Smoke Control Code
Requirements and Applications
Ben Lombardo, LEED AP
H.R. Kirkland
What is a Smoke Control System?
2018 International Building Code, Section 909.1 defines a smoke control system as:
● A system designed to provide a tenable ● It is not intended for the preservation of
environment for the evacuation or relocation contents, the timely restoration of
of occupants. operations or for assistance in fire
● 909.16.1 - Fans within the building shall be suppression or overhaul activities.
shown on the FS C S panel. A clear
indication of the direction of airflow and the
relationship of components shall be
graphically displayed
Codes and Standards
Governing Smoke Control Systems
● 2018 IBC Section 909 Smoke Control Systems ● Underwriters laboratories, UUKL, Fire
● NFPA-92, Standard on Smoke Control Systems Fighters’ Smoke Control Station- Includes
● NFPA-92A, Standard for Smoke-Control Systems - requirements of ANSI/UL 864 Control Units
Utilizing Barriers and Pressure Differences. for Fire-Protective Signaling Systems.
Smoke Control System Required
Covered mall buildings with an atrium connecting 3 or more stories (IBC, Section 402.7.2)
Smoke Control System Required
High -rise buildings 75 feet and higher (IBC, Section 403.4.7)
Smoke Control System Required
Atriums (IBC, Section 404.5)
Smoke Control System Required
Underground buildings having a floor level more than 30 feet below ground (IBC, Section 405.5)
Smoke Control System Required
Group I -3 buildings - Detention Facilities (IBC, Section 408.9)
Smoke Control System Required
Stages larger than 1,000 square feet or greater than 50 feet high (IBC, Section 410.2.7.2)
Smoke Control System Required
Special amusement buildings with an occupant load of 50 or more (IBC, Section 411.1)
Smoke Control System Design
Rational Analysis (IBC, Section 909.4.1 through 909.4.7)
● Smoke control system design starts with ● Design considerations include:
the rational analysis - Stack effect
● Types of systems to be employed - Temperature effect of fire
● Methods of Operation - Wind effect
● Supporting Systems - HVAC systems
● Method of Construction - Climate
● Prepared by a Fire Protection Engineer - Duration of operation
- Smoke control system interaction
Smoke Control System Design
Dedicated or Non -Dedicated Smoke Control
Dedicated System Non -Dedicated System
A smoke control system designed for thesole A smoke control system that shares components
purpose of controlling smoke within a building
. with other air moving equipment. When the smoke
control mode is activated, the operating of the
● In this case, equipment is not linked to building's air moving equipment changes to
building HVAC controls. accomplish the objectives of the smoke control
● This is accomplished by forming a system design.
of air movement that is separate and
distinct from the building's HVAC system
and only operates to control smoke.
Smoke Control System Design
Dedicated
● Fans and dampers used
exclusively for smoke
control
● Equipment is only activated
automatically when there is
a fire or manually from
firefighter smoke control
panel.
● Automatic weekly test
required to assure
equipment is operable.
Smoke Control System Design
Non -Dedicated
● Fans, air handling units,
and dampers used on a
daily basis for
temperature control of
building.
● A failure of this
equipment will likely be
reported.
● No Automatic Weekly
Test Required.
14
Methods of Operation – Passive
IBC, Section 909.5 - Walls and Floors Constructed as Smoke Barrier
Openings required to be protected with automatic closing devices, such as fire dampers and doors:
Fire Doors Smoke and Fire Dampers
Methods of Operation – Mechanical
Smoke Control Definitions
● Pressurization (IBC, Section 909.6)
○ Stairwell and Shaft Pressurization
● Airflow (IBC, Section 909.7)
○ Zoned Smoke Control Systems
● Exhaust (IBC, Section 909.8)
○ Smoke Purge / Exhaust / Evacuation
Methods of Operation – Mechanical
IBC, Section 909.6 - Pressurization IBC
● Primary mechanical means of controlling
smoke across smoke barriers.
● Minimum pressure difference across smoke
barriers = 0.05 inch water gage
● Maximum fire door opening force = 30 pounds
to start, 15 pounds to open
● Has to meet NFPA 92 requirements
Smoke Control System Design
Shaft or Floor Protection
Shaft Protection Floor Protection
● Provides for smoke movement in stair ● Floor protection systems limit the flow of
towers and elevator hoist ways in either a smoke through shafts and cracks in floors
dedicated or non-dedicated system or partitions in either a dedicated or non
-
environment. dedicated system environment.
● Most common is dedicated fans and ● Can be an entire floor ormultiple zones on
dampers each floor
● Common in high-rise applications (ex.Stair
Pressurization– SPF-xx)
Smoke Control System Definitions
Pressurization
Stairwell Pressurization
Pressurization is employed by creating pressure differences across partitions
that separate the smoke zone from other areas. This can be accomplished by
making pressure in the area surrounding the smoke zone higher than pressure
in the smoke zone itself (refer to Figure 1.2.1.1).
