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

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.

['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.']

Stop if

• 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.

Steps

• 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...

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