Uniclass L7535: N3253 EPIC L13:Y42 CI/SfB (57) X (K5) Residential Smoke Ventilation
Residential Smoke Ventilation SE Controls provides specialised products and services for natural smoke ventilation in residential buildings, to help create a safer living environment. SE Controls systems are designed to activate upon detection of smoke and assist in the dispersal and removal of harmful gases from escape corridors and escape stairs. The systems use the natural buoyancy of the hot gases to rise and exhaust to atmosphere through automatic opening vents. Using a combination of actuators, control panels, detectors and manual control points, SE Controls can create a standalone or integrated system that will satisfy the requirements of Building Control and meet the exact requirements of the client. Capable of delivering a total turnkey solution from design, manufacture, installation, commissioning and on-going service, SE Controls systems are suitable for virtually any size and type of residential building. SE Controls has provided natural smoke ventilation solutions to a wide range of residential buildings. In every case, the company has worked with the developers and their design team to create an individual specification for each project. SE Controls Creating a Healthier & Safer Environment Battersea Reach DEVELOPER: ST. GEORGE St. George Wharf DEVELOPER: ST. GEORGE West End Quay DEVELOPER: WATES The Green Building DEVELOPER: TAYLOR WOODROW The Edge DEVELOPER: COUNTRYSIDE PROPERTIES Port Marine, Portishead DEVELOPER: CREST NICHOLSON
What happens if there is no means of smoke ventilation? 1 3 2 4 Smoke ventilation allows the creation of a smoke free layer above the floor by removing smoke. This improves the conditions for safe escape and permits the fire to be fought in its early stages. 1 In an unventilated room, smoke will rise directly to the ceiling. 2 The smoke will begin to fill the space available, moving laterally instead of vertically. 3 Convection of the smoke will cause it to be drawn back down to low level reducing visibility and the chances of a safe escape. 4 Temperatures will continue to rise causing the potential flash over and collapse of the building. What happens if there is a smoke ventilation system? 1 2 1 In the event of a fire, actuators open high level smoke vents and low level fresh air inlet vents. 2 This allows cool air into the building, forcing the hot air and smoke out via the roof, providing a smoke free layer for safe escape. 3 The smoke free layer allows safe access for the fire to be fought and extinguished. 3 Benefits of Smoke Ventilation n Safety of life n Improved means of escape n Building protection n Required by law
Residential Smoke Ventilation System Components M Residential Smoke Ventilation There are a number of different smoke and heat exhaust ventilation systems (SHEVs) available, including natural ventilation and powered smoke ventilation. Natural smoke ventilation offers the greatest flexibility, as well as offering a method of ventilating the building for comfort and cooling. It provides a reliable, cost effective and fast method of detecting smoke and expelling it from a building, creating a vital smoke free layer above the floor and increasing escape times. This method of ventilation involves a combination of automatic opening vents (AOV), which could be sloping vents, rooflights, internal smoke doors or louvres. These are linked to control systems, which can be standalone, centralised or networked, and in turn are linked to smoke detectors and manual control switches. Systems can also be linked to the BMS (Building Management System) for further monitoring. The layout of the residential building, as well as clients requirements, will determine the exact design of the natural smoke ventilation solution although the principles will remain the same.
Rooflight smoke and heat exhaust ventilator (AOV) Glazed smoke and heat exhaust ventilator (AOV) Ionisation smoke detector (SD) Stairwell controller (SWC) Manual Control Point Internal door smoke and heat exhaust ventilator (AOD) Manual Control Point A conventional natural smoke ventilation system would include AOVs located at the end of a communal corridor or internal AODs opening into an internal smoke shaft. Automatic opening rooflights would be located at the top of the smoke shafts and the highest point of the escape stairwell. Smoke detectors would be located on each floor together with local manual control points for testing and reset. In the event of a fire, the smoke detectors on the relevant floor will communicate with the control system which would open the AOVs or AODs on the floor along with the roof mounted vent. This will create a natural air flow with the buoyancy of the hot air rising, dispersing the smoke through the roof mounted vent. The AOV at the top of the communal escape stairs may open automatically upon receipt of the fire signal, or may need to be opened via the operation of the Manual Control Point upon arrival of the fire service. Any smoke that has entered the escape stairs will be quickly dispersed providing a safe means of escape and clear access for fire service personnel.
Residential Smoke Ventilation Typical System Configuration Simple System Typically used in a single stand alone stairwell. KEY Central Control Panel Ionisation Smoke Detector Networked Controller Manual Control Point Networked Control Ideal configuration where wiring distances are considerable or there is little free space for a central zoned control panel. Each controller would be capable of sending and receiving signals including heartbeat status monitoring and contain primary and secondary power supplies. Centralised Control Systems can be installed with centralised zoned control to allow primary and secondary power for the system to be located in one control panel. In all situations advice should be taken from SE Controls for the optimum solution including wiring sizes and types.
Regulations & Guidelines The design of natural smoke ventilation systems for residential buildings is influenced by a number of codes of practice, including Approved Document B which sets out the definitive requirements as to whether AOVs are required. The basic requirements of Approved Document B state that if there is a fire in a common corridor where the travel distance between an apartment door and the entrance to the nearest escape stair is greater then 7.5 metres, then an AOV is required. SE Controls systems satisfy Building Control requirements, meeting standards including Approved Document B, BRE Report 79204 and BS5588, product performance standards, BS7346 part 1, BSEN 12101-2 and the forthcoming European EN12101 series. Advice must always be taken when designing a scheme. The Design Process The creation of a natural smoke ventilation system will require communication between several parties involved in the construction process including architects / specifier, consulting engineers, main contractor, façade contractor and the mechanical and electrical contractor. SE Controls has the ability, knowledge and experience to co-ordinate the entire design process and create a natural ventilation system that will meet the exact requirements of the client. In addition to design, installation and commissioning of the system, SE Controls can also provide comprehensive maintenance services to ensure your building has a natural ventilation system that will continue to provide a safe route of escape and safe access for fighting the fire as part of a safer built environment.
SE Controls Lancaster House Wellington Crescent Fradley Park Lichfield Staffordshire WS13 8RZ Tel: +44 (0)1543 443060 Fax: +44 (0)1543 443070 Email: sales@secontrols.com Visit us at: www.secontrols.com Creating a Healthier and Safer Environment