FLÄKT WOODS LIMITED

FANS IN FIRE SAFETY

SMOKE CONTROL
BY
PRESSURISATION

By: J.A. WILD, C.ENG; F.I.MECH.E.

November 1998
(Third Edition)

© Copyright 2000 Fläkt Woods Limted England.

2
 CONTENTS

PAGE NO:

Summary 4

Chapter One Smoke Control By Pressurisation - Basics 5-6

Chapter Two Why Pressurisation? 7-8

Chapter Three The Pressurisation System 9 - 16

Chapter Four Air Requirements of a Pressurisation System 17- 20

Chapter Five Fan Selections 21- 27

Chapter Six Fans for Pressurisation Systems 28 - 29

Appendix One References 30

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The author wishes to acknowledge the assistance he received from Mr Cyril Moss,
KG Smoke Dispersals Ltd and Mr E Gorden Butcher of Fire Check Consultants with
the preparation of this paper.

3
 WOODS AIR MOVEMENT LIMITED

Fans for Pressurisation Systems

By: J.A. WILD, C.ENG; F.I.MECH.E.

SUMMARY

There are basically two main methods for controlling smoke in buildings to
prevent it contaminating escape routes - by Ventilation and by Pressurisation.

Fans for Fire Smoke Venting (Ref 1) examines the motivation behind the
increased use of Powered Ventilators for the exhausting of hot smoke from
fires and determines their requirements and specifications.

This paper undertakes a similar task to determine the requirements and

specification for FANS IN PRESSURISATION SYSTEMS, based on the
requirements of BS5588 Part4:1998.

4
 CHAPTER 1

Smoke Control By Pressurisation - Basics

1.1 BASIC PRINCIPLES a) Door Velocity

Fire induced forces create pressure differ- Thomas’ correlation (Ref 3) estimates that a
ences across doors etc, which allow smoke 2.4 MW fire will cause smoke to flow
to flow through any gaps present. through a 0.9 metre wide opening at 3-4 m/
sec. BS5588 Part 4:1978 requires this for
By altering these pressure differences we permanent openings.
can control the movement of smoke.
In practice a velocity of this magnitude is
The two BASIC PRINCIPLES of smoke virtually impossible to achieve in the type of
control were defined by JH KLOTE (Ref 2) buildings using Pressurisation for Smoke
as:- Control, and some compromise is neces-
sary. Doors are considered as only being
a) Airflow can control smoke movement if
opened intermittently and hence VELOCI-
the average VELOCITY is of sufficient
TIES can be reduced.
magnitude.
b) A PRESSURE difference across a bar- Table 1 shows VELOCITIES between 0.75
rier can act to control smoke movement. m/sec and 2.0 m/sec.

Although the second of these principles can BS5588 Part 4:1978 specified up to 0.75 m/
be taken as a special case of the first, when sec during the Escape period.
dealing with them as an engineering prob- BS5588 Part 5:1991 - 2.0 m/sec for Fire
lem it is easier to take the two separately Fighting.
viz:-
b) Number of Open Doors
Large Gaps- Open Door etc - VELOCITY
Variations in this parameter have the great-
Small Gaps - Closed Door etc - PRESSURE est effect on fan size.
These, then are the BASIC PRINCIPLES Again table 1 shows much variation from
which control the design and ultimately the ONE EFFECTIVE DOOR OPEN specified
satisfactory functioning of a PRESSURISA- by BS5588 Part 4 1978 to FOUR EFFEC-
TION SYSTEM for SMOKE CONTROL. TIVE DOORS OPEN required by the CA-
They formed the basis of the British Stand- NADIAN STANDARD - N.B.C.C. 1990.
ard Codes of Practice - BS5588 Parts
4:1978 and 5:1991, and the same elements However the combination of DOOR VE-
can be seen in many of the various national LOCITY and DOORS OPEN likely to pro-
standards listed in TABLE 1. duce the greatest air supply requirement is
that specified by BS5588 Part 5 1991 - 2.0
1.2 SUPPLY AIR PARAMETERS m/sec with TWO EFFECTIVE DOORS
OPEN.
The two parameters which have the great-
est effect on the size of the supply fan are:- 1.3 RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
a) The AIR VELOCITY through the OPEN BS5588 Part 4 - 1978 was revised and re-
DOORS. issued during April 1998
b) The number of EFFECTIVE OPEN The revised Code Practice designated
DOORS BS5588: Part 4: 1998, retains the

5
0.75m/sec air velocity through the open In addition, BS5588: Part 4: 1998 incorpo-
door(s) onto the fire floor during the escape rates the Pressurisation System require-
ments for Fire Fighting specified in
phase, but now demands that up to three
BS5588: Part 5 1991 and it is still this re-
effective doors be regarded as being quirement - 2.0m/sec with up to THREE EF-
OPEN when calculating the supply air quan- FECTIVE DOORS OPEN which produces
tity required. The number of open doors the greatest air supply demand.
varies with the type and usage of the build-
The discussion and calculations in this re-
ing, but in general, this change from 1978 vised paper are now based on the require-
code will increase the quantity of supply air ments of BS5588: Part 4: 1998.
required.

