Guide to Smoke Extraction in Buildings

WFRC No. C49378 Page 2 of 76

C O N T E N T S PAGE 1.

INTRODUCTION

3

2.

WWEN IS SMOKE EXTRACTION NECESSARY?

3

3.

MECHANICS OF SMOKE PRODUCTION AND MOVEMENT 4

4.

FUNDAMENTALS OF DESIGN

5

5.

DESIGN GUIDE FOR DIFFERENT BUILDING TYPES

18

6.

NATIONAL DIFFERENCES AND REQUIREMENTS

32

7.

REFERENCES

34

8.

TABLES

38-40

9.

APPENDICES Al. Duct Sizing

41

Al. Construction Of Fire-resisting Smoke Control Ducts A3. Worked Examples

10.

FIGURES

50-76

WFRC No. C49378 Page 3 of 76

WARRINGTON FIRE RESEARCH CONSULTANTS Fire Safety & Consultancy Holrnesfield Road, Warrington WA1 2DS

Telephone Warrington 55116

GUIDE TO SMOKE EXTRACTION IN BUILDINGS

A report prepared for Promat GmbH 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Smoke kids more people in fires than heat, flames orstructural collapse. It is therefore being increasingly realisedthat occupant safety in a fire can be greatly improved by providing an efficient smoke extraction system. Moreover, such systems can limit property damage, both directly by reducing the spread of smoke, and indirectly by providing better visibility and thus easier access to the seat of the fire for fire fighters. 1.2 The purpose of this document is to provide basic guidance and information to the designers of smoke extraction systems. It should be noted, however, that as buildings can differ widely it is not possible to cover all eventualities. The design of any smoke extraction system involves experienced engineering judgement to tailor the system to the building and specific design objectives.

2. WHEN IS SMOKE EXTRACTION NECESSARY Smoke extraction is one of the tools which the fire safety engineer may use to ensure adequate fire safety within a building. As such it should not be considered in isolation, but as an integral part of the total package of f i e safety measures designed for the building. Thus, the need for smoke extraction in any building must be decided in context with the means of escape, compartmentation and active supression systems in the particular circumstances of that building. In general terms, however, smoke extraction should be considered and may be found particularly useful in the following circumstances:

a) Smoke extraction for life safety Smoke extraction for life safety purposes is of benefit in buildings where means of escape to the open air cannot be achieved within a short period of time and in which the means of escape could be severely contaminated with smoke and become impassable. Examples include shopping malls, atrium buildings, and high-rise buildings with phased evacuation (i.e. when aproportion of the occupants are expected to stay in the building throughout the duration of a fire).

WFRC No. C49378 Page 4 of 76

b) Smoke extraction for fire-fighter access Buildings where either i. fire brigade access is difficult, e.g. basements, high-rise buildings or ii. rapid attack on a fire is desirable to reduce fire spread and property damage, e.g high value warehouses, will benefit from the provision of an appropriate smoke extraction system. Buildings where smoke clearance by natural means may be difficult (e.g. basements, windowless buildings, and high-rise buildings without openable windows) may require a mechanical smoke purging system. ("

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Page 60 o f 76

ZONED SMOKE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR MULTI-STOREY BUILDING

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Holmesfield Road, Warrington WA1 2DS.

SMOKE VENTING OF SINGLE-STOREY BUILDING

Page 62 of 76 DEDICATED SMOKE EXTRACT FOR MULTI-STOREY BUILDING

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Holmesfield Road, Warrington WA1 2DS.

UNDERGROUND CAR PARK WITH NATURAL INLET AND EXTRACT

WFRC No. C49378 Page 65 o f 76

FIRE-RESISTING STERILE TUBE ATRIUM

Fire-resisting construction

Warrington Fire Research Consultants Holmesfield Road, Warrington WA1 2DS.

FIGURE

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