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A Comparative Analysis of The Provisions of Smoke Control Systems in Buildings of National
A Comparative Analysis of The Provisions of Smoke Control Systems in Buildings of National
A Comparative Analysis of The Provisions of Smoke Control Systems in Buildings of National
ISSN 2229-5518
Abstract— The paper aims to study the requirements for Smoke movement and Control in buildings provided in National Building Code of
India (NBC) 2005 and compare the provisions for the same with that in the International Building Code (IBC) 2006 andNational Fire
Protection AssociationNFPA 92A- Recommended Practice for Smoke Control Systems, 2000 Edition. It aims to study these documents in
terms of their purpose, content and scope for Smoke Control in Buildings. It is an attempt to analyse and compare the approach to smoke
control issues of each code.
Index Terms— Air changes, Evacuation, Fire prevention, Fire protection, Pressurization, Smoke control, Smoke movement, Smoke
Venting, Toxic gases.
—————————— ——————————
1 INTRODUCTION
Various past fire incidences in buildings and the number of The statistics in the below mentioned table 1 demonstrate that
fatalities due to it, has made fire prevention and protection deaths (in UK) from furniture ignited in dwellings have more
one of the basic concerns for planning, design, construction than doubled and that the majority of cases were caused by
and operation of buildings. Among all the building related fire smoke and toxic gases.
deaths nearly three fourths are from inhalation of smoke and
toxic gases produced in fires rather than from exposure to Table 1: Causes of Deaths in Furniture Fires in Dwellings
flame or heat. The great amounts of toxic products present in and in other Fires Classified by Survey Year (UK)
smoke are hazardous out of which Carbon mono-oxide (CO) is
a major cause of deaths. It is therefore, desirable that all large Type of fire 1962 1967 1970 1972
and tall buildings of huge assemblage especially the escape and causes of
routes are designed for Smoke control. This is more important deaths
for people awaiting evacuation to sustain their lives, especially All fire 667 779 839 1078
in high rise buildings. deaths 480 322 358 459
Burns 150 382 425 502
Smoke control is necessary for: Smoke or tox- 37 75 56 117
• the safety of persons by keeping the escape routes ic fumes
smoke free for evacuation. Other
• protection of persons and property by improving the Deaths in
conditions for fire fighting. furniture 156 212 270 289
• achieving direct cost savings by allowing larger fires in 90 59 47 79
standard fire compartments and/or reduced fire performance dwellings 56 140 213 189
requirements for load bearing structures. Burns 10 13 10 21
Smoke or tox-
ic fumes
The primary objective of smoke control is thus to reduce
Other
the hazard due to smoke by controlling its movement, and by
reduction of its concentration to increase visibility. Other 511 567 569 789
deaths 390 263 311 380
Burns 94 242 212 313
———————————————— Smoke or 27 62 46 96
Pratima Dhoke is Associate Professor at Smt. Manoramabai Mundle Col- toxic fumes
lege of Architecture, currently pursuing Doctoral degree from Nagpur Other
University, India. E-mail: pratdhoke@yahoo.co.in Source: Fire Safety in Buildings, Jain V.K, New Age International
Dr. Ravi Bhargava, Dean Architecture School of Architecture, Histuntan
Institute of Technology& Science, Chennai. ltd. Publishers, second edition, 2010. (7)
Dr. Shorab Jain, Senior Scientist, Central Building Research Institute,
India, E-mail:shorab122@gmail.com
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International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research Volume 4, Issue 2, February-2013 2
ISSN 2229-5518
the shutdown of
It is therefore important to consider measures which will smoke control sys-
help to minimize the smoke hazard by containing it to a space, tems and the use of
regulating its movement and exhausting it to the atmosphere. smoke compartmen-
The Building regulations and statutory control systems are tation.
directed primarily towards limiting the size of a fire, with the
final objective of minimizing hazard to life and property. A NFPA 92B Guide
fire may be confined to a specific area, but smoke can migrate for Smoke Manage-
to various parts of a building and is therefore a potential ment Systems in
threat to occupants far removed from its source as well as to Malls, Atria, and
occupants in the immediate vicinity. Cases have occurred large areas, for
where occupants on floors far removed from the fire floor maintaining tenable
have lost their lives. The byelaws in many countries do not conditions within
define, as a requirement, the design of buildings to ensure that large zones of fire
the smoke does not enter the protected routes for escape in an origin, and NFPA
204, Guide for
emergency.
