Steve Williams, P.E. | Brian Olsen, P.E. An Overview of Building Fire and Smoke Control Systems Design and Commissioning presented to Arkansas ASHRAE – ASHRAE Chapter 62 by Steve Williams, P.E. | Brian Olsen, P.E.

Introduction - General Over 35 years of design experience Support staff of 350 Local Office Wide variety of project types #1 Retail firm in U.S. (based on number of projects and square footage Retail Construction Magazine-2006) Specialty division of Henderson Engineers, Inc. Staff of 30 fire protection professionals Nationwide exposure Significant fire alarm, suppression and code consulting experience HEI - Lowell HEI – Kansas City

Introduction – Presentation Overview Overview of Smoke Control Engineered Smoke Control Systems Stairwell Pressurization Atrium Smoke Evacuation Lobbies Malls Health Care Anesthetizing Locations

Introduction – What is Smoke Control Passive vs. Active Passive ‘Smoke Resistant Construction’ Smoke Barriers – 20 minute rated openings Active Pressurization Systems High-rise of old Healthcare Atrium Smoke Exhaust Exhaust Makeup Air Stair Towers

Introduction – Why Smoke Control Inhalation injury from smoke and the noxious products of combustion in fires may account for as many as 75% of fire-related deaths in the U.S. Key concept - minimize vertical smoke migration. Passive smoke control is known for poor maintenance. Unsealed penetrations, terminations, etc. Basic concept of Smoke Control is to allow occupants to reach a protected means of egress Fire Department Operations Tool (arguable purpose but fire departments will use it this way – fire fighters control panel) Architectural Design Flexibility Atlanta Marriot 47 Story Fire Example

Introduction – Smoke Development

Part 1 Codes – Applicable Codes/Guidelines 2003 International Building Code (IBC), Section 909 NFPA 101 – Life Safety Code NFPA 92A – Recommended Practice for Smoke Control Systems NFPA 92B – Guide for Smoke Management in Malls, Atria, and Large Areas ASHRAE 1999 HVAC Applications, Chapter 51 ASHRAE Principals of Smoke Management Handbook Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) Building Inspector Fire Marshall-State and Local

Part 1 Codes – Where Required Atriums (IBC 404.4) Enclosed Malls meeting Atrium definition (IBC 402.9) High-rise Windowless Buildings – Prisons (IBC 408.8) Smoke Protected Seating (IBC 1024.6.2.1) Healthcare Stair Towers (IBC 1019.1.8) 75 ft above fire department access

Part 1 Codes – Where Required Atriums (2003 IBC 404.1.1/404.4) “Atrium. An opening connecting two or more stories other than enclosed stairways… [ lists all shaft scenarios]…, which is closed at the top and not defined as mall…” “404.4 Smoke Control. A smoke control system shall be installed in accordance with section 909.” Stair Towers (2003 IBC 1019.1.8) “1019.1.8 Smokeproof enclosures. … each of the exits of a building that serves stories where the floor surface is located more than 75-feet above the lowest level of fire department access or 30-feet below the level of exit discharge … shall be a smoke proof enclosure or pressurized stairway.”

Part 1 Codes – Smoke Control Methods IBC 909 does not specify a specific type of smoke control system. Options include: Pressurization .05-inches water gauge across smoke barriers Airflow Air Curtain Exhaust Atriums

Part 1 Codes – Exhaust Method Prescriptive Design 5 MW Steady State Heat Release 20 Minute Duration Performance Design Rational Analysis – 2006 IBC Times 1.5 X Egress Time Fire based on fuel load 1 MW at 7 Minutes 4.6 MW 260 Seconds

Part 1 Codes – Exhaust Method Prescriptive Design 5 MW Steady State Heat Release (IBC 909.9) Rather large for some scenarios 20 Minute Duration (IBC 909.4.6) 20 minute smoke barrier opening protection Tenability (IBC 909.8.1) 10-feet smoke interface 2003 IBC 6-feet smoke interface 2006 IBC Exhaust Capacity Axisymmetric Plume (IBC 909.8.2) Balcony Spill Plume (IBC 909.8.3) In calculations air density must be adjusted for elevation and smoke temperature. See ASHRAE Principals of Smoke Management Handbook

