The Essential PSB Good Practice Guide

Car Park Ventilation

Contents
Introduction 1 What is Impulse Ventilation? 2 Components of the Impulse Systems 2.1 Component Function 2.2 Main Extract Fans 2.3 Impulse Fans 2.4 CO Monitoring 2.5 Multi-criteria Smoke & Heat Detectors 2.6 Extract Dampers 2.7 Main Control Panel 3 System Design 3.1 Current Regulations on Car Park Ventilation 3.2 Design Considerations 3.3 Extract Systems 3.4 Fresh Air Make Up 3.5 Design Fire Load 3.6 Means of Escape 3.7 Fire Fighting 3.8 Airflow Rate 3.9 Control of Smoke 3.10 Activation of Impulse Fans 4 Sprinklers 5 The Option of Impulse Fans & Induction Fans 5.1 Performance of a Jet Fan 5.2 Relative Benefits of the Two Types

The Essential PSB Good Practice Guide

6 Computerised Fluid Dynamics Modelling 7 A Proven Track Record 8 Car Stacker Systems 8.1 Fire Risk 8.2 Risk of Gas Build up Frequently asked questions

The Essential PSB Good Practice Guide

Introduction
Impulse ventilation is designed to achieve two principle objectives: Remove the need for space and energy consuming ducting and provide smoke control in the event of fire Impulse ventilation is still treated as very new technology within the United Kingdom even though it has been extensively used throughout mainland Europe for over 15 years. Since PSB introduced the Impulse Ventilation System into the UK in 2001 it has been met with much interest resulting in many questions about this unique and innovative technology. The Good Practice Guide aims to answer these questions and to provide a background to Impulse Ventilation and its efficient and effective application. It will also highlight the key design criteria and point out some of the major pitfalls of poor design practice.

The Essential PSB Good Practice Guide

The Essential PSB Good Practice Guide

1. What is Impulse Ventilation?

An Impulse Ventilation System is intended to provide effective ventilation of enclosed and basement car parks without using ducting. This system is also suitable for use in loading bays and service roads, although slightly different design criteria may be required.(See figure 1) Impulse ventilation differs from the conventional ventilation system in three principle ways: Impulse fans replace ducting and provide control of the airflow within the car park. Smoke management and control are key features of the impulse system, a technique not usually possible with a ducted system. In larger car parks, the system engineering is based on a design fire size rather than the simple air exchange rates that are referred to in the current building regulations.

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Figure 1

Ventilation Techniques

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2 Components of the Impulse System

The components of a PSB Impulse Ventilation System include: Figure 2 Main extract fans Impulse fans Extract shaft or riser CO detection system Fully addressable multi-criteria smoke/heat detection system Extract dampers & actuators Main control panel Fire service override switch Option of remote monitoring/indication

System Components

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2.1 Component Function

The basic principle of the system is that the main extract fans provide the air change rate within the car park whilst the impulse fans control the air flow direction. The environmental conditions are constantly monitored by the use of CO and smoke detection systems. This environmental data is then fed into the main control panel which will adjust the rate of ventilation accordingly.

2.2 Main Extract Fans

Figure 3

A minimum of two main variable speed, parallel mounted exhaust fans are used for effective air flow control. These extract fans are rated at 50% of the maximum airflow rate.

A Main Extract Fan

The main extract fans must be suitably rated for operation within a smoke extract environment and it is therefore vitally important to ensure that they have been tested in accordance with the latest European standard EN I 2 I 0 I -3 to verify their suitability. Current building regulations specify that they must be suitable for withstanding a temperature of 300C for a period of not less than one hour.

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2.3 Impulse Fans Definition of an Impulse Fan

An impulse fan is designed to create the movement of a large volume of air via the development of thrust. This is achieved by the creation of a concentrated high velocity jet stream, which induces air movement and is based on a physical law first established by Bernouilli. The impulse fans are used to control the direction of the airflow within the car park, ensuring there are no stagnant areas under day to day ventilation conditions. In the event of a fire, selective operation of the fans makes it possible to control the flow of smoke, achieved by use of the air entrainment characteristic of the impulse fan.

