The fire inspector failed our damper installation because the wall was framed too wide. How do I fix it without tearing out the wall

Plain-English answer

Fire dampers must remain completely clear to expand inside their rough wall openings during a fire event. If the framing crew packed the drywall or studs too tight against your damper sleeve, use a reciprocating saw with a long blade to carefully trim back the internal drywall layers surrounding the sleeve perimeter until you achieve the full code-specified \frac{1}{2}-inch expansion clearance gap. Re-mount the oversized retaining steel angles to completely cover the wider wall void.

Field checklist

• Stop and verify the approved detail, manufacturer instructions, foreman direction, and project specs before touching it.
• Fire dampers must remain completely clear to expand inside their rough wall openings during a fire event. If the framing crew packed the drywall or studs too tight against your damper...

Ask Foreman

Verify before acting

Use this as training guidance. The foreman, approved drawings, project specs, manufacturer installation instructions, employer safety policy, and AHJ/code requirements always control the final answer.

Related questions in this category