Smoke Ventilation Systems

A basic introduction to smoke control

Smoke Control Solutions

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Introduction This document is intended to provide a basic understanding of how smoke control systems can protect multi-storey residential buildings and what the legislative framework is. Why is smoke control installed in apartment buildings? o In multi-storey apartment buildings, the main escape route is always via common corridors and/or lobbies to protected stairs. o Smoke can easily spread from the accommodation, and if a door is simply left open for a short period of time quickly fill a corridor or lobby, making escape difficult for occupants. o Smoke entering the stairs can also make escape difficult for occupants of higher storeys. o In taller buildings the fire and rescue services need clear access to stairs and lobbies to form a bridgehead for operations, using a fire fighting shaft which is protected from smoke.

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Legislation and standards The legislative requirements derive from the Building Regulations for England and Wales (2000). Detailed recommendations to meet these requirements are provided in Approved Document B (ADB) 2006. It must be noted that the Building Regulations for Scotland and Northern Ireland vary in some details. Smoke Control In designing a building, the incorporation of a smoke control system can significantly improve the life safety protection of the building. Smoke Control systems (sometimes known as fire ventilation or smoke vents) come in many forms and range widely in complexity, but their basic objectives are usually the same. The objectives of smoke control systems are:o To keep the escape routes free from smoke. o To assist fire fighting operations by creating a smoke free layer. o To delay and/or prevent flashover, and the subsequent full development of a fire. o To reduce the thermal damage to the structural components during a fire. o To reduce smoke and heat damage caused by the fire and associated hot gases. The key components of smoke and fire ventilation systems are fire dampers; ductwork; smoke curtains, fans etc and these items can form part of either a natural or powered "Smoke and Heat Exhaust Ventilation system" (commonly known as SHEVS). Smoke Ventilation Most large buildings contain sufficient air to sustain a substantial fire, so the well known domestic advice to shut all doors in the event of a fire does not apply. The greatest immediate danger to the occupants of a large building in the event of a fire comes from the smoke rather than the heat of the fire. Even a small fire can rapidly fill a large building with smoke to an extent where people escaping the building cannot see to find the escape routes and can be overcome by smoke inhalation. There are two types of smoke ventilation systems and it is important not to confuse the two. Smoke Clearance ventilation Systems o These are installed in the corridors and stairwells of hotels, apartment blocks or in enclosed or underground car parks. Their purpose is to ventilate the common areas which may become completely smoke logged following a fire. They are intended to clear the smoke to facilitate access. They are not specifically intended to offer protection to occupants escaping the building. Escape routes should normally comply with building regulation requirements to facilitate escape before smoke becomes life threatening. Life Safety smoke ventilation systems o These are intended to provide a level of protection to people escaping the building. They are typically installed in shopping centres or malls, large warehouses, and public buildings where due to the layout of the buildings the escape routes to places of safety are complex or escape distances are greater than those recommended in the building regulations. Such systems are designed so that the expected quantity of smoke is vented from the area leaving a layer of clean air below. Within this clear layer people are able to pass and exit the building safely. Fundamentals of design Smoke ventilation systems do not generally have any influence on the size of a fire in the building and they are therefore often used in conjunction with water sprinkler systems which can often contain the fire to a predetermined size. All smoke ventilation systems must have a provision for air to replace the smoke vented from the building. The inlet air is usually at low level but in the case of large buildings such as a warehouse, the roof may be divided into high level smoke zones by using either fixed or operable smoke curtains; this allows the adjacent zones away from the zone over the fire to be used as the air inlet. Not all smoke ventilations can be designed around the requirements of Approved Document B, there are many reasons including:o An atrium that rises from a basement through several floors o Escape distances from shops through a covered Mall may exceed recommended safe travel distances o Large open plan warehouses or supermarkets may exceed the recommendations for compartment sizes o Underground car parks with little or no inlet air route or perimeter ventilation The above are just a few of the "challenges" in finding an "engineered solution" to a smoke ventilation issue. In the above examples, typical engineered solutions may include:o Balconies can be protected by automatic smoke curtains and smoke ventilation systems can be designed on a negative pressure basis to reduce the smoke flow from an atrium into the building. o By providing compartmentation into smoke zones along with smoke ventilation this sometimes will compensate for extended travel distances for escape in shopping centres. o High level smoke barriers and smoke ventilation can reduce the spread of smoke (along with a sprinkler system) and these can compensate for larger open building areas. o Covered and basement car parks may be provided with mechanical extract systems using either ductwork or Jet Fan. These systems may create virtual smoke zones, allowing larger open areas. In a number of instances the performance of any of these systems may be proved by computer modelling (CFD), this is sometimes requested by Building Control to verify the design of the "engineered solution". Unfortunately there are no "catch all solutions" here and each project will end up with a differing solution that is developed by the Smoke Ventilation Company along with the Consulting Engineers and Architects. The approval of fire safety issues, including smoke ventilation in the UK is the responsibility of the local authority building control departments who also consult with the local fire brigade. Their interest is to establish that the overall building design complies with legal safety requirements as required by building regulations (Approved Document B). Their approval for more complex buildings may take into account fire engineered solutions using