SBTF-2020 Exhaust Duct Equipment

What is a Smoke Control System?

 

If a fire gets out of control, what do you think components help to protect the people and the building within? A smoke control system is one of the modern building design components to protect the building occupants and property in case of a fire. The main purpose of the system is to prevent smoke generated during a fire, which falls in the category of the most dangerous elements, from spreading using either smoke containment or smoke release as appropriate. This helps to maintain a level of visibility and breathable air along the escape routes for a safe evacuation and for the containment of the fire and smoke within limited areas of the building.

 

Two Types of Smoke Control and Exhaust Systems

 

Based on the mechanisms for overcoming these challenges, two basic designs of smoke management and removal systems are used: passive methods and mechanical devices. Distinction between active and passive forms of smoke control systems is mainly based on the fact that active smoke control systems are designed to have smoke ventilation devices specifically for that function.

 

Natural Smoke Exhaust Systems: In the case of an assisted passive smoke control system, the natural buoyancy of smoke is exploited with these systems to vent out the smoke from the structure. They use the vent, windows, and other hot air infiltrators. When hot smoke escapes from the upper areas of the structure, fresh air is drawn from the lower parts or intake locations. The majority of these devices operate in whiling or possibly by smoke fire alarm systems.

 

Mechanical Smoke Exhaust Systems: Mechanical smoke exhaust systems, however, are the mechanical devices which include fans and blowers that are used to remove smoke from a building. They are considered more appropriate to large structures or where natural ventilation is likely to be insufficient or impractical. They can be deployed especially in designs which call for either maintaining the internal pressure to a certain limit and limiting smoke incursion or reducing pressure in specific zones to enable effective smoke removal.

 

Disadvantages of Natural Smoke Exhaust

On the other hand, natural smoke exhaust systems are quite simple and economical, but they also have some fundamental drawbacks:

 

Dependence on Environmental Conditions: the performance of these smoke exhaust systems is very much dependent on the nature and nature of the winds and temperature differentials, factors which may not be well predicting and controlling.

 

Limited Control: These systems provide limited control over the direction and quantity of smoke flow and hence becomes difficult to control in complicated building configurations.

 

Reduced Effectiveness in Taller Buildings: natural buoyancy force of smoke, in tall buildings, may be diminishing in effectiveness as the distance smoke has to be flown vertically may lead to inadequate removal of smoke or time lapse in removing the smoke.

 

The safety principles of mechanical smoke exhaust pressurization systems.

 

Every mechanical smoke control system that incorporates pressurization of smoke zones should comply with the following design requirements to ensure reliability and safety:

 

1. Pressure Differential: The system must maintain a negative pressure between protected and non-protected areas of 12.5 to 50 Pascals that will keep the smoke away from the evacuation aisles.

 

2. Capacity and Redundancy: The designers must consider fire safety by providing systems in adequate volumes able to deal with the volume of smoke envisaged. There is also a need to add redundancy through several fans as well as backup power sources.

 

3. Automatic Activation: These systems should be designed in such a way that it is self-activated once smoke is detected to ensure that the response is quick with little manual involvement necessary.

 

4. Compliance with Standards: The design should not contravene the applicable Statutory Health and Fire Safety Regulations that include National Fire Prevention Association codes and other states regulation.

 

Where do Mechanical Smoke Exhaust Devices Need to be Installed?

 

Mechanical smoke exhaust devices are especially mounted in a number of locations within the building:

 

1. Stairwells and Elevators: In order to safely exit a building, smoke escape staircase and elevator shafts often require additional pressure systems to prevent smoke contamination.

 

2. Large Enclosed Spaces: In spaces that have a large volume such as atria, theater and large lobbies need smoke exhaust systems because of the large volume of these spaces

 

Basements and Underground Structures: In all other locations where natural ventilation is difficult or even impractical, mechanical ventilation is particularly important for the below-ground places.

 

Corridors and Hallways: Hallways used as the main escape routes are to have smoke free conditions which is guaranteed by proper placement of the mechanical exhaust for such spaces.

 

Supervision and Management of the Design and Construction of Building Smoke Control Facilities

 

Sufficient supervision and management of both the design and building process of smoke control facilities are as well important for:

 

Qualified Professionals: Involve certified Fire protection engineers and Fire protection specialists during the design development and later on in the implementation stage.

 

Regular Inspections: Periodically verify compliance with designs and state fire safety laws by performing inspections and audits.

 

Integrated Testing: Carry out integrated tests of smoke control systems involving all system components such as operational tests under abnormal conditions - fire scenarios and smoke.

 

Maintenance Protocols: Set up advanced system maintenance measures to ensure systems are able to carry out their functions over the entire lifespan of the building.

 

Conclusion

 

In conclusion, this time, we reiterate that the SBTF-2020 Exhaust Duct Equipment features facilitates safe interior spaces through the use of the modern smoke management systems. It is worth stressing that before the designing of measures related to fire safety systems comes into realization, the aspects and the attributes also the limitation of the natural smoke exhaust and the mechanical fire smoke exhaust must be known. As it has been mentioned the use of such passive or natural systems provides greater control over development in the first place. The reached mechanical systems are quite sufficient and operative when the work is done in complex or drilling and high buildings and structures. Given the right conditions, the design, implementation and maintenance of these types of systems can serve to enhance the safety of the building occupants and the property from the threats of losses due to fire breakout.