Smoke-Control Systems

Smoke-Control System Defined

A smoke-control system can be defined as an engineered system that uses mechanicalfans to produce pressure differences across smoke barriers to inhibit smoke movement. A smoke-control system is used to achieve one or more of the following design objectives:

● Inhibit smoke from entering stairwells, means of egress, areas of refuge, elevator shafts, or similar areas

● Maintain a tenable environment in areas of refuge and means of egress during the time required for evacuation

● Inhibit the migration of smoke from the smoke zone

● Provide conditions outside the fire zone that enable emergency response personnel to conduct search-and-rescue operations and to locate and control the fire

● Contribute to the protection of life and to the reduction of property loss

The document used for the design of smoke-control systems is NFPA 92, Standard for Smoke-Control Systems. It is important that the RDP and owner establish the desired performance characteristics for these systems in