UNIVERSITY OF BATANGAS

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

CHAPTER 9
SMOKE CONTROL SYSTEMS AND FIRE PROTECTION

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE

REQUIREMENTS IN ME22-
ME LAW, ETHICS, CODES AND STANDARDS

SUBMITTED BY:
ACLAN, JONNEL P.
1300313
 A. SMOKE-CONTROL SYSTEMS

901.0 Introduction

All fires produce smoke which, If not controlled, will spread throughout the building or
portions of the building, thereby endangering lives and damaging properties.

A smoke-control system should be designed to inhibit the flow of smoke into means of
egress, exit passageways, or other similar areas of a building. Limiting fire size by
providing automatic sprinklers or other means of automatic suppression will generally
be necessary for effective and economical control of smoke in most occupancy.

901.1 Scope This chapter shall recommended practices applied to the design,
installation, testing, operation, and maintenance of new and retrofitted mechanical air
conditioning and ventilation systems for the control of smoke.

901.3 Purpose. The purpose of this recommended practice is to provide guidance in

implementing systems to accomplish one or more of the following

(a) Maintain a tenahle environment in the means of egress during the time required for
evacuation.

(b) Control and reduce the migration of smoke from the fire area.

(c) provide conditions outside the fire zone that will assist emergency response
personnel to conduct search and rescue operations and to locate and control the fire.

(d) Contribute to the protection of life and reduction of property loss.

(e) To provide a standard practices based on the Fire Code of the Philippines.

902.0 Definitions. The following terms for the purposes of this recommended practice
shall have the meanings given in this chapter.

Fire Fighters' Smoke-Control Station. Fire fighters' smoke-control station (FSCS)

includes monitoring and overriding capability over smoke- control systems and
equipment provided at designated location (s) within the building for the use of the fire
department.

Pressurized Stairtowers. A type of smoke- control system in which stair shafts are
mechanically pressurized with outdoor air to keep smoke from contaminating them
during a fire incident.
Smoke. The airborne solid and liquid particulates and gases evolved when a material
undergoes pyrolysis or combustion, together with the quantity of air that is entrained or
otherwise mixed into the mass.

Smoke Barrier. A membrane, either vertical or horizontal, such as a wall, floor, or

ceiling assembly, that is designed and constructed to restrict the movement of smoke.

Smoke-Control Mode. A predefined operational configuration of a system or device for

the purpose of smoke control.

Smoke-Control System. An engineered system that uses mechanical fans to produce

airflows and pressure differences across smoke barriers to limit and direct smoke
movement.

Smoke-Control Zone. A space within a building enclosed by smoke barriers, including

the top and bottom, that is part of a zoned smoke-control system.

Smoke Damper. A device that meets the requirements of UL 555S, Standard for
Leakage Rated Dampers for Use in Smoke Control Systems, designed to resist the
passage of air and smoke

Smoke Exhaust System. A mechanical or gravity system intended to move smoke

from the smoke zone to the exterior of the building, including smoke removal, purging,
and venting systems, as well as the function of exhaust fans utilized to reduce the
pressure in a smoke zone. Maintenance of a tenable environment in the smoke zone is
not within the capability of these systems.

Smoke Zone. The smoke-control zone in which the fire is located.

Stack Effect. The vertical airflow within buildings caused by temperature differences
between the building interior and exterior.

Tenable Environment. An environment in which the quantity and location of smoke is

limited or otherwise restricted to allow for ready evacuation through the space.

Zoned Smoke Control. A smoke-control system that includes smoke exhaust for the
smoke zone and pressurization for all contiguous smoke-control zones. The remaining
smoke- control zones in the building also may be pressurized.

903.0 Principles Of Smoke Control

903.1 The basic principles of smoke control of this Chapter shall be referred to the
National Fire Protection Association [NFPA] standard requirement NFPA 92A
Recommended Practice of Smoke Control systems.
903.2 Design Parameters. Reference shall be Section 1-6 [NFPA 92A Recommended
Practice of Smoke Control Systems]

904.0 Application. The following shall be applied in smoke control system based on the
present practice and interpretation of the Fire Code of the Philippines 2008.

904.1 Dedicated Smoke Control Systems. Any smoke control system used in
buildings shall be dedicated to smoke control only and shall be separate from any air
moving and distribution system that operates normally. Note : Non-dedicated smoke-
control system such as the HVAC system is still being studied to determine its
advantages.