Figure 4

An Impulse Fan

The impulse fans are two speed units operating at I400 and 2800rpm. The lower speed (I400rpm) enables airflow to be directed to all parts of the car park and create turbulence which facilitates the mixing and dilution of the contaminant gases with fresh air. The higher speed of 2900rpm is used only under fire conditions. The impulse fans must also be rated to withstand the high temperatures associated with smoke extract fans, indeed, they are more likely to experience the higher temperatures than the main extract fans. Therefore, it is vitally important to ensure that they have also been tested in accordance with the latest European standard EN I 2 I 0 I -3 to confirm their suitability. Again, current building regulations specify that they must be suitable for withstanding a temperature of 300C for a period of not less than one hour.

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2.4 CO Monitoring

Current building regulations require an airflow rate of 6 air changes per hour (Approved Document F). The arbitrary application of this requirement can result in considerable waste of energy, and resultant increase in operating costs. For 80% of the time, most car parks have little traffic movement, consequently very little vehicular exhaust pollution is present during that time, therefore a lower rate of ventilation can be employed without compromising the optimal environmental conditions.

Figure 5

CO & LPG Monitor

A variation in airflow rate is permitted within the relevant Approved Document, providing the level of pollution within the space is monitored and controlled within the specified limits. By varying the rate of ventilation according to traffic movement, the Impulse Ventilation System requires lower rates of ventilation overall, resulting in reduced operational costs. The usual ventilation rate is between 3 and 6 air changes per hour dependent on the level of traffic movement and the consequential level of exhaust emissions.

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2.5 Multi-Criteria Smoke & Heat Detectors

Multi-criteria fire detector heads are used for two reasons: To reduce the chance of false alarm. To provide for early detection of a developing fire. The location and distribution of the fire detectors and their programming is extremely important to ensure the correct mode of operation of the system. This is particularly the case in ramp or void areas. The most commonly used type of detector incorporates both thermal and smoke detection within one head (see figure 6). Whilst multi-criteria heads will sense both smoke and vapours emitted from the early stages of a developing fire, conventional fire detection systems will only operate in the detection of heat delaying detection

Figure 6

The Multi criteria Smoke Detector

This feature is extremely important as a car fire is often confined to the passenger compartment of a vehicle, and consequently sufficient heat will not be released from the fire at detector level for some considerable time from initial ignition. This is time that is lost for the evacuation of the building and for alerting the fire service.

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2.6 Extract Dampers

Under normal circumstances in multi-level car parks the extract dampers remain open to provide the required ventilation on each level. In the event of fire, the dampers on the fire floor will remain open, but those on the non-fire floors will close automatically. This method of operation means that all the air extracted is drawn though the fire floor and no smoke contamination will occur on the non-fire floors (see figure I 2).

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2.7 Main Control Panel

The main control panel is the heart of the Impulse Ventilation System which includes a PLC (programmed for effective system operation) and all the switchgear necessary to control the system operation. The main control panel continually receives signals from the CO and smoke detection monitors enabling the system to respond to the conditions prevailing within the car park and provide the appropriate rate of ventilation and airflow direction. Obviously, fires within car parks can involve more than one vehicle therefore it is important to consider the impact of a multi-vehicle fire at the same location on the performance of the ventilation system. Figure 7 shows a fire test, undertaken by PSB, involving three vehicles. It can be seen from the illustration that, even though three cars are involved in the fire, a clear approach to the vehicles is maintained for the fire-fighters, who are then able to tackle the fire efficiently and reduce further damage caused by the fire. Due to the ability of the Impulse Ventilation Systems control system to manipulate the activation of the impulse fans, much greater control can be achieved, thereby focusing the bulk of the airflow through the fire zone.

Figure 7

Fire Test at the Villa Arena Car Park, Amsterdam

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3 System Design 3.1 Current Regulations on Car Park Ventilation

Current building regulations do not consider a car park ventilation system as a system of life safety due to the usually sparsely populated nature of car parks and the limited or precise fire risk associated with them. However, the new breed of vehicles emerging as the norm for domestic motoring, including people carriers and 4 x 4s, carry a much greater fire load than the vehicles on which the regulations were originally based. The fire load for these larger vehicles can be at least twice as high as the assessment on which the current building regulations are based, up to five times as high in some instances, largely due to the increasing use of plastics in the construction of modern vehicles. The materials used in the production of the car upholstery have long been outlawed for use in domestic and commercial furniture, further increasing the real fire potential.

