About

About Damper Guide

Damper Guide is a free tool for engineers, architects, contractors and inspectors who need to know whether a duct or air transfer opening needs a fire damper, smoke damper, combination fire/smoke damper, corridor damper or ceiling radiation damper.

What it covers

• International Building Code Section 717 (Ducts and Air Transfer Openings) in the 2018, 2021 and 2024 editions, with the sections it references for fire walls, fire barriers, shafts, fire partitions, corridors, smoke barriers, smoke partitions, exterior walls, floors and roofs.
• International Mechanical Code rules that prohibit dampers in clothes dryer exhaust, commercial kitchen grease ducts, hazardous exhaust and common multistory kitchen exhaust.
• Exit stairway and exit passageway enclosure penetration limits from Chapter 10.

How the answers are built

The rules were written from the current printing of each code edition and checked line by line, edition by edition. Each damper type is evaluated separately, so an exception that removes a fire damper does not hide a smoke damper that is still required. Every result shows the code sections it relies on so you can verify it.

Limits

• The tool follows the model codes. Many states and cities amend these sections. Always check the amendments adopted where your project is.
• It does not decide what kind of wall or floor you have. Use the life safety plan or ask the design professional.
• Engineered smoke control systems, hazardous exhaust and special occupancies need project-specific review.
• The result is guidance, not an approval. The building official has the final say.

Read the code

The International Code Council publishes free read-only access to the codes:

• 2024 IBC Chapter 7
• 2021 IBC Chapter 7
• 2018 IBC Chapter 7

Privacy

There are no accounts, no advertising and no tracking cookies. Your answers stay in your browser and in the page link. If you send a problem report, it includes your message, your answers and, only if you enter it, your email address.

Found a problem?

Use "Report a problem with this result" at the bottom of any result. The report includes your answers, so the result can be checked exactly.

Damper Guide is an independent project. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the International Code Council (ICC). International Building Code and International Mechanical Code are trademarks of the ICC. Code text is not reproduced here; requirements are summarized in plain language with section references.