There are six type of Industrial Air Damper Air Dampers are utilized in circumstances where airflow needs to be controlled and are classified as medium to heavy duty. An air damper is a device that employs valves or plates to control or stop air flow in a duct, chimney, variable-air-volume (VAV) box, air-handling unit, or other similar piece of equipment. Air dampers are used for a variety of things, from airflow modulation in normal operation to providing a reliable barrier against smoke or fire in an emergency.