904.2 Shaft Protection Type Smoke-Control. Smoke-control system shall be of the

shaft protection type INFPA 92A Section 2-1. 3]. This shall be applied to stair tower
pressurization in accordance with the Fire Code of the Philippines 2008 [Section 10 2 5
4 l] Note : Floor protection type such as zone smoke- control system is being studied to
determine its advantages. Shaft protection shall be of two (2) methods: [Fire Code of
the Philippines 2008 Section 10.2.5.4l]

904.2.1 Stairtower With Smokeproof Enclosure Vestibule. This method shall be

used in stairtowers that are not completely enclosed and are not pressurized. [Fire
Code of the Philippines 2008 Section 10.2.5.4.I par. 4, 7 and 8] [NFPA 92A Section 2-
3. 6]

904.2.2 Stairtower Pressurization. This method shall be used in stairtowers that are
enclosed and pressurized. The stair tower shall be provided with a mechanical
ventilation smoke control system. [ Fire Code of the Philippines 2008 Section 10.2.5.4.I
par. 9]

905.0 Smoke-Control System Integrity. Smoke- control system should be designed,

installed and maintained such that the system will remain effective for longer periods
during evacuation of the protected areas. The following shall be considered:

(a) Reliability of the power source

(b) Arrangement of the power distribution

(c) Method of protection of controls and system monitoring

(d) Equipment specifications and construction methods

(e) Type of building occupancy

905.1 Pressure Differences The following tables shall be adapted as recommended by
NFPA 92A Section 2.2 and as references for the minimum design pressure differences
at 1700 F (925 C) gas temperature next to the smoke barrier.

In compliance with the Fire Code of the Philippines 2008 and NFPA 101 the pressure
difference across the doors shall not exceed the values given in Table 905_1b so that
the doors can operate while the pressurization system is operating. Allowed deviation
depending on tightness of doors, tightness of construction of walls, toxicity of smoke,
airflow rates and the volume of space shall be up to 50 per cent of the minimum design
pressure difference are considered tolerable. [NFPA 92A Section 2-2. 1]

906.0 Stairtower Pressurization Systems.

906.1 General. The goal of pressurized stairtowers is to provide a tenable environment

within the stairtower in the event of a building fire.

906.2 Noncompensated and Compensated systems.

(a) Noncompensated. This system shall not be adopted until further study is done on
its merits. In this system supply air is injected into the stairtower by actuating a single
speed fan.

(b) Compensated. This system shall be adopted in compliance with the Fire Code of
the Philippines Section 10. 2. 5. 4. I par. 9a. The compensated systems adjust to
various combinations of doors open and closed, while maintaining positive pressure
differences across such openings.

(1) Modulating Supply Airflow. In this system, the capacity of the supply fan is sized
to provide at least the minimum air velocity when the design number of doors are open.
The flow rate of air into the stairtower is varied by modulating bypass dampers, which
are controlled by one ot more static pressure sensors that sense the pressure difference
between the stairtower and the building.

(2) Overpressure Relief. Compensated system operation can also be accomplished

by overpressure relief. In this instance, pressure buildup in the stairtower as doors close
is relieved directly from the stairtower to the outside. The amount of air relieved varies
with the number of doors open, thus attempting to achieve an essentially constant
pressure in the stairtower. Exterior relief openings can be subject to adverse effects
from the wind so windbreaks or windshields are recommended.

In existing buildings, overpressure relief may be discharged into the building. The
effects of this on the integrity of the stairtowers and the interaction with other building
HVAC systems should be closely studied before proposing this method
Overpressure relief may be accomplished by one of four methods

(I) Baromentric dampers with adjustable counter-weights can be used to allow the
damper to open when the maximum interior pressure is reached. This represents the
simplest, least expensive method of overpressure relief since there is no physical
interconnection between the dampers and the fan.

(ii) Motor-operated dampers with pneumatic or electric motor operators are another
option. These dampers are to be controlled by differential pressure controls located in
the stairtower. This method provides more Positive control over the stairtower pressures
than barometric dampers. It requires more control than the barometric dampers and
hence is more complicated and costly.