Smoke and Heat
In India also the situation is not very different. The recent Venting.
example being the fire at AMRI Hospital at Calcutta on 11th a. Chapter 2 Smoke control sys-
Dec 2011, in which the death toll was 89. While many patients Smoke Discusses various tems shall have
died of burns, several others died due to suffocation caused by Con- types of smoke systems designed in
Carbon monoxide accumulation all over the building. The trol control systems and accordance with the
tragedy unfolded over many hours as patients were suffocated Sys- reviews advantages 909 section and the
to death, some trapped in their beds, others dying in their tems Nil and disadvantages of generally accepted
sleep, too infirm to escape the smoke. The worst affected were and each type. and well-established
the ICU patients who died due to asphyxiation. ap- principles of engi-
plica- neering relevant to
Looking at the importance of Smoke control in buildings it
bility the design.
becomes very necessary to review the provisions made in the
National Building Code of India and the provisions inother
countries, like International Building Code (IBC) 2006 and the
National Fire Protection Association NFPA 92A– 2000.A b.Prin Section 1.5 Section 909.4
comparative study of the provisions made in the National ciples The principle factors Factors such as
Building Code of India 2005, International Building Code of that cause smoke to Stack effect, Tem-
(IBC) 2006 and the National Fire Protection Association NFPA Smoke spread to areas perature effect of
92A– 2000 (Recommended Practice for Smoke Control Con- outside a compart- fire, Wind effect,
Systems) with respect to smoke control systems is carried out trol ment like Stack HVAC systems,
and tabulated in table 2. Nil effect, Temperature Climate are covered
TOP- NATIONAL NFPA92A 2000 INTERNATION- effect on fire, under this section.
IC BUILDING AL BUILDING Weather conditions,
CODE OF CODE-2006. particularly wind
INDIA-2005 and temperature and
SMO No separate This recommended Section 909applies Mechanical air-
KE related sec- practice applies to to mechanical or handling systems are
CON- tion is pro- the design, installa- passive smoke con- covered.
TROL vided. tion, testing, opera- trol systems to es- c. The principle of Section 909.7
SYS- tion and mainte- tablish minimum Air- airflow at sufficient Airflow shall be
TEMS Few consid- nance of new and requirements for the flow velocity is common- directed to limit
erations on retrofitted mechani- design, installation ly used to control smoke migration
smoke vent- cal air handling and acceptance smoke movement from the fire zone is
ing are laid systems also used as testing for smoke through openings. covered under this
down in smoke control sys- control systems Nil The Design infor- section.
Section 3.4 tems. intended to provide mation for design The geometry of the
under General NFPA 90 A, Stand- tenable environment velocity through an openings shall be
requirements ard for the installa- for evacuation and open door sufficient considered to pre-
of all Individ- tion of Air- relocation of occu- to limit smoke back- vent flow reversal
ual Occupan- Conditioning and pants. flow during building from turbulence
cies. Ventilating Systems, evacuation is pro- effects.
for requirements for vided. (Design in-
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International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research Volume 4, Issue 2, February-2013 3
ISSN 2229-5518
IJSER © 2013
http://www.ijser.org
International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research Volume 4, Issue 2, February-2013 4
ISSN 2229-5518
IJSER © 2013
http://www.ijser.org
International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research Volume 4, Issue 2, February-2013 6
ISSN 2229-5518
IJSER © 2013
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