3.2 Design Considerations

There are six main considerations which should be taken into account in the design of an Impulse Ventilation System Points at which contaminated air can be extracted Fresh air intake facilities Design fire load Means of escape Fire fighting Car park geometry

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3.3 Extract System

One or more extract points will be situated at the most suitable and practical locations, normally on the perimeter of the car park and, ideally, at the opposite end to the fresh air intake. Each extract point will have at least two extract fans operating in parallel. Extract shafts can be either builders work shafts or of steel construction. This ensures an even and efficient airflow through the car park. A facility must be made for fresh air to be drawn into the car park. For single level car parks it is most frequently the ramps that are used as the route for fresh air intake. This also allows for efficient ventilation of the ramps, which are often subject to the highest level of pollution due to standing traffic. Alternative methods of drawing in fresh air may have to be considered for car parks greater than two levels. This may involve lightwells, voids in the outer walls or the use of fresh air supply fans. In larger car parks, where more than one extract point is used, it may not be necessary to use all the extract points in the event of a fire. In such cases the unused extract points may be used for fresh air supply by reversing the fans thereby gaining further improvement in smoke control.

3.4 Fresh Air Make Up

3.5 Design Fire Load

Consideration of the fire load is an important factor in the design of a realistic and reliable ventilation rate for a car park. There are a number of sources of information available to the design engineer, and a variety of opinions within the industry as to the level of fire load that should be adopted.
It is generally accepted that the peak fire output of a domestic saloon vehicle will be in the order of 3MW. However, as explained earlier, some vehicles have a much greater output. It is reasonable to base the design on the spread of fire to two additional vehicles as well as the vehicle of origin.

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It can also be assumed that the two additional vehicles involved in the fire will peak in fire output simultaneously, albeit unlikely, whilst the original source of fire dies down. This scenario would result in a fire size as follows: (2 x 3MW) + 2MW = 8MW.

3.6 Means of Escape

The location of the escape and fire-fighter access routes must be taken into account at the design stage. In the event of a fire smoke flow is managed, as far as is practical, in order to avoid contamination of escape routes and ensuring access to them is not compromised.

Figure 8

The results of a fire in Maastricht.

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The illustration demonstrates how, in a real fire situation, the flow of smoke was controlled to avoid contamination of the means of escape and maintain clear air for the greater part of the car park. This is one of the major differences between a ducted and an impulse system. A ducted system will extract the smoky gases through each of the extract grilles at both high and low level as illustrated in figure 9. An impulse system, through the intelligence of the system, enables greater control of the smoke flow through the selective activation of impulse fans Figure 9

A Ducted Smoke Dispersal System.

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3.7 Fire Fighting

A key function of any car park ventilation system is to facilitate rapid access by the fire services to the building and fire. The impulse system is designed to ensure that at least one side of the vehicle is kept clear of smoke, thereby aiding visibility and the approach of the fire service personnel. The traditional means of providing ventilation employing a ducted or smoke dispersal system induces smoke to all areas of the car park causing visibility to be restricted, thereby impeding escape and hampering the approach to the fire by the fire service. By adopting an engineered approach to the system design, rather than applying an arbitrary I 0 air changes per hour, irrespective of car park size, the impulse system is able to control the flow of smoke by the selective operation of the impulse fans. This will improve both access to the means of escape by members of the public, and approach to the fire by the fire service. The main fans are designed to remove the necessary quantity of air according to the level of pollution created by traffic movement within the car park. Under normal ventilation conditions, the airflow rate will be in the order of three air changes per hour, or trickle ventilation during off peak periods, when there is little traffic movement. The system will vary the rate of ventilation, and control the number of impulse fans operating according to the level of pollution. On detection of heat or smoke, the airflow to the fire floor will be increased. This is done by the main extract fans increasing in speed and selected impulse fans within the fire zone automatically switching to high speed (2900rpm). All the air extracted from the car park will pass through the fire zone, controlled by the selective operation of the impulse fans and the closure of the extract dampers to the non-fire floors, (see figures 9 & I I). Closure of the dampers will ensure that the extract is concentrated to the fire floor and smoke will not migrate to the remaining, otherwise unaffected, floors.

