Stonymarsh (1 mile east), Dunbridge (1 mile south-west), Kimbridge (1 mile south), Michelmersh (1 mile east) and Timsbury (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Winchester (10 miles east), Eastleigh (10 miles south-east), Andover (12 miles north), Totton (8 miles south), Chandler's Ford (7 miles south-east) and Hedge End (13 miles south-east).
Around Mottisfont
In Mottisfont, that means kitchens and buildings near The Bear And Ragged Staff Public House, among other places. The nearest railway station is Mottisfont & Dunbridge station, about 0.6 miles south-west. Nearby you’ll also find King Johns House (3.7 miles south-east) and Romsey Community Hospital (4 miles south-east).
FAQs for Mottisfont
Will you come out to Mottisfont?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. The journey is planned ahead, so a few details about the route help.
Can you come to Mottisfont after we close?
Yes. We work evenings, overnight and at weekends. It means the site in Mottisfont keeps running as normal. Tell us your opening hours when you ask for a quote.
Which accreditations do you hold?
BESCA Vent Hygiene Elite membership, cleaning to BESA TR19® Grease, plus CHAS, SafeContractor and ISO 9001. We’ve been trading since 2009 and we are fully insured.
Will we get a certificate for the dampers?
The record we give you is a report of the tests, damper by damper. Any failures come with a note of the remedials needed.
Who is the responsible person?
The Fire Safety Order 2005 calls them the responsible person: normally the employer or whoever controls the premises. Landlords, facilities managers and managing agents can also hold responsibility.
Do you have a 24/7 line?
Yes, day and night, every day of the year. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, with the emergency line covering every other hour.
How far ahead should we book?
For planned work, earlier is better, especially if the next clean or test is due soon. For emergencies, we take calls 24/7.
Do you have insurance?
Yes. We’re fully insured, and we can share the details when you need them.