STAIR CASE PRESSURIZATION SYSTEM INTRODUCTION

In a fire, stairwells are pressurized to inhibit the flow of smoke into means of egress, exit passageways, areas of refuge, or other similar areas of the building. System consists with fans, ducting system, diffusers, pressure relief dampers etc. If a fire is detected by the fire detection system, it gives a signal to staircase pressurization system and it activates at the early stage of the fire. Fans provide required air volume to the stairwell through duct and diffusers. The pressure buildup in the stairwell as doors close is relieved directly from the stairwell to the outside through the pressure relief dampers at a certain pressure level, which is required to be maintained. REFERENCES 1. BS 5588 : 1998 Fire precautions in the design, Figure 1: Staircase Pressurization System construction and use of buildings. Part 4 : Code of practice for smoke control using pressure differentials 2. ICTAD
OPERATION

Abstract

Stair pressurization systems are the most commonly utilized means for protecting exit stairwells in high-rise buildingsfrom smoke in the event of fire. Stair pressurization systems are difficult to design for tall buildings due to the impact

of stack effect on maintaining uniform pressures over the buildings height, and creation of excessive door

overpressures that may impact exiting is a concern. The effectiveness of a stair pressurization system is also dependenton maintaining the doors predominately closed to maintain the required pressure differential to keep smoke fromentering the stair, a situation that may not be possible during the event of a full building evacuation or wherecatastrophic damage has occurred to the stair.This paper evaluates an alternate means for protecting high-rise stairwell enclosures using a high throughput dilutionventing system. An analysis was performed using the Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) model that showed that a dilutionventing system can be an effective method for protecting the stairwell enclosure. The optimal rate for ventilating thestair requires further evaluation, and would require optimization of the airflow rate based on postulated fire scenariosfor the building and the desired performance with respect to tenability conditions within the stair