(iii) An alternate method of venting a stairtower is through an automatically opening

stairtower door to the outside at ground level. Under normal conditions this door would
be closed and, in most cases, locked for security reasons. Provisions need to be made
so that this lock does not conflict with the automatic operation of the system.

Possible adverse wind effects are also a concern with a system that uses an open
outside door as a vent. Occasionally, high local wind velocities develop near the exterior
stairtower door. Such local winds are difficult to estimate in the vicinity of new buildings
without expensive modeling. Adjacent objects can act as windbreaks (or windshields).

(iv) An exhaust fan may be used to prevent excessive pressure when all stairtower
doors are closed. The fan should be controlled by a differential pressure sensor so that
it will not operate when the pressure difference between the stairtower and the building
falls below a specified level. This should prevent the fan from pulling smoke into the
stairtower when a number of open doors have reduced stairtower pressurization.

906.3 Air Supply Source Location

906.3.1 The supply air intake shall be separated from all building exhausts, outlets from
smoke shafts and roof smoke and heat vents, open vents from elevator shafts and other
building openings that might expel smoke from the building in a fire. This separation
shall be as great as is practically possible. Rising hot smoke shall be given
consideration when locating supply air intakes below such critical openings.

906.3.2 When any stairtower pressurization system, has a potential for smoke feedback
into the pressurized stairtower or smoke entering the stairtower through the
pressurization fan intake an automatic shutdown of the pressurization fan shall be
provided. [NFPA 92A Section 2-3. 3. 2]

907.0 Supply Air Fans

907.1 Propeller Fans. Propeller fans shall be used with windshields and shall be used
for stairtower pressurization in buildings less than seven (7) stories or 80 feet high ( 25
meters). propeller fans shall not used in ducted systems.

907. 2 0ther Types of Fans. Centrifugal or in-line axial fans shall be used in ducted
single or multiple injection stairtower pressurization system.

908.0 Single and Multiple Injection System

908.1 Single Injection System. Single injection system shall be used in buildings not
more than seven (7) stories or 80 feet (25 meters) high above ground level. [NFPA 92A
Section 2-3. 5. 1]

908.2 Multiple Injection System. Multiple injection system shall be provided in

buildings more than seven (7) stories high above ground level. For ducted systems the
injection points shall be not more than every three (3) stories.

909.0 Fire Floor Exhaust

909.1 A fire floor exhaust shall be provided in in each floor of the building to improve
performance of the stairtower pressurization by increasing the pressure difference
across the stairtower door. The floor exhaust shall discharge the smoke outside the
building either through a fan powered or non-fan powered method. [NFPA 92A Section
2-3. 7]

910. 0 Elevator Smoke Control

910.1 General. Due to having elevator doors that are not tightly fitted the elevator
hoistway have been a conduit for the movement of smoke throughout the buildings. The
building stack effect has provided the driving force to easily move the smoke in and out
of the loosely constructed elevator hoistway. The open vent at the top of the elevator
hoistway produces undesirable effect on elevator smoke-control systems.

910.2 To address the concern of smoke migrating in to the elevator lobby two (2)
methods are either proposed to protect the building occupants from smoke, provided
the elevator lobbies are constructed smoketight

(a) Provide Fire Floor Exhaust. Section 909.0 and 909.1

(b) Pressurize the elevator lobby through the stairtower pressurization system..

911.0 Zone Smoke Control

911.1 General. This section will be left without any statement for requirements due to its
complicated control system and has been decided to issue statements in the future
editions of this Code.

912.0 Controls for Stair pressurization Systems.

912.1 Automatic Activation. Any operation of any zone of the building protective
signaling system shall cause the activation of all pressurization fans to start. A smoke
detector shall be provided in the air supply of the pressurization fan and upon detection
of smoke shall stop the supply fans. [ NFPA 92A Section 3-4, 4]

912.2 Manual Activation. A manual over-ride switch shall be provided at the Fire
Fighter Smoke Control Station (FFSCS) to re-start the stairtower Pressurization fan
after shut-down from the smoke detector when it was determined that lesser hazard
exist from the smoke entering the fan than the smoke entering through the stairtower
doors.

