Hampshire · Fire damper testing
Fire damper testing in Tidworth, Hampshire
Fire damper testing in Tidworth, surveyed first and signed off with a written report and photos. Ask us for a fixed quote.
- Smoke dampers that need testing through their controls
- Dirty dampers that may not close
- Fire dampers that haven’t been tested for over a year
Fire damper testing for kitchens and businesses in Tidworth
In a fire, ductwork can act as a shortcut for flame and smoke from one part of a building to the next. A damper only does its job if the blade can drop fully. Annual drop testing is how you know for the dampers in your building. We’re often asked to deal with buildings with no damper register and dampers that stick or won’t close fully, across motorised smoke dampers, offices and schools and riser dampers.
Around a place like Tidworth, dampers tend to be in schools, care homes, surgeries and hotels rather than big offices. The law on keeping them working does not change with the size of the place.
The sign-off is always in writing: a written report, dated and illustrated with pictures, and for TR19® Grease cleans, a certificate issued through the BESCA VHE portal. It shows what was done and what, if anything, couldn’t be reached.
- Place
- Tidworth (SP9)
- Wider area
- Hampshire
- Paperwork
- Photo report after every visit
- Quotes
- Fixed quote, normally within a working day
- When we work
- Out of hours as standard, 24/7 emergency line
- Call
- 0345 646 2711
- Reviewed
- 30 October 2026
For landlords and multi-site operators
Facilities teams in offices, schools and healthcare sites book us too across Hampshire. Larger estates can be phased building by building to keep disruption down.
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.
Nearby places to Tidworth
What else we do in Tidworth
Aftercare tips
Aftercare is simple, and it makes the next visit easier:
- Keep the damper register up to date after any building work
- Don’t let hatches get painted shut or boarded over
- Do not let anything obstruct a damper’s blade
- Keep damper test reports with the fire safety log
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.
Deal with leaks and condensation near dampers quickly. Corrosion is a common reason blades stick.
Staff cleaning versus specialist work
A few tasks are always specialist work: entering ducts, working on fans, testing dampers and taking grease readings call for the right kit, training and safe access. Leave those to us.
Away from the kitchen, the in-house job is mainly checking: clear grilles, a log of filter changes and reporting anything odd. Cleaning inside ducts and units is specialist work.
What fire damper testing looks like in Tidworth
The fire and rescue service for Tidworth is Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service. When a fire safety officer audits a non-domestic building, maintenance of systems like dampers can come up.
For schools like The Wellington Academy, damper testing is easiest in the holidays, when corridors and ceilings are clear.
Tidworth is about 8 miles west of Andover, in Hampshire. We carry out fire damper testing for commercial premises of every kind in Tidworth and the rest of Hampshire. Our Hampshire coverage runs to 683 places, and Tidworth is one of them. Our Southampton page covers sites nearby, about 25 miles away.
Every address in SP9 is covered for fire damper testing, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Streets in the area include Station Road, Pennings Road and Ebble Close, all of which we cover for fire damper testing. Tidworth is on the A338 and A3026, which makes it straightforward for our technicians to reach for fire damper testing. We also cover the places around Tidworth: Perham Down (1 mile east), Ludgershall (2 miles north-east), Shipton Bellinger (2 miles south), Great Shoddesden (2 miles east) and Kimpton (3 miles east). We also work in nearby towns such as Andover (8 miles east), Whitchurch (14 miles east), East Anton (9 miles east), Picket Piece (10 miles east), Picket Twenty (9 miles east) and Finkley Down (10 miles east).
Near you in Tidworth
Typical jobs here are in premises near Clarendon Infants' School. Well-known places in the area include Ludgershall Castle (2.2 miles north-east). The countryside around Tidworth includes Quarley Hill.
What affects the quote in Tidworth
There’s no set price list, because no two systems are the same. The quote depends on:
- The number of sites or systems
- The condition we find in the survey
- Whether it’s a one-off visit or part of a schedule
- When the work can happen, such as evenings, overnight or weekends
Combining work into one visit or one programme can make for a more efficient booking. Mention every system or site you need covered and we will price it together.
Helping us quote
There’s no need for technical detail. Just send:
- Close-ups of filters, grilles, hatches or access panels
- Your opening hours and when the area is out of use
- The postcode and the type of business
- Any previous report or certificate
Photos are enough for some jobs, while others need a look on site. Larger sites, and anything hidden behind walls, ceilings or floors, are normally surveyed first. Either way, you get a fixed price before work begins.
When to call us in Tidworth
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.
Common reasons sites call us are:
- Smoke dampers that need testing through their controls
- Fire dampers that haven’t been tested for over a year
- Dust or grease build-up on damper blades
- Dampers flagged on a fire risk assessment
In Tidworth, each damper is dropped to prove it closes fully, then reset.
What your quote should include
- Whether a written report and photos are included
- Proof of accreditation you can verify
- Whether a survey comes first
- Whether inaccessible sections are listed on the report
Tidworth: your questions answered
Which fire authority looks after Tidworth?
It’s Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, which covers Tidworth. BESA guidance is that every fire damper is tested at least once a year, so an officer or insurer may expect a report less than a year old.
Can you come to Tidworth after we close?
Yes, evening, overnight and weekend work is normal for us. It means the site in Tidworth keeps running as normal. When you phone us on 0345 646 2711 or send us an email, mention when the site is quiet.
Is Tidworth in your area?
Yes. Our area takes in London and the counties of South East England, and that includes Tidworth.
What do you do with what you remove?
It’s contained and taken away. We collect grease, debris and waste water as we go, so it does not spread.
What do you need from me for a quote?
A short description and a few pictures, with the address and opening hours. If we need more, we’ll ask.
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. We fix the price before any work starts.
Is there a survey before the work?
Yes. We always survey first, from your photos and details, or with a visit where needed. Then you get a fixed quote.
Does the law say we must follow TR19?
No, 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 law behind it is the Fire Safety Order 2005 in England and Wales.
The process
Your staff do not need to do much on the day. Someone lets us in at the agreed time and shows us where everything is, and the rest is down to us. Afterwards, the area is left tidy and the written report follows. In a smaller place like Tidworth, parking is rarely the issue, but tell us about gates, roof access and opening hours.
- We start with whatever records exist: registers, drawings or old reports.
- Dampers are located one by one and reached through their access panels.
- Every fire damper is dropped, and every smoke damper is tested through its 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.
Preparing for the visit
- Find the previous report, if there is one
- Clear the space around the work
- Mention any parking or loading restrictions
Getting a quote
Quoting starts with a diagnosis, either from photos and details you send or from a site visit. After that, you get a fixed price for the work so you know the cost before work begins.
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What a clean won’t put right
An honest diagnosis matters more to us than a booking, so here’s what fire damper testing will not do:
- Deciding where dampers should be fitted
- Ductwork crossing a fire wall with no damper fitted
- Approving the building’s fire strategy
If you are not sure, just give us a ring on 0345 646 2711 or send us an email and we will give you a straight answer.
Parts of the system we cover
- Motorised smoke dampers
- Fusible link fire dampers
- Hospitals and care homes
- Riser dampers
- Offices and schools
- Wall and floor dampers