Smoke Control Concepts

Fire Alarm System

Implications
September 27, 2018

Scott V. Vandame
CORE Engineers Consulting Group, Inc.
Smoke Control Approaches

• There are many smoke control concepts,

including:
• Air Distribution Systems
• Passive Fire Protection
• Compartmentation
• Opening Protection
• Natural Smoke and Heat Venting
• Mechanical Smoke Control Systems
• Exhaust
• Pressurization
• Smoke Purge Systems (Post-Fire)
Smoke
Detection &
Control
Air Distribution Systems
 Air Distribution System

• Any SYSTEM of ducts, plenums and air-handling

equipment that circulates air within a space or
spaces and includes systems made up of ONE or
MORE AIR-HANDLING UNITS

• Smoke detection is intended to prevent a

ventilation system from actively CIRCULATING
smoke throughout building areas

• Smoke detection is required for the SYSTEM

rather than for the AHU
NFPA Approach
Size Concepts
ICC Approach
Large System Approach
Combined Capacity
Approach
 Air Distribution Smoke
Detectors
• Intended to prevent CIRCULATION of smoke by
the SYSTEM

• When SMOKE is detected in the AIR FLOW,

intended to STOP the AIR FLOW

• In some special cases, alternatively may change

the unit to SMOKE MODE

• Many types of smoke detection TECHNOLOGIES

or METHODS are available
 “Duct Smoke Detectors”

• Designed to prevent CIRCULATION of smoke by

an OPERATING air distribution system

• AIR FLOW FORCES a sampling of air into the air

sampling tube

• Generally DEPENDENT upon AIR FLOW to

operate
• Not a substitute for an area smoke detector
• Not a substitute for early warning detection
• Not a substitute for regular fire detection system

• Are only ONE of the smoke detection METHODS

Compartmentati
on
Smoke Dampers
 Passive Fire Protection

• Attempts to CONTAIN or to SLOW THE SPREAD of

fire and/or smoke

• Includes the use of COMPARTMENTATION

• Typically includes FIRE-resistance rated

construction or SMOKE resistant construction

• Relevant openings and penetrations may require

additional protection
Fire Rated Construction
Fire Rated Construction
Smoke Partitions
Smoke Partitions
Smoke Barriers
Smoke Barriers
 Passive Fire Protection

• Includes using specific building construction for

intended COMPARTMENTATION

• Includes using rated DOORS, DAMPERS and

other OPENING PROTECTIVES

• Different from ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION such as

fire suppression systems, evacuation systems or
mechanical smoke control systems
 Smoke Dampers - Shafts

• A quick overview of SHAFTS....

• And how they may relate to AIR DISTRIBUTION

SYSTEMS and PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION

• And how SMOKE DAMPERS may apply

Shafts
Shafts
Shafts
 Smoke Dampers - Shafts

• ICC generally requires both FIRE and SMOKE

DAMPERS at duct or air transfer opening
penetrations of SHAFTS

• ICC includes EXCEPTIONS for specific situations

• DC Construction Codes eliminate the

requirement for SMOKE DAMPERS at SHAFTS in
sprinklered buildings (2013 DCMR 12A §717.5.3
#5)
Shafts - ICC
Shafts - DC
Smoke Dampers - Corridors

• A quick overview of CORRIDORS....

• And how they may relate to AIR DISTRIBUTION

SYSTEMS and PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION

• And how SMOKE DAMPERS may apply

Corridors
Corridors
Corridors
Smoke Dampers - Corridors

• ICC generally requires SMOKE DAMPERS at duct

or air transfer opening penetrations of
CORRIDORS (RESIDENTIAL)

• ICC includes EXCEPTIONS for specific situations

• SMOKE DAMPERS are not required at

penetrations of CORRIDORS where there are NO
duct openings SERVING THE CORRIDOR
Corridors
Corridors
 Duct Smoke Detectors with
Smoke Dampers
• Duct detectors designed to prevent
CIRCULATION of smoke by an OPERATING air
distribution system

• Duct detectors are DEPENDENT upon AIR FLOW

to operate (require a “minimum velocity to
operate”)

• Sampling tube holes are ORIENTED toward the

direction of the system’s AIR FLOW

• Smoke dampers would be UNPROTECTED when

there is NO AIR FLOW
 Duct Smoke Detectors with
Smoke Dampers
• Smoke dampers generally would need to be BE
CLOSED when there is NO AIR FLOW