3.8 Airflow Rate

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3.9 Control of Smoke

Due to the selective operation of the impulse fans on the fire floor, smoke will be contained and channelled through an air corridor, created by the jetstream of the impulse fans and guided towards the extract point. The air movement outside the smoke corridor will be induced into the corridor, trapping the smoke. The impulse fans that operate under fire conditions will depend on the zone in which the fire occurs. The information provided via the fire detection system, will determine which fans should operate to control the smoke flow. Activation of all, or too many, impulse fans will result in excessive, uncontrolled movement of air which, in turn, will cause an aerodynamic overloading of the main extract fans with resultant smoke logging of a large proportion of, or even all of the car park. The system is based on overlapping zones which permits very accurate control of the smoke. This principle is illustrated in figure I 0. The air velocity within the corridor is designed to be sufficient to overcome the buoyancy effect of a design fire load, normally 8MW. Due to all the air extracted from the car park being concentrated into the smoke corridor, there will also be a significant cooling effect on the smoky gases, thereby limiting the hazard of fire spread and further structural damage. The width of the smoke corridor will depend on a number of factors, including floor to soffit height, number and depth of beams, size of car park and car park geometry. On the basis of the known design smoke corridor width, the floor to soffit height and the known velocity needed to control the flow of a specific fire load, the air volume that needs to be extracted from the car park under fire conditions can be calculated (see figure I I ).

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Figure 10

Impulse Fan Arrangement & Overlapping Zones

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Figure 11

Controlling Smoke Flow

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Figure 12

Isolation of the Non-fire Floor

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3.10 Activation of Impulse Fans

Failure to activate the impulse fans in a fire situation may well result in the fire being unventilated, the results of which are well known. Due to the lack of air there will be an increase in smoke generation and higher smoke temperatures with the consequential increase in damage to structure and property. Whilst the precise location of the impulse fans is to some extent flexible, the selection and distribution of them is obviously crucial to the performance of the ventilation system. There are a number of key criteria necessary to consider during the design process to ensure reliable operation of the system. These criteria include: Slab to soffit height Fan thrust Spacing of fans Number of fans in operation Main fan extract rate Smoke travel distance Soffit contour

The thrust of the impulse fan will induce air movement equivalent to up to eight times the amount of air passing through the impulse fan itself. Consequently, activation of too many fans will disrupt the operation of the system as explained in paragraph 3.9. Activation of too few fans will result in the systems inability to adequately control the airflow. Similarly, the contour of the soffit will influence the aerodynamic performance of the impulse fans, which will have to be taken into account when determining the spacing and number of fans to be installed and activated.

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4 Sprinklers
Impulse Ventilation Systems, when properly designed and installed, effectively remove the need for sprinklers within a car park. Designed for smoke control, the system will channel all the air through the fire zone, providing significant cooling to the smoky gases discharged by the fire and limiting the risk for fire spread. With the early detection of a fire via the multi-criteria smoke and heat detection system and the resultant early alarm to occupants enabling prompt evacuation and the control of smoke flow, the practical need for sprinklers no longer exists. If (for whatever reason) sprinklers are still installed in the car park, there will be no impact on the efficiency of the impulse system.

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5. The Option of Impulse Fans & Induction Fans

A more recent development in car park ventilation fan is the centrifugal type induction fan which now compliments the axial Impulse fans. Collectively, these fans are both commonly referred to as Jet Fans. As with impulse ventilation systems generally, with the further option of fan types without a full understanding of their application, there are many pitfalls with potentially significant consequences that await the system design engineer. These two ranges of fans are basically designed to provide the same functions and these are: Influence the direction of airflow within the car park to ensure that all areas are efficiently ventilated Induce air turbulence during daily ventilation to ensure efficient mixing and dilution of pollutant gases with fresh air Manage the flow of hot smoky gases in the event of fire

5.1 Performance of a Jet Fan

The performance of both the impulse and induction fans are measured in terms of thrust, usually expressed in Newtons. The level of thrust will determine the amount of air that the fan is capable of moving, not only the air passing through the fan, but the amount of air induced into the jetstream created at the fan outlet.