913.0 Testing

913.1 Stairtower Pressurization Systems

913.1.1 With all building HVAC systems normal operation, measure and record the
Pressure difference across each stairtower door while the door is closed. After
recording the Pressure difference across the door, using spring-type scale. Establish a
consistent procedure for recording data throughout the entire test, such that the
stairtower side of the doors will always be considered as the reference Point [0 lb/sq in,
(0 kg/m 2) ] and the floor side of the doors will always have the pressure difference
value (positive if higher than the stairtower and negative when less than the stairtower).
Since the stairtower pressurization system is intended to produce a positive pressure
within the stairtower, all negative pressure values recorded on th floor side of the doors
are indicative of a potential airflow into the floor.

913.1.2 Verify the proper activation of the stairtower pressurization system (s) in
response to all means of activation, both automatic and manual, as specified in the
contract documents. Where automatic activation is required in response to alarm
signals received from the building's protective signaling system, each separate alarm
signal should be initiated to ensure that proper automatic activation occurs.

913.1.3 With the stairtower pressurization system activated, measure and record the
pressure difference across each stairtower door with all doors closed.

913.1.4 With the stairtower pressurization system activated, us a spring scale to

measure and then record the force needed to open one selected door. With the initial
door held in the open Position, measure and record the pressure difference across each
remaining closed stairtower door. After recording the pressure difference across each
closed door, measure the force necessary to open each door, using a spring-type scale.

913.1.5 With the stairtower pressurization system activated, open the required
additional doors, one at a time, and measure and record the pressure difference across
each remaining closed stairtower door after the opening of each additional door After
recording the pressure difference across each closed door measure the force necessary
to open each door, using a spring-type scale.

913.1.6 With the stairtower system activated, and all required doors open as covered
by 4-3. 4. 5, determine and record the direction of airflow though each of the open
doors. This can be done by a small amount of smoke at the open doorway or by
temporarily securing a 6-ft (1. 8-m) strip of tissue to the top of the door frame. If velocity
measurements are required, a door opening traverse needs to be performed with the
door fully open.
 B. FIRESTOP PROTECTION

914.0 General Requirements.

914.1 Applicability. All piping penetrations of required fire resistance rated walls,
partitions, floors, floor/ceiling assemblies, roof/ceiling assemblies, or shaft enclosures
shall be protected in accordance with the requirements of the Building Code, and this
chapter.

915.0 Plans and Specifications.

915.1 Plans and specifications shall indicate with sufficient detail how penetrations of
fire resistance rated assemblies shall be fire stopped prior to obtaining design approval.

916.0 Installation.

916.1 Firestop materials shall be installed in accordance with this chapter, the Building
Code, and the manufacturer's instructions.

917.0 Definitions.

917.1 Penetration Firestop System. A specific assemblage of field assembled materials,

or a factory made device, which has been tested to a standard test method and, when
installed properly on penetrating piping materials, is capable of maintaining the fire
resistance rating of assemblies penetrated.

917.2 F Rating. The time period that the penetration firestop system limits the spread of
fire through the penetration, when tested in accordance with ASTM E 814.

917.3 T Rating. The time period that the penetration firestop system, including the
penetrating item, limits the maximum temperature rise of 325 °F above its initial
temperature through the penetration on the non-fire side when tested in accordance
with ASTM E 814.

918.0 Combustible Piping Installations.

918.1 Combustible piping installations shall be protected in accordance with the

appropriate fire resistance rating requirements in the Building Code that list the
acceptable area, height, and type of construction for use in specific occupancies to
assure compliance and integrity of the fire resistance rating prescribed.

918.2 When penetrating a fire resistance rated wall, partition, floor, floor ceiling
assembly, roof ceiling assembly, or shaft enclosure, the fire resistance rating of the
assembly shall be restored to its original rating.
918.3 Penetrations shall be protected by an approved penetration firestop system
installed as tested in accordance with ASTM E 119 or ASTM E 814, with a minimum
positive pressure differential of 0.01 inch of water. Systems shall have an F rating of at
least 1 hour but not less than the required fire resistance rating of the assembly being
penetrated Systems protecting noor penetrations shall have a T rating of at least 1 hour
but not less than the required fire resistance rating of the floor being penetrated. Floor
penetrations contained within the cavity of a wall at the location of the floor penetration
do not require a T rating. No T rating shall be required for floor penetrations by piping
that is not in direct contact with combustible material.

918.4 When piping penetrates a rated assembly, combustible piping shall not connect to
non-combustible piping unless it can be demonstrated that the transition complies with
the requirements of Section 905. 3.

