Abstract: A fluid damper in a ventilation duct serves to close the duct in the event of a fire so as to damp the flow of air in the duct. The damper comprises a retractable curtain that is normally retained in a retracted configuration by a latch mechanism attached to a frame of a fluid damper. The latch mechanism comprises a housing having at least one latch member biased so as to project from the housing and movable between a position in which it engages an end blade of the curtain so as to hold it in a retracted position and a position in which it is clear of the curtain so as to release it from the retracted position. The latch mechanism is held in the curtain retaining position by a releasable locking catch that is operatively coupled to a thermally sensitive element such that when the element reaches a pre-determined temperature it expands so as to release the locking catch and thereby allow the latch member to release the curtain.

Abstract: A grille (3) for use adjacent an outlet of a heating, ventilating or air conditioning system comprising a frame (15) and a plurality of blades (25) extending between opposed frame parts. Each blade (25) has a spindle (26) which is rotatably supported within opposed slots (21) formed in the opposed parts of the frame. The slots (21) are open at one end to permit the insertion of the blade spindle and the spindle is supported at the closed ends of the slots. The grille (3) further comprises means for retaining the blade spindles (26) in the slots (21). The retaining means comprise an element (30) mountable upon the frame (15) of the grille such that part of the retaining element (30) engages the blade spindles (26) when mounted upon the frame and prevents the spindles (26) from moving out of the open ends of the slots (21).