Fire Smoke Control System - Assignment Example

Download file to see previous pages Some of the models include zone models, Computational Fire Dynamics models, network models, and differential models. These software-based smoke control systems not only help to improve life safety during a fire but also predict a suitable strategy to combat smoke flows through the building. In many high-rise buildings, the pressurization method is the most appropriate method which works alongside mechanical and natural ventilation systems.

Yuan et al. (2014) suggest that the control of smoke propagation in fire floors can utilize Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) operation by changing the fluid flow direction, and smoke conditions and controlling heat change. Although Cowlard et al. (2013) observe that pressurization systems cause pressure differences between the stairwell and their surroundings, it is rendered unusable when lower bound pressures are lesser than pressures induced by the effects of fire. Moreover, fire smoke may enter elevator compartments and elevator shafts through the stairwell as it spreads from the elevator doors to every building flow.

Keeping smoke from migrating from the fire floor requires pressurization of stairwells and floors with air-handling units of modest size (Black, 2010). Miller (2011, p.2253) found that standard pressurization systems require excess large airflows when ambient temperature changes or if there are significant differences in the pressure inside compartments, stairwells, or elevators. Ambient conditions for smoke ventilation involve wind conditions, average ambient temperature, and heat release rates. Black (2010) argues that software designed to control smoke movement should not only be able to consider the wind velocity, building design, fire location, elevator stairwells, and shafts, but also wind patterns and the basic elements of a life safety plan.

While CFD analysis is used to study and simulate the smoke movement in high-rise buildings under different ambient conditions, pressurization systems are under influence of mechanical and natural smoke extraction. Smoke ventilation designs and responses in high-rise buildings usually consider the floor of fire origin and the design of the staircase (Shi et al. 2014).

It has been observed that different smoke control strategies are applied in the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates for high-rise buildings. While it is a common practice in the United Kingdom to extract smoke, either naturally or mechanically, through the top of the staircase, the UAE fire code (in its present version) demands for pressurization of the staircase and mechanical extraction from the corridor.  ...Download file to see next pages Read More