Which type of damper is primarily used for ventilation and smoke control in commercial buildings?

The choice of smoke damper is appropriate because it is specifically designed to prevent the passage of smoke through ductwork in commercial buildings during a fire. Smoke dampers are essential for maintaining safe evacuation routes and protecting occupants from smoke inhalation, which is a critical aspect of fire safety in building design.

When activated by smoke detection systems or fire alarms, smoke dampers close automatically to contain smoke within a designated area and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the building. This helps ensure that smoke does not compromise the integrity of the building's air management systems, thereby enhancing overall safety.

In contrast, while fire dampers are used to control the spread of flames through ductwork, their primary function is fire containment rather than smoke control. Stop dampers and backdraft dampers serve different functions related to airflow and pressure regulation but do not specifically focus on smoke management during fire incidents.