Studies have shown that most fire deaths are not caused by burns at all but instead by smoke inhalation. Smoke can be quite hazardous, and its effects stretch far beyond just being toxic. Smoke obstructs light and limits occupant visibility. This in turn diminishes travel speed so it takes longer for occupants to get to safety.
A smoke control system (SCS) is a system that controls the movement of smoke and air in a building. It can be made up of multiple different components and use several methods to achieve its design objective.
The SCS designer has a variety of approaches to incorporate as the basis of their design. The following methods are commonly utilized to design a SCS system, Passive, Pressurization, Airflow, Exhaust, and Natural Ventilation.
Passive SCS systems prevent smoke and fire from migrating across a physical barrier/smoke zone though a listed construction assembly.
A smoke control system (SCS) is a system that controls the movement of smoke and air in a building. It can be made up of multiple different components and use several methods to achieve its design objective.
The SCS designer has a variety of approaches to incorporate as the basis of their design. The following methods are commonly utilized to design a SCS system, Passive, Pressurization, Airflow, Exhaust, and Natural Ventilation.
Passive SCS systems prevent smoke and fire from migrating across a physical barrier/smoke zone though a listed construction assembly.
Pressurization SCS systems consider a pressure difference across a barrier/smoke zone so that during a fire event, smoke on a low-pressure zone does not migrate towards the high-pressure zone.
Airflow SCS systems utilize airflow to avoid smoke migration beyond the fire zone specific to building elements that contain fixed openings.
Exhaust SCS systems utilize mechanical means to draw smoke out of large enclosed spaces in order to maintain tenability.
Natural Ventilation SCS systems utilize the buoyancy effects of smoke and openings (mechanical or manual) to allow for smoke migration to draw up and out of a space through an opening to the exterior of the building.
Airflow SCS systems utilize airflow to avoid smoke migration beyond the fire zone specific to building elements that contain fixed openings.
Exhaust SCS systems utilize mechanical means to draw smoke out of large enclosed spaces in order to maintain tenability.
Natural Ventilation SCS systems utilize the buoyancy effects of smoke and openings (mechanical or manual) to allow for smoke migration to draw up and out of a space through an opening to the exterior of the building.