918.5 Insulation and Coverings. Insulation and coverings on or in the penetrating item
shall not be permitted unless the specific insulating or covering material has been tested
as part of the penetrating firestop system.

918.6 Sleeves. Where sleeves are used, the sleeves should be securely fastened to the
fire resistance rated assembly. The (inside) annular space between the sleeve and the
penetrating item and the (outside) annular space between the sleeve and the fire
resistance rated assembly shall be firestopped in accordance with the requirements for
a sleeve penetrating item.

919.0 Noncombustible Piping Installations.

919.1 Noncombustible piping installations shall be protected in accordance with the

appropriate fire resistance rating requirements in the Building Code that list the
acceptable area, height, and type of construction for use in specific occupancies to
ensure compliance and integrity of the fire resistance rating prescribed.

919.2 When penetrating a lire resistance rated wall, partition, floor, floor ceiling
assembly, roof ceiling assembly, or shaft enclosure, the fire resistance rating of the
assembly shall be restored to its original rating.

Exceptions

(1) Concrete, mortar, or grout may be used to fill the annular spaces around cast-iron,
copper, or steel piping that penetrates concrete or masonry fire-resistant rated
assemblies. The nominal diameter of the penetrating item should not exceed 6 inches
(15. 2 cm), and the opening size should not exceed 144 inches-(929 cm ). The
thickness of concrete, mortar, or grout should be the full thickness of the assembly or
the thickness necessary to provide a fire resistance rating not less than the required fire
resistance rating of the assembly penetrated, or

(2) The material used to fill the annular space shall prevent the passage of flame and
hot gases sufficient to ignite cotton waste for the time period equivalent to the fire
resistance rating of the assembly, when tested to standard (s) referenced in Section
1506. 3.

919.3 Penetrations shall be protected by an approved penetration firestop system

installed as tested in accordance with ASTM E 119 or ASTM E 814, with a minimum
positive pressure differential of 0.01 inch of water. Systems shall have an F rating of at
least 1 hour but not less than the required fire resistance rating of the assembly being
penetrated. Systems protecting floor penetrations shall have a T rating of at least 1 hour
but not less than the required fire resistance rating of the floor being penetrated. Floor
penetrations contained within the cavity of a wall at the location of the floor penetration
do not require a T rating. No T rating shall be required for floor penetrations by piping
that is not in direct contact with combustible material.

919.4 When piping penetrates a rated assembly, combustible piping shall not connect to
non-combustible piping unless it can be demonstrated that the transition complies with
the requirements of Section 1506. 3.

919.5 Unshielded couplings shall not be used to connect noncombustible piping unless
it can be demonstrated that the fire resistive integrity of the penetration is maintained.

919.6 Sleeves. Where sleeves are used, the sleeves should be securely fastened to the
fire resistance rated assembly. The (inside) annular space between the sleeve and the
penetrating item and the (outside) annular space between the sleeve and the fire
resistance rated assembly shall be firestopped in accordance with the requirements for
a sleeve penetrating item.

919.7 Insulation and Coverings. Insulation and coverings on or in the penetrating item
shall not be permitted unless the specific insulating or covering material has been tested
as part of the penetrating firestop system.

920.0 Required Inspection.

920.1 General. Prior to being concealed, piping penetrations shall be inspected by the
Authority having Jurisdiction to verify compliance with the fire resistance rating
prescribed in the Building Code.

920.2 The Authority Having Jurisdiction shall conduct a thorough examination of

sufficient representative installations, including destructive inspection, to provide
verification of satisfactory compliance with this chapter, the appropriate manufacturers'
installation standards applied by the installer, construction documents, specifications,
and applicable manufacturers'product information

920.3 The Authority Having Jurisdiction shall determine the type, size, and quantity of
penetrations to be inspected.

920.4 The Authority Having Jurisdiction shall compare the field installations with the
documentation supplied by the installer to determine the following

(1) The required F ratings (1, 2, 3, or 4 hour) and T ratings (0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 hour) of the
firestop penetration firestop systems are suitable for the assembly being penetrated.

(2) The penetrating firestop systems are appropriate for the penetrating items, as
documented through testing of the systems conducted by an independent testing
agency.

(3) The penetrating firestop system is installed as tested.