• Smoke dampers would be required to CLOSE

when the associated AHU is OFF or otherwise
SHUTDOWN for any reason

• Smoke dampers would require INTERLOCK with

the AHU

• Or consider ANOTHER smoke detection METHOD

Smoke Control
Mechanical Smoke Control
Systems
Smoke Control System Design

• Airflow Design Method

• Exhaust Method

• Pressurization Method
Airflow Design Method
Pressurization
Exhaust
Zoned Control
 Smoke Exhaust

• SMOKE EXHAUST not SMOKE EVACUATION

• Fire alarm systems EVACUATE people

• Mechanical systems EXHAUST air and particulates

• Post-Fire SMOKE PURGE systems may allow

firefighters to evacuate all remaining smoke

• SMOKE EXHAUST systems generally are not

designed to remove ALL smoke
Smoke Exhaust
 Smoke Control Systems

• NFPA 92 - Standard for Smoke Control Systems

• Replaces previous:
• NFPA 92A - Recommended Practice for Smoke
Control Systems
• NFPA 92B – Guide for Smoke Management Systems
in Malls, Atria, and Large Areas

• NFPA 101 requires compliance with NFPA 92

• IBC only requires SMOKE EXHAUST systems to be

designed per NFPA 92
 Smoke Control Systems

• Control systems UL 864 listed as SMOKE CONTROL

equipment (UL Category UUKL)
• Fire Alarm Systems
• Firefighter’s Smoke-Control Stations
• Building Automation Systems
• Computer Workstations
• Servers
• CPU boards
• Variable Air Volume (VAV) Control Modules
 Smoke Control (NFPA 92)

• Duct smoke detector required for supply side of STAIR

PRESSURIZATION fan

• A SINGLE control system shall coordinate the functions

provided by the fire alarm system, fire fighters’ smoke
control station (FSCS), and any other related systems
with the operation of the building HVAC systems and
dedicated smoke control equipment.

• MANUAL STATIONS shall not activate smoke control

systems requiring info on LOCATION of the fire.

• MANUAL STATIONS may activate STAIR PRESSURIZATION

 Smoke Control (NFPA 92)

• KEY-OPERATED switches may be used to manually

activate smoke control systems

• Smoke control mode is required to be INITIATED within

10 SECONDS after an automatic or manual command
is received

• POSITIVE STATUS INDICATION for fans (ON/OFF) sensed

by pressure difference, airflow switch, or other positive
proof of AIR FLOW

• POSITIVE STATUS INDICATION for dampers

(OPEN/CLOSED) using damper position of fully open
and fully closed
 Smoke Control (IBC §909)

• All wiring, regardless of voltage, shall be fully

enclosed in continuous RACEWAYS

• Detection and control systems shall be clearly

MARKED at all JUNCTIONS, ACCESSES, and
TERMINATIONS
 Smoke Control Systems

• Control systems required to include provisions for

VERIFICATION
• Positive confirmation of actuation
• Testing
• Manual override
• Presence of power downstream of all disconnects
• Report abnormal conditions
Firefighter’s
Smoke Control
Station
Mechanical Smoke Control
Systems
 Smoke Control - FSCS

• Only applies to MECHANICAL SMOKE CONTROL

SYSTEMS per IBC §909 and NFPA 92

• DC Construction Codes eliminate the FSCS

requirement where only STAIR PRESSURIZATION,
ELEVATOR SHAFT VENTING, or ELEVATOR SHAFT
PRESSURIZATION are provided in the building
(2013 DCMR 12A §909.16)

• However, if a mechanical smoke control system is

provided in the building, then the above features
MUST be incorporated in the required FSCS.
 Smoke Control - FSCS

• DIFFERENT from a GRAPHIC ANNUNCIATOR

• UL 864 listed as FIREFIGHTER’S SMOKE-CONTROL

STATION equipment (UL Category UUKL)
 Smoke Control - FSCS

• Firefighter’s Smoke Control Panel is comprised of:

• GRAPHICS
• Clearly indicate the direction of air flow and the
relationship of components
• STATUS ANNUNCIATION
• Positive status indication of individual components
• MANUAL CONTROL
• Highest priority of any control point in the building
except required power disconnects
 Smoke Control - FSCS

• Component status annunciated by FAN and ZONE

• NORMAL (White)
• OFF or CLOSED (Red)
• ON or OPEN (Green)
• FAULT (Yellow/Amber)

• Status for EACH INDIVIDUAL component

• POSITIVE status (e.g., Fully-Open, Fully-Closed,

Airflow, etc.)
 Smoke Control - FSCS

• Manual control capability over the ENTIRE smoke

control system

• Control over EACH INDIVIDUAL piece of

equipment

• But NOT NECESSARILY individual control over each

individual piece of equipment

• Controls for COMPLEX SYSTEMS may be combined

into a SINGLE SMOKE ZONE as a unit
Questions