TABLE 1 - COMPARISON OF VARIOUS CODES OF PRACTICE

Country Code Pressure (Pa) Door Velocity No. Of Effective

Min. Max. Open Doors

U.K. BS5588 50 60 0.75 m/sec ONE (2 Doors on Fire Floor)

Part 4:1978

BS5588 Not 2.00 m/sec THREE (2 Doors on Fire Floor)

Part 5:1991 Relevant (Exit and Lift Door)

Australia AS1668 50 110 1.00 m/sec THREE (2 Doors on 2 Floors)

P.1 (Exit Door)

Singapore CP13 50 110 1.00 m/sec THREE (2 Doors on 2 Floors)

(Exit Door)

Canada N.B.C.C. No Mention 4.72 m3/sec + FOUR (2 Doors on 3 Floors)

1990 0.094 m3/sec (Exit Door)
For every door

U.S.A. U.B.C. 37 -
1988 No Mention No Mention

N.F.P.A. up to 133 No Mention No Mention

(92A) 1988 45

U.K. BS5588 50 60 ESCAPE STAIRS ONE (Class A & C System)

Part 4: 1998 0.75m/sec TWO (Class D System)
THREE ( Class E system)

Fire Fighting THREE ( Class B System)

2.00m/sec

6
 CHAPTER 2

Why Pressurisation?

2.1 OBJECTIVE OF SMOKE CONTROL Major development work on Axial Flow Fans
for the venting of hot fire smoke was carried
The objective of any SMOKE CONTROL out during the 1980’s (Ref 4), which led to
system is to keep the smoke and toxic the publication in 1990 of a test standard
gases out of the escape route long enough BS7346 Part 2 (Ref 5).
to allow the occupants to escape or seek a
safe refuge. In addition an adequate smoke In high rise, multi room buildings, where the
control system will help the fire fighters deal Staircases, Lift Lobbies and Corridors pro-
both with the fire and any residue smoke. vide the escape route, SMOKE
EXTRACTION may only serve to worsen
2.2 SMOKE VENTILATION the situation.

In large open spaced buildings, CAR A SMOKE EXTRACTION system, illustrated

PARKS, SHOPPING CENTRES, EXHIBI- in Fig 1, will provide negative pressure in the
TION HALLS etc, the usual method of escape routes which will tend to draw the
smoke control is by ventilation - extracting smoke into the very spaces requiring protec-
the smoke from the area. tion.

-VE
-VE
-VE

-VE

-VE Fire Floor

Staircase Lift Accom.

Lobby

Fig 1 - Smoke Control by Ventilation

7
 Pressurising Air
2.3 PRESSURISATION

However, it is possible to hold back smoke

from a fire by simply supplying clean air into +VE
the escape routes, thereby developing ex-
cess, or POSITIVE pressure in the spaces
requiring protection.
+VE
Fig 2, illustrates this method which is known
as PRESSURISATION.
In a PRESSURISATION SYSTEM the air- +VE
flow must always be away from the escape Fire Floor

routes to ensure that they will be at a higher +VE

pressure than the surrounding area.

Staircase Lift Accom.

Lobby

Fig 2 - Smoke Control by Pressurisation

2.4 HISTORY OF PRESSURISATION SYSTEMS

The idea of PRESSURISATION is not new. The first Code of Practice permitting the use
For over 50 years PRESSURISATION sys- of PRESSURISATION as a fire protection
tems have been used to keep rooms free of method was published in Australia in 1957.
dust and harmful contamination, and to pro-
In the U.K. research continued during the
vide sterile condition in operating theatres etc.
1960’s and 1970’s (Ref 6) resulting in the pub-
The use of Pressurisation for SMOKE CON- lication of a Code of Practice - BS5588 Part 4
TROL began to be considered during the in 1978 (Ref 7). This Code of Practice was
1950’s, both in the U.K. and Australia. reviewed and reissued in April 1998 as
BS5588:Part 4:1998(Ref 8)

8
 CHAPTER 3

The Pressurisation System

3.1 ELEMENTS OF A PRESSURISATION SYSTEM

A pressurisation System has two main components as illustrated in Fig 3.