Airflow through construction and door
cracks prevents the movement of smoke
to the high-pressure side. The pressure
difference must be enough to contain the
smoke in the smoke zone and at the
same time allow doors leading to exit
routes to be opened.
Fan Pressurizes Stairwell to prevent
smoke from entering the space. >>
Smoke Control System Definitions
Examples of Shaft Protection
20
Methods of Operation – Mechanical
IBC, Section 909.7 - Airflow Method
Zoned Smoke Control Systems
● Buildings can usually be divided into several smoke
control zones where each zone can be separated from
the smoke zone to prevent the movement of smoke.
● The smoke control zone boundaries are usually partitions,
floors, and doors that can be closed.
Often each floor of a building is chosen as a smoke
control zone boundary.
● However, a smoke control zone can consist of more than
one floor, or a floor can contain more than one zone.
Also, all non-smoke zones can be pressurized,
or just those surrounding the smoke zone.
Smoke Control System Definitions
Zoned Smoke Control Systems
● Smoke is exhausted from the fire floor.
● The floor above and below the fire floor
are pressurized to prevent migration of
smoke to those areas.
Smoke Control System Definitions
Examples
Smoke Control System Definitions
Examples
Methods of Operation – Mechanical
IBC, Section 909.8 - Exhaust Method
● Used to exhaust smoke from large enclosed
volumes, such as atriums or malls
● Smoke level must be at least 6 feet above a
walking surface used for egress
● Must be approved by the fire code official
● Has to meet NFPA 92 requirements
Detection and Control Systems
IBC, Section 909.12
Fire detection systems providing control input or output signals to mechanical smoke control systems shall:
● Comply with IBC Section 907 ● Includes:
● Be ANSI/UL 864 listed ○ Types of systems to be employed
● Be listed as smoke control equipment - Passive (Isolates the smoke zone)
(UUKL) - Mechanical (Moves air around)
○ Methods of operation
○ Supporting systems
○ Methods of construction
Smoke Control System Verification
IBC, Section 909.12.1 - Verification
● Applies to mechanicalsmoke control systems
● Requires positive confirmation of:
○ Actuation
○ Testing
○ Manual override
○ Presence of power downstream of all
disconnects
Smoke Control System Verification
IBC, Section 909.12.1 - Weekly Self Test
● A preprogrammed weekly test sequence of
all devices, equipment and components
used for smoke control is required.
● Must indicate abnormal conditions audibly,
visually and by printed report.
● Not required when verification of individual
components will interfere with normal
building operations
Smoke Control System Verification
Smoke control fans and dampers are equipped with status switches
●Validation/ positive feedback for fans required in 60 seconds.
●Validation/positive feedback for dampers required in 75 seconds
●Status switches monitored by contact input module
Damper Status - Limit/Position Switch Fan S tatus - Differential Pressure S witch
Managed Equipment Control
Damper
Smoke Control System Design - Managed
Firefighter’s Smoke Control Panel
FSCP or FSCS
● Required by IBC, Section 909.16
● Fire department emergency use only
● Must have manual control or override of
automatic control for mechanical smoke
control systems.
● Located in the fire command center or
approved location next to the fire alarm
control panel.
● Requirements vary widely between
jurisdictions
FSCS - Control Functions
The FSCS must provide control over each individual piece of equipment that can also be controlled
from other sources within the building:
Basic System Layout
Smoke Control Panel UUKL
UUKL Listing
● Must be a UUKL Listed FSCS
● Locations to install the FSCS
○ Fire Command Center (FCC)
○ AHJ Approved location
(Lobby)
○ Next to the FACP
Smoke Control Panel UUKL
UUKL Listing ID Card
Firefighter’s Smoke Control Station
Includes:
● Graphic representation of the Smoke Control System, direction
of airflow and relationship of components in Riser format.
● Provide LED status indicators for all managed smoke control
equipment (fans, dampers, and other equipment)
- White: Normal status
- Red: Off/Closed
- Green: On/Open
- Amber: Fault status
● 3 position switches for manual control of fans/dampers
● Manual control enable key switch (when applicable)
● Lamp Test
● Power On LED
Firefighter’s Smoke Control Station
Includes:
● LEDs indicate the status of the fan or damper ● 3 position switches provide manual control of
- White: Normal status : fan or damper in Auto fans/dampers
position and ready for automatic activation. - Auto – S witch in Auto position fire alarm controls fan or
- Red: Off/Closed: Fan is turned Off or Damper is damper activation
set to Close. - On / Open – Manually turns fan On or Opens damper.
