CIVIL DEFENCE DEPARTMENT

MINISTRY OF INTERIOR, QATAR

03-Nov-2010

FIRE SAFTEY STANDARDS

MINIMUM REQUIERMENTS
Subject:

ENCLOSED CAR PARK SMOKE CONTROL

VENTILATION SYSTEMS
PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS
Item

Provisions

Car park smoke control ventilation systems using ducts that extract
smoke from high level and low level (a minimum of 50% of the
extraction area shall be at low level) designed in accordance with NFPA
88A and the ASHRAE Handbook and providing 10 air changes per hour
shall be deemed to comply with these requirements.

Alternative solutions and systems using jet fans must be designed with
the use of CFD fire modelling and the following input parameters.

2.1

For enclosed parking structures that permit only passenger cars (means
of preventing goods vehicles must be detailed in the submission), the
minimum design fire size shall be as follows.
(a) For sprinkler protected car parks, 4 MW, 2m x 5m,

FSS
No:

7.2
Notes

Deemed to
comply
requirements

Design fire
Passenger
vehicles

(b) For car parks without sprinklers, 8MW, 5m x 5m

2.2

For enclosed car parks that permit goods vehicles, the minimum steadystate single design fire must be 10 MW and the designer must justify
why a larger size fire should not be assumed.

2.3

The assumed design fire shall be flaming polyurethane

2.4

The design fire must be in the most onerous location, usually the most
remote location from the exhaust points and at a point in-between two
zones for zoned systems.

Goods vehicles

Location of
design fire

The designer must provide justification for the selection of the most
onerous location.
2.5

The following acceptance criteria at 1,8m above the floor level must be
attained within a 10m radius of the design fires after 20 minutes.

Acceptance
criteria

(a) Visibility must be a minimum of 10 m all other areas must be

greater than 10m
(b) Temperature of the smoke layer must not exceed 60 C
2.6

The duration of CFD simulation must be a minimum of 30 minutes.

Grid size

Grid size must be a maximum of 0.2m x 0.2m x 0.2m within 10m of the
design fire and a maximum of 0.4m x 0.4m x 0.4m for all other areas.

QCDFSS-7.2_Car Park Ventilation.doc

Page 1 of 3

CIVIL DEFENCE DEPARTMENT

MINISTRY OF INTERIOR, QATAR

03-Nov-2010

FIRE SAFTEY STANDARDS

MINIMUM REQUIERMENTS
Subject:

ENCLOSED CAR PARK SMOKE CONTROL

VENTILATION SYSTEMS
PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS
Item
2.7

Provisions
A sensitivity study shall be carried out to show that with the loss of the
jet fan nearest the fire, the acceptance criteria are still maintained.
Exhaust fans

FSS
No:

7.2
Notes

Sensitivity study

Exhaust fans

(a) Must be configured such that failure of any single fan will not result
in more than a 50% reduction of air flow.
(b) Must have an alternate source of power such as emergency
generator
4

Activation of the smoke control system must be automatic using either

of the following initiating methods.
(a) Sprinkler flow switch

Activation of
smoke control
system

(b) Smoke detection system

(c) Heat detection system
The designer shall consider the affects the ventilation system on the
response of the sprinkler system. Justification must be provided to show
that the ventilation system will not delay operation of the sprinkler
system.
5

Manual override must be provided for all smoke control systems in the
form of an illuminated rotary switch must be provided at the fire
command centre to allow for the following modes of operation.

Automatic

Manual

Off

Where multiple levels of enclosed car parks are protected by the same
ventilation system, the size of equipment and make-up air inlets and
exhaust air outlets must be of adequate size to allow for simultaneous
CO dilution of the adjacent zones and other levels at the minimum rate
of 6 ACH.

QCDFSS-7.2_Car Park Ventilation.doc

Manual override

CO dilution of
adjacent zones
and other car
parking levels

Page 2 of 3

CIVIL DEFENCE DEPARTMENT

MINISTRY OF INTERIOR, QATAR

03-Nov-2010

FIRE SAFTEY STANDARDS

MINIMUM REQUIERMENTS
Subject:

ENCLOSED CAR PARK SMOKE CONTROL

VENTILATION SYSTEMS
PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS
Item
7

Provisions
The commissioning and acceptance testing must be carried out in the
presence of a QCD inspector. Such testing must consist of a hot smoke
test, prepared and carried out in accordance with AS 4391. For jet fan
systems, BS 7346, Part 7 may be used as a guide.

QCDFSS-7.2_Car Park Ventilation.doc

FSS
No:

7.2
Notes

Commissioning
and witness
testing

Page 3 of 3