92-8 SMOKE CONTROL SYSTEMS

4.4.2.1 Pressure Differences Across Spaces. 4.4.4.1.3 The makeup air shall not cause door-opening force
to exceed allowable limits.
4.4.2.1.1* Except as specified by 4.4.2.1.2, the pressure differ‐
ences in Table 4.4.2.1.1 shall be used for designs that are based 4.4.4.1.4* The makeup air velocity shall not exceed
on maintaining minimum pressure differences between speci‐ 200 ft/min (1.02 m/sec) where the makeup air could come
fied spaces. into contact with the plume unless a higher makeup air velocity
is supported by engineering analysis.
4.4.2.1.2 Where the system designer has determined that a
higher minimum pressure difference is necessary to achieve 4.4.4.2 Communicating Spaces.
the smoke control system objectives, the higher minimum pres‐
sure difference shall be used. 4.4.4.2.1 Managing Smoke Spread to Communicating Spaces.

4.4.2.1.3 The minimum allowable pressure difference shall 4.4.4.2.1.1 Managing smoke spread to communicating spaces
restrict smoke leakage during building evacuation to a level shall be accomplished by one of the following methods:
that maintains a tenable environment in areas outside the (1) Maintaining the smoke layer interface at a level higher
smoke zone. than that of the highest opening to the communicating
space
4.4.2.1.4 The minimum pressure difference for smoke control (2) Providing a smoke barrier to limit smoke spread into the
systems shall be established at a level that is high enough that it communicating space
will not be overcome by the forces of wind, stack effect, or (3) Providing an opposed airflow through the opening to
buoyancy of hot smoke. prohibit smoke spread into the communicating space
4.4.2.1.5 The calculations shall take into account the design 4.4.4.2.1.2 When smoke barriers are used to limit smoke
number of doors to be opened simultaneously. spread into the communicating space, engineering calculations
4.4.2.2* Pressure Differences Across Doors. The pressure shall be provided to verify whether a pressure difference
differences across doors shall not cause the maximum force applied across the smoke barrier will be needed to prevent
permitted to begin opening the door to exceed the value stipu‐ smoke migration.
lated in NFPA 101 or state or local codes and regulations. 4.4.4.2.1.3 When the airflow method is used to prevent smoke
4.4.3 Fire Location. The source of the smoke from the design movement from the large-volume space into communicating
basis fires shall consider fire locations within the large-volume spaces for large openings, the flow shall be nearly perpendicu‐
space and within unseparated communicating spaces. lar to the plane of the opening.

4.4.4 Smoke Movement and Airflow. 4.4.4.2.2* Managing Smoke from Communicating Spaces.

4.4.4.1* Makeup Air. Makeup air for smoke management 4.4.4.2.2.1 When communicating spaces are designed to allow
systems shall be provided by fans or by openings to the outside. the smoke to spill into the large-volume space, the smoke spill‐
ing into the large-volume space shall be handled by the smoke
4.4.4.1.1 The supply points for the makeup air shall be loca‐ management system to maintain the design smoke layer inter‐
ted beneath the smoke layer interface. face height.
4.4.4.1.2 Mechanical makeup air shall be less than the mass 4.4.4.2.2.2 When the smoke control systems are designed to
flow rate of the mechanical smoke exhaust. use airflow to prevent the movement of smoke into the large-
volume space, sufficient exhaust from the communicating
space shall be provided to establish a minimum flow between
Table 4.4.2.1.1 Minimum Design Pressure Differences Across the communicating space and the large-volume space. (See
Smoke Barriers 5.10.1.)
4.4.4.3* Openings and Leakage Areas. Designs shall incorpo‐
Design Pressure rate the effect of openings and leakage areas in smoke barriers
Ceiling Height Difference* on the performance of smoke control systems.
Building Type (ft) (in. w.g.)
4.4.4.4 Special Considerations Related to Natural Venting.
AS Any 0.05 Smoke management system designs that use a mix of natural
NS 9 0.10 and mechanical ventilation shall have supporting engineering
NS 15 0.14 analysis or physical (scale) modeling to verify the design func‐
NS 21 0.18 tions as intended.
For SI units, 1 ft = 0.305 m; 0.1 in. w.g. = 25 Pa.
4.4.5* Gaseous Fire Suppression Systems. The operation of
AS: Sprinklered. NS: Nonsprinklered.
the smoke control system shall not compromise the perform‐
Notes:
ance of gaseous agent fire protection systems.
(1) The table presents minimum design pressure differences
developed for a gas temperature of 1700°F (927°C) next to the smoke 4.5* System Operation.
barrier.
(2) For design purposes, a smoke control system must maintain these 4.5.1 Limitations.
minimum pressure differences under specified design conditions of 4.5.1.1* Tenability. Where the design of the smoke control
stack effect or wind. system is based on the potential for occupants being exposed to
*For zoned smoke control systems, the pressure difference is required smoke, the tenability conditions shall be assessed.
to be measured between the smoke zone and adjacent spaces while the
affected areas are in the smoke control mode.

2018 Edition Shaded text = Revisions. Δ = Text deletions and figure/table revisions. • = Section deletions. N = New material.