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Date: 2/11/2007

TECHNICAL ----DOCUMENT

SMOKE EXTRACT FANS

Author: Alan Macklin, Group Technical Manager

The major cause of death in the event of a fire is due to smoke inhalation. Elta Fans smoke extract fans are widely used to assist the evacuation of occupants by creating a smoke free layer. The removal of smoke and hot gases assists in saving lives, providing fire fighting access and limiting fire and smoke damage. Smoke and heat exhaust systems are classified as safety equipment and it is essential that the smoke extract fans operate reliably in the event of a fire emergency. The main aims of smoke and heat exhaust systems are: To keep access and escape routes clear of smoke. To aid fire fighting operations To delay or prevent flashover or full fire development To reduce the subsequent damage to the building structure and its contents.

Legislation
It is a mandatory requirement in the European Union that all smoke extract fans are independently tested to EN 12101-3:2002 Smoke and heat control systems Specification for powered smoke and heat exhaust ventilators. This standard covers the testing, design and production controls that are required before the manufacturer can obtain product certification from the appropriate notified body. Elta Fans has extended its EC Certification for smoke related fan units with BSI, making it one of the largest certified standard product ranges available within Europe. Compliance with the requirements of this standard shall be demonstrated by: Initial type testing Factory production control by the manufacturer. Type Approval of a Range of Units The Standard clearly defines the particular units from within a declared range which must be tested. The minimum testing required can be summarised as: The unit with the highest stressed impeller. At least two sizes of fans at their highest rotational speed. The unit with the smallest frame motor at its maximum declared output. The maximum motor frame at its maximum declared output. One size of all the declared accessories within the range. Elta Fans certification was awarded following rigorous smoke test programmes.

Elta Group
46 Third Avenue, Pensnett Trading Estate, Kingswinford, West Midlands, DY6 7US, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1384 275760 Email: info@eltagroup.co.uk Fax: +44 (0)1384 275770 Website: www.eltagroup.com

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Initial Type Testing
BSRIA in the UK CTICM in France TUV in Germany

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There are only a small number of approved test houses within the EU. The major ones being located at:

The essential test conditions are: The fan manufacturer should submit the air and sound performance of the unit at ambient temperature to current ISO and BS standards assuming standard tip clearances apply and also taking account of the increased clearance required for high temperature operations. Ambient temperature must be between 15C and 40C. Volume flow rate should not change by more than 10% or the static pressure by more than 20% during the test (i.e. from end of warm-up period to end of test). After 15 minutes of running at the test temperature the power should be switched off for 2 minutes. The fan is then re-started and run on for its total test period.
E N121 01-3
Temp

C la s s F 400 (400 C for 2 h ou r s)

400

Figure 1. Temperature versus Time test cycle for F400 classification

Motor off for 2 mins

Am bient

Motor on for 15 mins Test rig burner on

Time

Factory Production Control

The purpose behind these controls is to give maximum confidence to the user, as well as the general public; that product when installed in a smoke control system is fit for purpose and will meet its stated temperature and running time. Full design and construction details and drawings, as well as materials used in the units construction, have to be declared at initial type testing. Any subsequent change during the products life has to be reported to the assessing body, who will at their discretion require a re-test or allow the change to be applied to the original tested product. The manufacturer shall establish, document and maintain a factory control system which shall ensure the conformity of the product, covering:

Control of raw and incoming materials Production process Regular inspection and procedures Routine production test procedure This system should form part of a highlighted procedure within the companys EN ISO 9001 system.

The fan manufacturer, whilst having to hold current EN ISO 9001:2000 for its company systems, also has to be awarded its EC- Certification for the product. Elta Fans in both Fareham and Kingswinford produce the Smokevent, Jetvent and induction smoke product ranges to meet these exacting standards. Elta Group
46 Third Avenue, Pensnett Trading Estate, Kingswinford, West Midlands, DY6 7US, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1384 275760 Email: info@eltagroup.co.uk Fax: +44 (0)1384 275770 Website: www.eltagroup.com

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Impulse Ventilation

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Ventilation of covered car parks is essential for removing harmful vehicle exhaust fumes and providing assistance to fire fighters by clearing smoke in the event of a fire. The most significant development to the car park industry in recent years has been the introduction of proven tunnel ventilation fan principles in the form of impulse fans. This innovative approach provides major benefits in terms of smoke control as well as reduced capital and installation costs. Eltas Impulse fans eliminate the need for distribution ductwork with resultant lower extract system resistance, reduced power consumption by the fan(s), and hence savings in terms of system running costs. The system of impulse ventilation is based on a number of small high velocity fans in place of the distribution ductwork. The impulse fans are carefully positioned to direct the airflow towards the main extract fan intake points. The main extract fans are sized to provide the required flow rates, but given the reduced need (or complete elimination) of ducting within the car-park area, do not have to overcome the system resistance inherent in a fully ducted ventilation system. Impulse fans operate on well proven tunnel ventilation principles, producing a high velocity jet which thrusts against the air in front of the fan imparting momentum to all the surrounding air through entrainment as it diffuses. The volume of entrained air is significantly greater than the air quantity passing through the fan. Impulse fan performance is rated in terms of the thrust developed by the fan, which is the product of the mass flow rate times the change in velocity. In practical terms, this equates to the volume flow rate times the air density times the fan outlet velocity and is measured in Newtons (N).

Figure 2. Impulse fans running showing air entrainment

British Standards
Until recently there was no British Standard for car park ventilation, with systems being designed to the Building Regulations Approved Document F (AD-F) for general ventilation and Approved Document B (AD-B) for fire safety. The British Standard, BS7346-7: Code of practice on functional recommendations and calculation methods for smoke and heat control systems for covered car parks, was published in October 2006. The standard is primarily concerned with the removal of smoke and heat, but also deals with vehicle emissions due to the dual use of the ventilation systems. The standard refers to both AD-F and AD-B of the Building Regulations and includes the following four alternative approaches to ventilation: Natural ventilation Ducted mechanical ventilation Impulse ventilation Smoke and heat exhaust ventilation system (SHEVS)

The standard gives recommendations and guidance on functional and calculation methods for impulse systems having the following three design objectives: Impulse ventilation to achieve smoke clearance by dispersal Impulse ventilation to assist fire fighting access Impulse ventilation to protect means of escape Elta Group
46 Third Avenue, Pensnett Trading Estate, Kingswinford, West Midlands, DY6 7US, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1384 275760 Email: info@eltagroup.co.uk Fax: +44 (0)1384 275770 Website: www.eltagroup.com

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Elta Fans Jetvent impulse ventilation range

Elta Fans Smokevent Fans

The Elta Group is a 50 million family of businesses with operations in six countries on four continents which, together with a network of international distributors, provides quality fans and related air movement equipment to customers worldwide.

For further information please contact:

Elta Group Marketing Department:

Jenna Chambers: +44 (0)1384 275766 - jchambers@eltagroup.co.uk Tim Vaughan: +44 (0)1384 275 765 - tvaughan@eltagroup.co.uk
46 Third Avenue, Pensnett Trading Estate, Kingswinford, West Midlands, DY6 7US, United Kingdom

Elta Group
46 Third Avenue, Pensnett Trading Estate, Kingswinford, West Midlands, DY6 7US, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1384 275760 Email: info@eltagroup.co.uk Fax: +44 (0)1384 275770 Website: www.eltagroup.com