Smoke Control Systems

The Novenco UK Ltd has access to the largest range of powered and natural smoke ventilation products in Europe, most of which are manufactured in house.

Our technical Knowledge coupled with our expertise of smoke control in all building types, whether above ground or below ground, enables us to provide an unrivalled service to the construction industry.

General

Where recommended safe travel distances are exceeded it will be necessary to put some form of compensation feature into the building design to gain approval and one such compensating feature would be a smoke control system.

There is often confusion on what type of system should be used and what these systems are designed to provide and the following definitions taken from BS9999 should be of assistance.

3.99 smoke clearance system
Smoke control system designed to remove the products of combustion following a fire and used at the discretion of the fire and rescue service to assist fire-fighting operations.

3.100 smoke control
Technique used to control the movement of smoky gases within a building in order to protect the structure, the contents, the means of escape, or to assist fire-fighting operations.

3.101 smoke dilution
Smoke control achieved by mixing the smoky gases with enough clean air to achieve less hazardous conditions.

3.102 smoke exhaust ventilation system
Smoke control system designed to remove a sufficient volume of smoke to minimize the possibility of inter-connected spaces becoming untenable as a result of the spread of smoke

Building Types Which Require Smoke Ventilation

1. Car Parks
Above ground car parks are naturally ventilated and there will be no requirement for environmental or smoke ventilation if open sided. If, however it is fully enclosed then it will require ventilation.
Underground Car Parks must be ventilated both for environmental purposes (The Approved Document F) to reduce exhaust fumes to acceptable levels (Carbon Monoxide levels).
They will also have to have a smoke clearance system providing 10 air changes per hour. (The Approved Document B)

2. Basement Areas
Any building with a basement area greater than 200m2 must have a smoke clearance system either by natural means or via mechanical smoke clearance system providing 10 air changes per hour. (The Approved Document B).
Basement areas which are 10m deep or greater must have a pressure differential system installed to protect the firefighting shaft serving the basement areas (The Approve Document B and BS9999.).

3. Atria Buildings
Any building with an atrium will require a smoke clearance or a smoke ventilation system (BS9999).

4. Residential
Blocks of flats will generally have Opening stairwell ventilators (OVs), lobby or corridor Automatic Opening Ventilators (AOVs,). Where the stairs, lobby or corridors a Natural Smoke Shaft ventilation system or stair pressurisation system can be used. (The Approved Document B and BS5588 Part1).

5. Theatres
A theatre must have a smoke ventilation system serving the stage area providing a aerodynamic free area of ventilation equal to 10% of the stage area.. (BS9999)

6. Warehouses
Some areas of the country have Local Authority Acts which require warehouse over a certain cubic capacity to have either sprinkler protection and or a smoke ventilation system

7. Any Building Type
Any building with an occupied top most storey over 18m in height (six-seven storeys high) will require a firefighting shaft which has to be ventilated. (The Approved Document B & BS9999)

8. Places of Assembly
Theatres, football ground etc are always of special concern and almost always has some form of smoke control features designed into the building. (BS9999)

9. Covered Shopping Centres
Due to the extended travel distances within the mall areas of the shopping centre they will always have a smoke control system designed into the mall layout.

Additionally any large shop unit opening onto an enclosed shopping mall which has a floor area greater than 1000m2 will have to have its own smoke control system (The Approved Document B & BS9999).

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