Natural ventilation and smoke vantilation North America : Solutions :

Smoke_ventilation

Most large buildings contain sufficient air to sustain a substantial fire, so the well known domestic advice to shut all doors in the event of a fire does not apply. The greatest immediate danger to the occupants of a large building in the event of a fire comes from the smoke rather than the heat of the fire. Even a small fire can rapidly fill a large building with smoke to an extent where people escaping the building cannot see to find the escape routes and can be overcome by smoke inhalation.

There are two types of smoke ventilation systems and it is important not to confuse the two.

Smoke Clearance ventilation Systems :

These are installed in the corridors and stairwells of hotels, apartment blocks or in enclosed or underground car parks. Their purpose is to ventilate the common areas which may become completely smoke logged following a fire. They are intended to clear the smoke to facilitate access. They are not specifically intended to offer protection to occupants escaping the building. Escape routes should normally comply with building regulation requirements to facilitate escape before smoke becomes life threatening.

Life Safety smoke ventilation systems :

These are intended to provide a level of protection to people escaping the building. They are typically installed in shopping centres or malls, large warehouses, and public buildings where due to the layout of the buildings the escape routes to places of safety are complex or escape distances are greater than those recommended in the building regulations. Such systems are designed so that the expected quantity of smoke is vented from the area leaving a layer of clean air below. Within this clear layer people are able to pass and exit the building safely.

REMEMBER :

90% of fatalities are caused by smoke poisoning from fires within buildings Mixed mode ventilation Although more complex to design, combining operable windows with traditional systems can reduce energy use (must be synchronized). It can also increase individual climate control, which has multiple benefits of its own.