Light + Air

UK & Republic of Ireland

An Introduction to
Smoke Management
2 An Introduction to
Smoke Control

This guide is designed to provide

architects, contractors, building
owners and facilities managers
with an overview of smoke
control systems, including the
different types of systems,
where they can be applied, how
they work and why they are
critically important. It will also
give information surrounding
smoke control regulations,
maintenance requirements and
considerations when refurbishing
or retrofitting a building.
 An Introduction to 3
Smoke Control

What is Smoke Control? 04

Considerations when specifying 07

a smoke control system

Types of smoke control systems 12

Natural smoke and heat exhaust

Mechanical smoke and heat exhaust
Smoke pressure systems

Interaction with other fire 38

management systems
Compartmentation
HVAC
Sprinklers

Regulations and compliance 42

Application
Products
Maintenance

Refurbishment and retrofit 46

Service and maintenance 49

How can Kingspan Light + Air 50

support your project?
What is
smoke control?
 An Introduction to 5
Smoke Control

Smoke control In a fire situation, you have one chance to get

systems: things right. Building owners and operators
have a duty and responsibility to ensure the
• Extract smoke ongoing safety of the people who use their
• Clear escape and buildings, including implementing effective fire
rescue routes safety provisions designed to meet the specific
• Aid firefighters in building requirements.
locating the fire
• Minimise casualties Statistics from all around the world
• Limit building and demonstrate that the greatest threat to life
contents damage in a fire-related incident is not the fire itself,
but the smoke generated by the burning
building contents. This includes both the soot
and aerosol particles visible in the air, and
the invisible noxious gases such as carbon
monoxide. In addition to posing a significant
health risk, smoke can also obscure sight lines
and irritate the eyes, impeding escape.
6 An Introduction to
Smoke Control

Forming a key and often mandatory part of

the fire management plan, smoke control
systems create smoke-free zones that enable
occupiers to escape and firefighting teams to
enter the property quickly and safely. With
systems suitable for all types of buildings, these
can be passively or mechanically assisted and
are typically used to protect escape and rescue
routes and common circulation areas.

Whilst occupant safety is the primary purpose

of these systems, they also help to limit smoke
and heat damage to the property and its
contents. The combination of both life and
asset protection can, in some cases, even help
to lower insurance premiums and provide peace
of mind that, should the worst happen, the
building, and everything within it, is protected.
Considerations
when specifying
a smoke control
system
8 An Introduction to
Smoke Control

Specifying a smoke control system is a complex

task which requires an in-depth understanding
of the systems available, the building it is
to be installed on and the relevant building
regulations and standards. It is important that
it is considered as early on in the design process
as possible by a qualified and experienced
fire-engineering specialist to ensure that the
solution selected is not only implemented
correctly, but that it works as part of the
holistic fire management plan.

When creating an optimised and reliable smoke

control solution, there are five key aspects
to consider:

1. Building specifics

Type

From high-rise offices to low-rise industrial facilities,

to underground car parks, every building type will
carry its own specific set of requirements and,
in some regions, may even be subject to specific
smoke control legislation.

Geometry

The height, surface and volume of the internal

spaces to be protected must be clearly defined
to ensure that the spread of smoke is accurately
calculated and that the specified smoke control
solution will perform as required. For example,
in deep buildings with a high internal volume,
such as a large warehouse with several floors
 An Introduction to 9
Smoke Control

or mezzanines, it may be necessary to use a

combination of natural and mechanical smoke
control systems in different parts of the building to
ensure that smoke is evacuated from the centre of
the space. Or, in the case of a Smoke Pressurisation
System on a high-rise building, additional sensors
or fans may be required to navigate any areas with
complex geometry.

Configuration

In addition to the volume, assessing the layout of

the space is also key for working out both the flow
of smoke and occupant evacuation routes. This
includes establishing how the space will be divided,
where the escape and rescue routes are located,
their maximum permissible length, how they will be
accessed, and where the smoke control system can
be installed.

Airflow

Once the type, geometry and configuration of

a building has been determined, computational
fluid dynamics (CFD) software can be used to
understand how air moves through a space
and therefore how smoke may behave in a fire
situation. This may also include looking at how
the external building envelope will be constructed,
especially for smoke pressurisation systems which
rely on high levels of airtightness, and the potential
effects of external wind conditions.

Location

The local climate and temperature can also have a

significant influence over the specification smoke
control systems. For example, the performance
of natural ventilation can be adversely affected
in places with high winds, therefore a mechanical
solution may be more appropriate.
10 An Introduction to
Smoke Control

2. Risks during use

In addition to considering how it has been built,
it is vital a thorough in-use risk assessment
of the building is conducted to ensure the fire
management solutions are fit for purpose. This
should take into account:

Use

Whilst a building may be constructed to fulfil a

generic brief, its exact use can have a significant
impact on the fire risk and the potential fire and
smoke load. For instance, an industrial building
that manufactures, uses or stores flammable
goods may require a much more stringent fire
management solution to a typical plant. There
may also be cases where the use impacts the
configuration of, and airflow within, the internal
space, such as logistics facilities with floor-to-
ceiling storage racks.

Occupancy

It is not only important to consider how the

building will be used, but who it will be used by.
Buildings that have high occupancy, such as
airports or shopping centres, or occupants who
are less able to escape, such as in hospitals and
prisons, may require more stringent smoke control
measures. Additionally, buildings that have a “stay
put” policy or phased evacuation procedures will
require a different approach to a building that uses
simultaneous evacuation.
 An Introduction to 11
Smoke Control

3. Regulations and standards

The specified system must be designed, tested,
certified, and maintained in accordance with
any local legislation and guidance set by the
government and/or fire service. This includes
standards that govern their use, as well as any
component-specific certifications.

4. Financial constraints

Whilst fire safety is a fundamental

consideration and should command an
appropriate part of the project budget, it is
important to get the balance right. Whilst
under-specifying can lead to a smoke control
system that is not fit for purpose, over-
specification can result in unnecessary cost.

5. Testing, Commissioning and Maintenance

Once the system has been installed and the
building work completed, all smoke control
systems need to be accurately tested and
commissioned by specialist technicians.
They will also require regular maintenance
throughout their lifespan, therefore it is
important that the building owner or operator
is provided with clear and detailed information
about their ongoing responsibilities, and a
service and maintenance plan should be
immediately put in place.