CHAPTER 7

M ECHANICALVENTILATION
AND SM OKE CONTROLSYSTEM

ROOT OBJECTIVES

The pri
m ary i
ntenti
onsofthi schapterare encapsul
ated i
n
the fol
lowi
ng statem ents:-

R7.1 M ai
ntai
n tenable conditi
onsforevacuati on ofoccupants
and protect them from inj
ury ari
sing from the effects of
fi
re.

R7.2 Provi
de sm oke m anagem ent i
n the bui
ldi
ng for fi
re-
fi
ghti
ng operati
ons.

SUB-OBJECTIVES

The fol
lowing cri
teri
a defi
ne the condi
ti
ons necessary to
ful
fi
lthe i
ntenti
onsofthischapter:-

S7.1 Provi
sionsforventil
ati
on forl
ife safety purposessuch that,
i
n the eventofa fi
re,evacuation routesare m aintai
ned :-

(i
) bel
ow therm althreshol
d forhum an tenabi
li
ty;and

(i
i) at visi
bil
ity level
s adequate for occupant
evacuation;and

(i
ii
) bel
ow toxi
city threshol
d forhum an tenabi
li
ty

forthe peri
od ofti
m e requi
red forescape.

S7.2 Provi
sionsforventi
lati
on to m ai
ntai
n safe condi
ti
onsin the
m eans of escape for evacuees for the period of ti
me
requi
red forescape.

S7.3 Provisi
ons for adequate venti l
ation for the storage of
fl
am m able and expl osi
ve substances or equi pm ent
em i
tting flam m abl
e vapour, to prevent undesi rabl
e
accum ulation ofsuch fl
am m abl
e vapour.

7(I)
S7.4 The installation and operation of the mechanical
ventilation systems shall

(i) have minimal contribution to the spread of fire

and smoke in the building; and

(ii) have no adverse effects on the operation of other

life safety or fire suppression systems.

S7.5 Provisions for appropriate and adequate ventilation to

(i) rooms housing essential fire fighting facilities which

are dependent on it for their continued operation;
and

(ii) fire command centre in which emergency

personnel operate.

7(II)