Principles
Fire costs money. The cost as a consequence of fire, including property damage, human casualties and lost business, was estimated at £2.5 billion. If a fire does occur then occupants must be protected.
SE Controls offers a comprehensive range of natural and powered Smoke Heat and Exhaust Ventilation systems (SHEV) suitable for any size and type of building. Systems are designed to facilitate the safe escape of occupants in the event of a fire and to enable the fire to be fought in its early stages.
Typical Layouts
Education buildings are typically designed with an atria in the main central spine of the building, to create natural light into surrounding classrooms and communal areas, to promote a productive learning environment for students.
Such spaces provide a significant challenge to the fire protection design teams due to the typical openness, height of the building and the ability for the smoke to spread from floor to floor. Evacuation routes for students and pupils in these areas provide a significant concern, unless an effective smoke control system is implemented.
Typical Strategies
The smoke control strategy within atria is designed to create a smoke free layer above the floor by removing smoke from the building. This is achieved by using the natural buoyancy of the hot gases to rise and exhaust through high level vents whilst introducing replacement fresh air via low level inlet vents. This process creates a smoke free layer at a sufficient height below the ceiling to achieve safe evacuation of the students and staff and to provide good visibility for the fire fighters to enter the affected areas.
Further Information
For further information regarding the product groups and regulations associated with smoke ventilation in commercial building please choose an option below:
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