There are two costs people mean when they ask what a fire damper costs: the price of the damper itself, and the cost of testing and maintaining it once it is installed. This guide covers both, with real UK prices for the common damper types and indicative ranges for testing and installation, so you can budget a project or a maintenance round with confidence.
Quick answer: A mechanical circular fire damper costs from around £54, an externally resettable combination damper (BSB FD-C) from about £104, and intumescent fire blocks from around £41 depending on size. Testing is a separate specialist service, typically charged per damper with a minimum visit fee. Browse certified units in fire dampers.
In this guide
What drives the cost of a fire damper
Two fire dampers for the same opening can differ a lot in price. The factors that move the number are:
| Factor | Effect on price |
|---|---|
| Type | An intumescent fire block (no moving parts) is often cheaper than a resettable mechanical damper of the same size |
| Size | Cost rises with duct diameter or opening size. A 200mm damper costs more than a 100mm one |
| Mechanism | Externally resettable and combination fire and volume control dampers cost more than a basic in-duct damper, but save time at annual testing |
| Brand and certification | All should be certified to BS EN 15650. Established brands sit at a small premium |
| Single vs multi-blade | Circular single-blade dampers suit most duct sizes. Large rectangular multi-blade dampers are a bigger, made-to-order item |
Fire damper prices by type
These are current guide prices from our range, all certified to BS EN 15650 and covering the common circular sizes and intumescent block sizes.
| Product | Type | Guide price (inc VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| Systemair in-duct circular fire damper | Mechanical, in-duct | £54 to £106 |
| BSB FD-C combination fire and volume control damper | Mechanical, externally resettable | £104 to £154 |
| Circular intumescent fire block | Passive, 100mm to 200mm | £80 to £116 |
| Square intumescent air transfer fire block | Passive, 150mm to 600mm | £41 to £200 |
| Air valve with integral fire damper | MVHR/MEV room terminal | £86 to £104 |
As a rule of thumb, budget the low end for smaller diameters (100mm to 125mm) and the top of each range as you approach the largest sizes. Prices shown are current at the time of writing and include VAT.
Mechanical damper vs intumescent block cost
The two families of product are not interchangeable, and the choice affects both the upfront cost and the ongoing cost. A mechanical fire damper has a spring-loaded blade held open by a thermal fuse; it can be reset and re-tested after activation, which suits live ductwork with continuous airflow. An intumescent fire block has no moving parts, expanding in heat to seal the duct, and suits passive openings, air-transfer grilles and MVHR room terminals.
Intumescent blocks are usually cheaper to buy at smaller sizes and need no mechanical testing, but they cannot be reset once activated. Mechanical dampers cost a little more and must be drop-tested, but on active ductwork they are the correct, resettable choice. For which type belongs where, see our complete fire damper guide.
Fire damper testing cost
Beyond the damper itself, the recurring cost most people search for is testing. Under BS 9999, fire dampers must be drop-tested on installation and then at least annually (six-monthly in higher-risk buildings). Testing is a specialist service, so the cost sits with the fire damper testing contractor rather than the supplier.
As an indication, UK fire damper testing is typically charged per damper on a routine visit, often in the region of £15 to £40 per damper, with most contractors applying a minimum visit or call-out charge for smaller jobs. Access is the biggest variable: a damper above a fixed ceiling with no access panel can cost far more to test because the ceiling has to be opened. Building in an access panel at installation keeps the lifetime testing cost down.
Watch out: the single most common and costly issue at testing is a damper with no access panel. It cannot be drop-tested, which makes it non-compliant, and reaching it can cost more than the damper. Plan access at design stage.
eFans supplies the dampers, not the testing service, but choosing an externally resettable damper such as the BSB FD-C makes each annual test quicker, which reduces the labour on every visit.
Fire damper installation cost
Installation is a contractor task, so the labour cost is on top of the damper price. Fitting a fire damper into ductwork at a compartment penetration, including fire-stopping the gap around the sleeve, is indicatively in the region of £30 to £80 per damper depending on access, height and whether an access panel is being fitted at the same time. New-build first-fix is cheaper per unit than retrofitting into an existing ceiling.
The figures here are indicative UK market ranges for planning, not quotes. Get a price from your M&E contractor or a fire damper specialist for your specific project.
How to get an accurate price
For the dampers themselves, the quickest route to a firm price is the duct size and the type you need. Browse and order certified dampers directly from the fire dampers range, or for larger rectangular multi-blade dampers and made-to-order sizes, get in touch and we will quote. For testing and installation, get a price from a fire damper testing contractor or your M&E installer.
Related guides
For where fire dampers are required, testing frequency and access rules, see our complete fire damper guide. If you are planning the ductwork they sit in, see ducting in construction, and browse the full fire dampers range.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fire damper cost?
A mechanical circular fire damper costs from around £54, an externally resettable combination damper such as the BSB FD-C from about £104, and intumescent fire blocks from around £41 depending on size. Price rises with duct diameter and with resettable or combination mechanisms.
How much does fire damper testing cost?
Fire damper testing is a specialist service, typically charged per damper on a routine visit, often around £15 to £40 per damper, with a minimum visit charge for smaller jobs. Access is the biggest variable: a damper with no access panel costs far more to test because the ceiling has to be opened.
Are intumescent fire blocks cheaper than mechanical dampers?
At smaller sizes, intumescent fire blocks are often cheaper to buy and need no mechanical testing. They cannot be reset once activated, so they suit passive openings and room terminals rather than live ductwork, where a resettable mechanical damper is the correct choice.
Why do externally resettable dampers cost more?
An externally resettable damper such as the BSB FD-C lets the blade be reset and tested from outside the duct. It costs a little more to buy, but it saves time on every annual drop test, which reduces the lifetime testing cost.
Does fire damper cost include installation?
No. The damper price is for the product only. Installation is a contractor task, indicatively in the region of £30 to £80 per damper depending on access, on top of the damper price, plus fire-stopping the penetration.
How often do fire dampers need testing, and does that affect cost?
BS 9999 requires drop-testing on installation and at least annually, or six-monthly in higher-risk buildings such as hospitals and care homes. More frequent testing raises the annual cost, which is why easy access and resettable dampers matter for the lifetime figure.