West Sussex · Fire damper testing
Pickhurst fire damper testing
Fire damper testing for Pickhurst, with a survey first and a report with pictures at the end. Call for a fixed quote.
- Dampers hidden with no access panel or hatch
- Rusted damper blades and springs
- Dampers overdue for their annual drop test
Leave it or put it right?
A sticking blade caught on an annual test can be a small repair. Left for years, corrosion and build-up can turn it into a full damper replacement. Rural sites can’t always move to another kitchen or room when something fails.
When the work has to happen, how we reach it and how big the site is all affect the cost. We take each of them into account and give you a fixed price before any work starts.
Why book with us
- BESCA Vent Hygiene Elite member, cleaning to BESA TR19® Grease
- Fixed quotes from a survey or photos
- In business since 2009
- We’re fully insured
Fire damper testing in Pickhurst, done properly
BESA guidance is that fire dampers should be tested by a competent person when they’re installed and at least annually after that. For spring-operated types, annual testing is the minimum. We carry out fire damper testing for buildings in Pickhurst and give you the records to show it’s been done. The work covers motorised smoke dampers, hospitals and care homes and riser dampers, and common reasons people get in touch are fire dampers that fail to drop shut and fire dampers that haven’t been tested for over a year.
Testing in a small place like Pickhurst is planned around the journey and access, and the test itself is the same as in any city building.
A written report with photos follows each visit, so you have a record of what was done and when. Kitchen extract cleaning to TR19® Grease is certificated through the BESCA Vent Hygiene Elite portal.
- Location
- Pickhurst (RH20)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Paperwork
- Report and photos after the visit
- Price
- Fixed quote, typically within a working day
- When we work
- Out of hours as standard, 24/7 emergency line
- Phone
- 0345 646 2711
- Checked
- 30 October 2026
Fire dampers in Pickhurst buildings
About 40 miles out from central London, Pickhurst is part of the South East area we work across. We work evenings, overnight and at weekends, so the visit fits around the site. West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service covers Pickhurst. 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.
If you manage an older building converted to a hotel or venue, like many historic houses in the area (Old Place Manor is about 1.2 miles south), finding every damper is the first job.
Pickhurst is about 11 miles south-west of Horsham, in West Sussex. From the centre of Pickhurst to the outskirts, fire damper testing is available to all kinds of commercial premises, from a single unit to a large public building. Pickhurst is one of 371 towns, villages and districts in West Sussex where we work for commercial clients. For sites nearby, see our Guildford page (19 miles or so).
Postcode districts we cover here for fire damper testing: RH20. If your site is just outside Pickhurst, we cover Pulborough (1 mile south-east), Bedham (2 miles west), Hardham (2 miles south), Fittleworth (2 miles south-west) and Lower Horncroft (3 miles south-west). We also work in nearby towns such as Horsham (11 miles north-east), Worthing (12 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (15 miles south-west), Chichester (15 miles south-west), Littlehampton (11 miles south) and Shoreham-by-Sea (15 miles south-east).
Near you in Pickhurst
For rail, the closest station is Pulborough station, about 1.4 miles south of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include Coates Castle (3.6 miles south-west). The countryside around Pickhurst includes The Mens.
Towns and villages near Pickhurst
What else we do in Pickhurst
What the work involves, part by part
Access panels
Over time, hatches and panels get covered up. Letting us know where they are speeds the visit up.
Schools, hospitals and care homes
In hospitals and care homes, people are there day and night. The sequence of testing is agreed with staff so care isn’t interrupted.
What affects the cost of fire damper testing
We quote each job individually. These are the things that affect it:
- Access, including roofs, risers and ceiling voids
- Where the site is and how we reach it
- The condition of the system
- One-off work versus a regular cycle
Leaving it longer rarely makes the work cheaper. Build-up, wear and faults tend to get worse, not better, which can make the next visit longer. If you are not sure what’s needed, call us on 0345 646 2711, or send details by email for straight advice and a fixed quote.
What to send for a quote
What to send for a quote:
- Any previous report or certificate
- When the site is open and when it’s quiet
- How we’d reach plant on a roof or in a plant room
- The postcode and the type of business
There’s no standard price list, because every site is different. We look at your system first, from pictures or on a visit, then send a fixed quote. To get going, call us on 0345 646 2711, or email photos.
The process
Everything the job needs comes with us, including protection sheets, the right tools and access kit. All we need from you is clear access and the right equipment switched off. On site, the work takes from an hour or two in a small building to several visits on a large estate. Seeing the system in photos first means the trip to Pickhurst can be planned properly.
- We plan access and timing with you first, including any out-of-hours work.
- We open up ceilings and hatches and take off each access panel.
- We release each blade and check it shuts all the way.
- We reset it and record any dirt, corrosion or damage.
- We close everything up and send the results in a report.
Preparing for the visit
- Tell us about access, such as roof hatches, plant rooms, ceilings or locked areas
- Agree a time when the area can be out of use
- Find the previous report, if there is one
Get a fixed quote
Photos are the quickest way to a quote: the system from a couple of angles, plus any access panels or hatches. Add the site type and your opening hours, and many jobs can be priced from that alone.
Related advice
Pickhurst questions
Which fire authority looks after Pickhurst?
That’s West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service. A report listing every damper, its location and its result is the easiest way to show the dampers are maintained.
Can the work in Pickhurst be done at night or at weekends?
Yes. We work evenings, overnight and at weekends. The site is handed back ready to open. Let us know the hours you are closed and we’ll book within them.
What happens to the waste?
We contain it and take it with us. Grease, debris and waste water are collected as the work goes on rather than letting it spread.
How much time does a damper test visit need?
A visit takes from an hour or two in a small building to several visits on a large estate. Bigger sites can be phased, so give us a ring on 0345 646 2711 or send us an email for a quote.
What if parts of the system can’t be reached?
They’re listed in the report, never skipped quietly. You will know exactly which parts weren’t reached and why, and we can quote to improve the access.
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.
Do you work in Pickhurst?
Yes. We work across Greater London, Surrey, Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire and Essex, Pickhurst included.
Does the law say we must follow TR19?
No. TR19® itself isn’t law; it’s a BESA specification. The law is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which makes the responsible person assess and reduce fire risk, and cleaning to TR19® is the recognised way to show grease is under control.
Staff cleaning versus specialist work
For ventilation and air handling systems, in-house care is mostly about checks: clear grilles, a log of filter changes and reporting anything odd. The inside of ducts and units needs a specialist.
Logging matters as much as cleaning. A dated log of in-house cleaning and checks shows an inspector that the system is looked after between visits, alongside our reports.
Keeping the system healthy
Looking after the system between visits is straightforward, and it helps at the next visit:
- Fix water leaks in plant rooms and risers promptly
- Get remedials done soon after a failed test
- Brief other trades about dampers in ceilings and risers
- Keep to at least yearly testing
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.
Deal with leaks and condensation near dampers quickly. Corrosion is a common reason blades stick.
What we are called out for in Pickhurst
Corrosion is another common cause of failure. Water leaks, condensation and damp plant areas attack the casing, blade and spring, and the damper can seize quietly where no one sees it.
The symptoms we are asked about most are:
- Fire dampers that haven’t been tested for over a year
- Dampers that stick or won’t close fully
- Fire damper items raised by an assessor
- Buildings with no damper register
For buildings in and around Pickhurst, every damper is drop tested, reset and recorded.
What to look for in a quote
- How VAT is shown on the quote
- Proof of insurance
- Whether the figure could change on the day
- What records you will receive afterwards