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5.1.1 System Affects

The quantity of air movement created by the jetstream can be up to 8 times that passing through an impulse fan developing 50N of thrust. This level of air movement will depend on the useable thrust which will be affected by the resistance to airflow created by the obstructions within the car park, such as downstand beams, containment and ducting. The amount of resistance caused by the obstructions is taken into account in the design of the system and the selection of the number of fans. One further consideration that must be taken in account is the number of jet fans operating. Obviously, the greater the number of jet fans that are operating, the greater the volume of air that will be moved, therefore, care must be taken to ensure that the main extract fans will be of sufficient capacity to extract that volume of air otherwise the car park, in effect, will become pressurised. In such a situation for example, in a fire situation, smoke could be forced into escape and fire fighter access routes. This is particularly important when considering the use of the larger 100N Centrifugal type of fan. A further consideration when using the larger of the centrifugal fans is the impact on sprinklers if they are used. Due to the width of the discharge nozzle of the 100N centrifugal fans, typically 1200mm, the high velocity discharge, in the order of 25m/s, will have an adverse affect on sprinkler patterns. In such cases, it is much better to use a larger number of smaller fans since, with the large nozzle size, spread of the high velocity air will impact on sprinklers even if the fan is located centrally between sprinkler heads; it must be remembered that the performance of a jet fan is based on the air induced into the jetstream from the surrounding area and the induced air will also impact on the sprinkler pattern.

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On the basis of the known design smoke corridor width, the floor to soffit height and the known velocity needed to control the flow of a specific fire load, the air volume that needs to be extracted from the car park under fire conditions can be calculated (see figure I I ).

5.2 Relative Benefits of the Two Types

Each of the two types of fan has its relative benefits which are summarised below. The axial fan is largely superior in terms of system performance and efficiency, whilst the centrifugal fan provides benefits in terms if space, although this is mainly restricted to the smaller of the two fans.

5.2.2 The Axial Impulse Fan (The Vortax)

The axial fans tend to be more flexible and more efficient than the centrifugal type of jet fan. This is borne out by the following: Lower power requirement, 1.1KW as opposed to 1.4KW for the 50N fans and 2.2KW against 2.6KW for the 100N. Improved directional control for jetstream giving greater control of smoke in fire conditions Lower system losses with less jetstream contact with soffit Quieter in operation

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5.2.3 Centrifugal Jet Fan (The Pulsar

These fans tend to give greater benefits when height of car parks is restricted, particularly in the case of the smaller centrifugal fan. Saving in height of 180mm on the 50N fan and 120mm on the 100N. Compact assembly for the smaller 50N fan The larger motor capacity necessary in the centrifugal fan is not great for individual fans, though of course this will be more significant for the overall system, but the loss of efficiency is caused by the compactness of the fans. Due to the restricted space, there is not a full scroll which normally forms part of the centrifugal fan construction and this creates much higher dynamic losses within the fan. Further losses are created at the discharge due to the greater proportion of the discharge air being in contact with the soffit caused by the coanda effect, and this will also cause greater losses due to more significant contact with downstand beams and other obstructions.

Figure 13

PSB Pulsar Induction fan

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6 Computational Fluid Dynamic Modelling

The correct application of CFD modelling can produce particularly useful information to aid the design process or to demonstrate the systems effectiveness. CFD is one of many tools used in the design engineers arsenal; however some installations have highlighted the need for caution in relying too greatly on the results of CFD models. CFD is no different from any other stand-alone software, in that the results rely on the accuracy and the interpretation of the resultant information. Without a full understanding of the system design principles and application, the final results are totally meaningless and maybe potentially dangerous.

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7 A Proven Track Record

Impulse ventilation has been proven, not only in test conditions, but also in real fire situations. This can be seen from the results, not only from the fire in Maastricht illustrated in figure 8, but also a further example illustrated in figure I 3, where the escape routes were kept clear of smoke as well as the vast majority of the remaining car park. Figure 14

Smoke control in the Museumplein Multi-level Car Park

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8.0 Car Stacker Systems

Car stacker systems are becoming increasingly popular with developers in order that they can gain maximum use of limited basement space. With the use of stacker systems there are additional considerations that need to be taken into account when considering the car park ventilation scheme. The most important considerations are: The risk of increased fire spread The consequential increased potential fire size The risk of build up of hazardous gases and vapours in the pits often associated with stacker mechanisms Figure 15