Part I Codes – Exhaust Method Air Movement Stratification Stack Effect Plugholling Makeup Air Natural or Mechanical 85% total exhaust is rule of thumb 200 fpm maximum velocity towards fire Distortion of smoke plume Introduce Below Smoke Layer

Part 1 Codes – Equipment Criteria UL Listings Fans Smoke Dampers Fire Alarm Control Panel BAS Fire Fighters Smoke Control Panel Fire Command Center? Equipment Temperature Ratings IBC 909.10.1 Initiation as required by Rational Analysis Sprinklers Manual Pull Stations Properly Zoned Sprinkler Waterflow Detection

Part 2 Design – Smoke Control Design Team Specialty Engineered System Multidiscipline Effort Architect MEF Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)

Part 2 Design – Architectural Component Smoke Control Objective Aesthetics Automatic Door Hardware Owner/Team Communication Alternatives

Part 2 Design – Mechanical Engineering Component Makeup Air Configuration Exhaust Air Configuration

Part 2 Design – Mechanical Engineering Component Fan Specification (IBC 909.10.5) 1.5 X Belts Required for Design Duty Minimum 2 Belts Fan Temperature Ratings Duct Specifications (IBC 909.10.2) Withstand fire pressures and temperatures Field Tested to 1.5 X maximum design pressure Smoke Damper Approach Omit where air path is instrumental to system operation Fire Damper Approach Higher Temperature Heat Links BAS Positive Indication of Fan Status

Part 2 Design – Electrical Engineering Component Primary Power Secondary Power Dedicated Fire Resistant ATS/Secondary Power Room 60 Second Transfer Time (IBC 909.11) 15 minute duration UPS for volatile memory BAS (IBC 909.11.1).

Part 2 Design – Fire Protection Engineering Component Design Approach/Rational Analysis Design Fire Stack Effect/Hot Air Stratification Temperature/Wind Effect HVAC System Considerations Plugholling Duration of Operation (Egress Calculations)

Part 2 Design – Fire Protection Engineering Component Automatic Sprinkler System Zone Coordination Fire Alarm and Detection System Firefighters Smoke Control Panel Special Inspections

Part 2 Design – Authority Having Jurisdiction Component Interpretations Design Approval Acceptance Criteria

Part 3 Commissioning – General Why Commission Prove System Functionality Develop Benchmark for Future Testing Commissioning Concerns Outside Normal Services Educate Architects/Contractors/Owners Early Commissioning Team Owner Engineers AHJ Air Balance and Test Group

Part 3 Commissioning – Preparation Construction Completion/Partial Occupancy Inspection Component Level Testing Functionality Test Pre-test Test System as a Whole Final Acceptance Test Presence of AHJ Smoke Test if Required Early AHJ coordination can avoids this

Part 3 Commissioning – Smoke Testing Subjective - Smoke testing is extremely subjective although it will be required in many jurisdictions. NFPA 92A discusses smoke testing in detail. NFPA 92A (2002) Section A.5.3.3.6. speaks to the limited value of smoke testing. Hot/Cold Smoke Testing Limitations

Part 3 Commissioning – Smoke Testing (con’t) Smoke Bombs Superior Smoke Smoke Volume Discharge Time Smoke Generators Theatrical Units

Part 3 Commissioning – Air Balance Test Reports Air Balance Contractor Clear Scope Exhaust Fans Makeup Air Fans Makeup Air Inlets Capability to Adjust Equipment

Part 3 Commissioning – Initiation Fire Alarm Smoke Detection Manual Alarms Waterflow

Part 3 Commissioning – Initiation (con’t.) Fire Fighters Smoke Control Panel Status Indication Control

Part 3 Commissioning – Secondary Power Fans Controls Reboot

Questions? Thank you.