The growing use of cars is resulting in the increasingly frequent construction of car parks in areas at which people congregate – such as shopping centres, offices and entertainment centres, but also in residential complexes.
The newest forms of construction are increasingly accompanied by problems with the use of existing ventilation techniques in car parks.
Novenco has many years' experience with tunnel ventilation technology, and has modified this technology for the ventilation of multi-storey car parks – a technology which has since found frequent use in this application, whereby propulsion fans are used in combination with central inlet and outlet points.
Clean and Fresh Air
Jet Fans delivering air at relatively high velocity inducing air from the surroundings prevent the build up of high toxic CO concentrations in enclosed and underground car parks. Strategic positioning and the control of the Jet Fans ensure perfect air distribution and mixture with fresh air throughout the car park keeping the air fresh and clean.
The Control System
The amounts of exhaust gasses depend on the number of cars moving in and out of the car park and should require continuous monitoring and control to secure the constant presence of clean air. The Control System consists of a combination of CO and Smoke Detection Systems, a Switchboard and a suitable number of Jet Fans, which in combination with the extract and supply fans safeguard properly balanced airflows to provide a healthy and safe environment. No Ductwork
Using the Novenco Jet Ventilation System eliminates the need for ductwork. Not only does this result in savings on materials – reduced investment costs – and space savings, but in most cases also in considerable savings on running costs – energy saving – as a result of a well designed control system and reduced power consumption on extract and supply fans.
Legislation and Conformity
The Novenco Jet Ventilation System is designed to meet the regulations set out in the local Building Regulations for CO ventilation and Smoke Extract/Clearance in case of a fire.The Novenco Jet Fans and axial flow extract fans have been tested and high temperature certified to 300° C for 1 hour in accordance with CEN 12101, Part 3, Fire Ventilation as and when required.
Low noise
The rectangular Jet Fan design with attenuators on suction and pressure sides takes into consideration the requirements to low noise levels. Despite a low silhouette design of the Jet Fans, 320 mm respectively 420 mm the noise levels thus are kept very low.
Car Fires and Smoke Control
Not only does The Novenco Jet Ventilation System provide CO Ventilation and Smoke Extract/Clearance in the event of a fire but also Smoke Control by the creation of virtual smoke walls being a valued option for most car parks.When designed to provide smoke control the system secures areas (one or more zones) of the car park to be free from smoke in the case of a fire allowing for safe and easy access for fire fighters.
As a result of a perfect mixing with fresh air the smoke temperature is kept low (often below 100° C) eliminating the need for a sprinkler system and protecting the building from damage.
When designed to provide Smoke Control through virtual smoke walls, fire walls and shutters are no longer required thus making the car park appearance more open and user friendly and helping to reduce criminal activity.
Eliminating the need for a sprinkler system and possibly including Smoke Control thus contribute to substantially a reduced investment.
Full Scale Fire Tests
The Novenco Jet Ventilation System for enclosed car parks was tested in a car park scheduled to be demolished in 1998 in Amsterdam.
The tests were carried out by the TNO in Delft, a Dutch authority similar to the British Fire Research Station in cooperation with the Dutch Government and the Novenco Centre of Excellence, Novenco B.V., Rotterdam.The conclusions on the test results were summed up by the TNO and presented in a comprehensive test report. The report describes the smoke conditions like smoke temperatures and how the smoke develops in the event of a car fire as well as the possibility of creating smoke control in a fully enclosed car park.
The 18 tests provided invaluable information of real car fires for use with the development of a CFD Software ('Computer Fluid Dynamics') to simulate the conditions in a car park during a fire.One of the more important results however was, that by using the Novenco System it is possible to efficiently cool and control the smoke. The testing of a conventional ducted ventilation system showed that ducted systems do not provide an efficient and quick smoke clearance. By the use of a Jet Ventilation System set up to control the air/smoke movements in the car park it is possible to achieve a quick and smoke free access for the fire fighters immediately upon their arrival.