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Smoke Shafts vs Pressurisation: Understanding Systems and Compliance

Learn about smoke shafts and pressurisation systems in the context of legislation, standards, performance, space requirements, and cost considerations. Find out which system is best for your building.

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Smoke Shafts vs Pressurisation: Understanding Systems and Compliance

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  1. Colt International Ltd Smoke shafts -v- pressurisation Colt CPD Technical Seminar “People feel better in Colt conditions”| www.coltinfo.co.uk

  2. A brief history of Colt • A private company founded in 1931 • I J O’Hea OBE (1897 - 1984) • 2014 Group turnover £146 million • Manufactures in the UK, Holland, Germany and China I J O’HeaColt Founder

  3. Current UK Business Markets • Smoke Control • Solar Shading • Natural Ventilation • Louvre • Environmental Comfort Control

  4. Smoke shafts –v- pressurisation Covering: • What do these systems do? • 2. Legal basis and standards: • Relative benefits, performance, space and cost • 4. Compensation for non-compliant layouts - Extended Travel Distances etc. • 5. Which system should I choose?

  5. What do these systems do? • Protect stairs from smoke ingress • to aid safe evacuation • to aid safe fire fighting access • Reduce smoke ingress to lobbies or corridors adjoining stairs • Reduce risk of smoke spread via lifts • Protect fire fighting or evacuation lifts from smoke ingress • Design basis is always a single fire, not located in the stair, lobby or lift.

  6. Legislation and standards • Legislation • In the UK the relevant legislation is Building Regulations and their associated guidance documents (Approved Document B in England and Wales and its equivalents in Scotland and Ireland). • In ADB: • Smoke control is recommended, directly or by reference to BS 5588 in: • residential escape stairs • all fire fighting stairs • AOV, natural shafts and pressure differential systems are largely treated as equivalents • mechanical shafts are not discussed (too new) • pressurisation can also be added to avoid discounting a stair or adding lobbies in commercial buildings

  7. Legislation and standards Standards • In the UK we have: • BS 5588 (withdrawn) • BS 9991 • BS 9999 • BS 9991 and BS 9999 recommend a pressure differential system if a building has a floor more than 30m above ground level. • BS EN 12101-6 is the design standard for pressure differential systems

  8. Legislation and standards BS EN 12101-6 • Sets requirements for 6 different classes of system. • Only 2 are commonly used: A & B. * = If pressurised

  9. Legislation and standards Do mechanical smoke shafts provide depressurisation to BS EN 12101-6? • The standard was not written with this in mind • 50Pa? • 0.75m/s? • 100N? • Standby fans? • Conclusion: No, but it does match some requirements.

  10. Pressure relief damper FIRE FLOOR Accommodation air release ventilator 2 m/s average velocity Lift door open Smoke detector Stairs First floor Ground floor Performance comparison

  11. Performance comparison

  12. Space requirements (shafts) • A mechanical shaft system needs a single shaft, typically 0.5m2 to 1m2 cross section. • A pressurisation system needs: • A shaft for each area pressurised, typically 0.15m2 to 2.0m2 • Accommodation air release (another shaft?) Lobbies + + Stair Lobbies? Lift?

  13. Space requirements (roof)

  14. Design

  15. Fire Fighting Lobby negative Staircase Difficulties and issues – smoke shafts • Excess depressurisation • Large doors • Basement stair air inlet

  16. Difficulties and issues - pressurisation • Large doors • Quality of building construction • Accommodation Air Release

  17. Costs You get what you pay for. Pressurisation can provide the best protection but is the most expensive. A mechanical shaft is next best and next most expensive. A natural shaft is less expensive (but takes up more valuable space). AOV are low cost but provide the least good protection.

  18. Non-ADB compliant buildings Extended travel distances in residential buildings

  19. Non-ADB compliant buildings • Refurbishment / change of use • It’s not uncommon for older buildings to be unable to comply with current layout requirements (number of stairs, lobbies, etc). • Pressurisation? • Alternatives?

  20. Which system do I choose? There’s no hard and fast answer, but this table might help guide you.

  21. Ventilation In Car Parks Q&A Session… “People feel better in Colt conditions”| www.coltgroup.com

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