PSB PitPurge stacker pit ventilation system

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8.1 Fire Risk

The potential for fire spread is greatly increased when stacker systems are used due to the vehicles being parked one above the other in a rack type arrangement. For this reason, it is advisable to consider the use of sprinklers to impede the rate of fire growth reconsider the design fire size, particularly if sprinklers are not used

8.2 Risk of Gas Build Up

The build up of gases within the pits associated with the stacker systems is a serious risk and steps should be taken to provide local ventilation. This can most efficiently be done using a purge system. An extract system would not be as efficient and would necessitate the installation of flameproof fans when a purge system only requires a standard type of fan. The purge system should be designed to provide continuous ventilation during normal operation and shut down in the event of fire to avoid the risk of spreading the fire.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q A Q A Q A What criteria are there for system design? (I) Net area of the car park, (2) Floor to soffit dimension, (3) Means of escape, (4) Where air can be supplied, (5) Where air can be extracted Does the Impulse Ventilation System meet the requirement of 50% high & 50% low level ventilation ? Yes, the Impulse Ventilation System provides movement of air from floor to soffit ensuring thorough ventilation of the entire car park. Do the ramps need to be ventilated separately? There are specific requirements within the regulations for areas in which there can be a particularly high build-up of gases. This may mean that the ramps need to be separately ventilated but each application has to be considered individually Is the cabling fire rated? Yes. Fire rated cable is used for fans and for detectors. In some cases, the cable can be located within the slab, which may remove the need for fire rated cable to be used. Is a standby electrical supply required? Yes. To meet the requirements of building regulations, a continuous electrical supply must be maintained to the car park ventilation system.

Q A

Q A

Should the impulse fans be tested to withstand the same time/temperature criteria, set out in Building Regulations for main extract fans?

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Yes the fans must be tested to the European standard EN I 2 I 0 I - 3. PSB fans are in fact tested to withstand 300C for 2 hours. This exceeds the current Building Regulations requirements. How does the Impulse Ventilation System compare to other (ducted) systems? Taking into account the saving on ducting costs and the cost of standby generators due to the significant reduction in power requirements, large savings are likely in most cases. Additionally, in many cases, sprinkler systems are not needed. An Impulse Ventilation System reacts extremely quickly, usually within about 2 minutes. Do you get stagnant areas with the Impulse Ventilation System? No. Due to the strategic and calculated distribution of the impulse fans and the monitoring of CO levels, there will be no stagnant areas within the car park. Does the PSB Impulse Ventilation System have higher operating costs? No. Due to the removal of ducting and its associated high pressure drop, significant reductions in power consumption are make with the consequential reduction in related operating costs. Additionally, with CO monitoring there is no need for the system to work continually at full capacity. Do you get false smoke alarms? False alarms are unlikely with the use of multi-criteria fire detectors. What experience does PSB have in underground car park ventilation?

Q A

Q A

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Q A Q

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PSB has installed over 400 systems into car parks of various sizes throughout Europe, with vehicle capacities ranging from 17 up to 5000 cars at the Almada Forum in Portugal. Why must we use PSB specified products? PSB has researched and developed the system for a number of years. In this time, PSB has established strong links with a number of suppliers. The reliability, performance and quality of the products are of great importance in such a system and by using specified suppliers and products tested to the latest European standards, we can ensure that this reliability is passed onto our customers. Can the system be tailored to meet specific requirements? PSB will consider any specific design requests and, if viable, include them in the system. PSB can also colour code impulse fans to indicate different levels or zones within the car park so that customers are able to find their vehicle more quickly. Concern is expressed that, if the system starts too quickly on detection of fire, people such as the elderly or infirm may be caught and trapped within a hot dense smoke corridor. Due to the use of multi-criteria smoke detection, the Impulse system detects a fire at a very early stage, long before dense smoke is emitted, consequently, the situation should not arise. However, where this is a concern, the system start maybe delayed and alarms activated, allowing an extended period for escape.are in fact tested to withstand 300C for 2 hours. This exceeds the current Building Regulations requirements.

Q A

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Copyright PSB-UK Limited 2007 All rights reserved

The contents of this document remain the property of PSB-UK Limited and must not be copied, stored or transmitted without prior permission, in writing, from PSB-Uk Limited

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Tel: +44 (0) 1422 378131 Fax: +44 (0) 1422 377321

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Car Park Ventilation

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