- Green: On/Open: Fan is On or Damper is Open. - Off / C losed – Manually turns fan Off or C loses damper
Green LED lights only when positive feedback of
● The ON/Open and OFF/C losed position of each switch is
activation is received. monitored with contact input modules. When switch is
- Amber: Fault status: No positive feedback not ON or OFF panel assumes it is in the Auto position.
turned On or damper Opened.
● LEDs are controlled with the LED driver module
Firefighter’s Smoke Control Station
Control Functions
The FSCS must provide control over each individual piece of equipment that can also be controlled
from other sources within the building:
● On-Auto-Off ● On-Off or Open-Close
- Stairway pressurization fans - Other critical equipment that can only
- Smoke exhaust fans be controlled from the FSCS (smoke/fire
- Air handling system supply, return, and dampers, lobby doors, etc.)
exhaust fans
- Elevator shaft fans ● Complex systems can be combined so that
all elements of a smoke zone can be
● Open-Auto-Close controlled and status indicated as a unit
- Dampers directly related to smoke control
- Dampers that are also controlled from
other sources within the building.
Smoke Control Panel
Example
Smoke Control Panel
Control Priorities
Smoke Control Panel
Control Priorities
● SCP Control Actions have priority over all ● Auto position of SCP control switches shall
other control points allow automatic or manual control action
from other control points in the building.
● Control actions shall not require the smoke
control system to assume more than one ● When in the auto position, actual status of
configuration at any one time (IBC Section equipment is displayed (on, off, open,
909.16.3.1) closed) by status indicators (IBC Section
909.16.3.2)z
System Response Time
● Governed by IBC Section 909.17 ● Response times vary.
− Required to be set to allow for full
● Smoke control system activation initiated operational mode to be achieved before
immediately after receipt of automatic or conditions in the space exceed the design
manual command smoke condition
− R esponse times shall be detailed in the
● Equipment to be activated in sequence to rational analysis
prevent damage to components
Acceptance Testing
● Requirements listed in IBC, Section 909.18 ● Must be performed by a special inspector
(IBC, Sections 909.3 and 1705.18) and the
● Shall include verification of the correct authority having jurisdiction
operation of all components of the smoke - Special inspections must be performed by
control system, including: an independent agency
- Smoke detectors - Specific requirements vary by jurisdiction
- Airflow in Ducts
- Dampers
- Fans
- Smoke barriers
- Controls
Maintenance
● Components must be maintained in ● Annually
accordance with manufacturer’s instructions - Non-dedicated smoke control systems (air
handling units, economizer dampers, etc.)
● Written schedule is required and records must - Smoke control systems must be tested
be kept under standby power conditions
● Semiannual Testing is required for:
- Dedicated smoke control systems (stairway
pressurization, atrium exhaust, etc.)
- Systems or components bypassed by a
preprogrammed weekly test
Question
Answer
Falseor
True - AFalse
smoke
- A control
smoke system
control system
is designed
is to
provide
designed a and
tenable
intended
environment
for the preservation
for the
evacuation
of contents or
and
relocation
a building?
of occupants.
Question
Answer
Mechanical
Who is responsible
Engineer
forand
designing
the FSCS
Fire Protection
display?
Engineer
Question
Answer
30smoke
A feet control system will be required when
the construction is ___ feet or more below
grade
Question
Answer
True -orAFalse
smoke- Can
control
you zone
have can
multiple
consist
smoke
of
more
zonesthan
on aone
floor?
floor, or a floor can contain
more than one zone
Question
Answer
Smoke control
A. Rational system design starts with the:
Analysis
A. Rational Analysis
B. Fire Alarm Riser
C. Mechanical Riser
Question
Answer
True
Falseor
–A False
dedicated
- A dedicated
smoke smoke
control control
system
system
designedshares
for thecomponents
sole purposewith
of controlling
other air
moving
smoke within
equipment.
a building with dedicated air
moving equipment
Question
Answer
D.
A Mechanical
All of the above
Method of Operation includes which
of the following?
A. Pressurization- Stairwell and Shaft
B. Fire Alarm Riser- Zoned Smoke Control Systems
C. Exhaust - Smoke Purge / Exhaust / Evacuation
D. All of the above
Question
Answer
B.
TheUUKL
Firefighters Smoke Control Station (FSCS)
must meet which listing requirement?
A. UOXX
B. UUKL
C.All of the above
Question
Answer
Which
B. Firefighter’s
control panel
SmokehasControl
the highest
Station
level
(FSCS)
of
priority in a smoke control design:
A. Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP)
B. Firefighter’s Smoke Control Station (FSCS)
C.Building Automation System (BAS)
Question
Find the
discrepancy >
Additional Questions?
Feel free to email ben@hrkirkland.com
Thank you for joining today.
Ben Lombardo, LEED AP
H.R. Kirkland
ben@hrkirkland.com
303-598-0885