Exhaust Air
(Natural)

Staircase
Accomodation

Pressurising
Air Supply Exhaust Air
(Powered)

Exhaust Air
(Natural)

Fig 3 - Elements of a Pressurisation System

+ 50 Pa
a) A Supply Air System designed to blow
into the protected spaces a sufficient
quantity of air to maintain the required
pressure level or air velocity.
This will always be fan powered.
b) An Exhaust Air System to enable the
pressurising air to escape from the
unpressurised areas of the building via
the fire floor.
Fire Floor
This can be either a natural or fan powered
method. The fans used would be required
to handle the hot fire smoke and comply
with BS7346 Part 2 (Ref 5).

3.2 SUPPLY AIR SYSTEM

A pressurisation system has TWO and oc- Staircase Lift Accom.

casionally THREE, modes of operation. Lobby
Fig 4 - Detection Phase - All Doors
closed (Mode 1)

9
Mode 1 - DECTECTION PHASE - To raise The Fire Fighting (Mode 3), is included in
a pressure differential in the protection the classification. The system require-
space - staircase, corridor etc, by the ment, taken from BS5588:Part 5:1991
required amount (50Pa in the UK) when remain common to all building types.
ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED.
A notable addition in the new code of
Mode 2 - ESCAPE PHASE - To maintain a practice is that CLASS C; E; and D sys-
specified AIR VELOCITY (0.75m/sec) tems have BOTH a VELOCITY and
through the OPEN DOOR(S) onto the fire PRESSURE CRITERION requirement
floor with various other doors open, OR a during the Escape Phase (Mode 2)
PRESSURE DIFFERENCE OF 10+ Pa
with the fire floor door(s) closed and vari- These CLASSES of Pressurisation Sys-
ous other doors open (fig 7-9) tems are detailed in TABLE 2 and their
individual requirements are discussed
Mode 3 - FIRE FIGHTING PHASE - To below.
maintain a specified AIR VELOCITY (2.0
m/sec) through the OPEN DOOR(S) onto
the fire floor with various other doors open.
CLASS "A" SYSTEMS - ESCAPE
PHASE - (MODE 2)
ALL pressurisation systems for SMOKE
CONTROL have a Detection Phase (Mode
1)

The new BS5588: Part 4: 1998 now classi-

fies the ESCAPE PHASE (Mode 2) relative
to building type and use.

System Area of use

Class
A Residential, sheltered housing
and buildings designed for three door
Fire Floor
protection (Fig 5) Open
0.75 m/sec
B Protection of firefighting shafts (Fig 6)
C Commercial premises (using
simultaneous evacuation)(Fig 7)
D Hotels, hostels and institutional-type
buildings, excluding buildings designed
to meet call A (Fig 8)
E Phased evacuation (Fig 9) Staircase Accom.

Fig 5 - Velocity Criterion

TABLE 2 - Classification of To generate an air velocity of 0.75m/sec
Buildings for Smoke Control using through the open door(s) out of the pressu-
Pressure Differentials rised space onto the fire floor (fig. 5)

10
 CLASS "B" SYSTEMS - FIRE FIGHTING
PHASE - MODE 3

Fire Fighting Lobbies

(a) To generate an air velocity of 2.0m/sec

through the open door(s) out of the Pres-
surised space onto the fire floor with the
door status shown in Fig. 6.
Fire Fire Floor
Fighting
Stairs
2.0 m/sec
Open

This will establish the pressurisation re-

quirement specified in BS5588 - Part 5:
1991 (Ref: 9) now included as Class "B"
Systems in BS5588: Part 4:1998.

BS5588: Part 5: 1991, provides recom-

mendations for the design of stair and lifts
Open etc., to be used by fire-fighters.

Staircase Lift Accom.

Lobby

Fig. 6 - Velocity Criterion

11
CLASS 'C' SYSTEMS - ESCAPE PHASE
- (MODE 2)

(a) To generate an air velocity of 0.75m/sec

through the open door(s) out of the pressu-
Fire Floor
rised space onto the fire floor (Fig 7a). Open
0.75 m/sec

Staircase Accom.

Fig. (7a) - Velocity Criterion

(b) To maintain a pressure difference of

Fire Floor
+ 10 Pa +10Pa across the closed fire door with the
final exit door open (fig 7b).

Open

Staircase Accom.
Fig. (7b) - Pressure Criterion

12
CLASS "D" SYSTEMS -ESCAPE PHASE
- (MODE 2)

(a) To generate an air velocity of 0.75m/sec

through the open door(s) out of the pressu-
rised space onto the fire floor with the final Fire Floor

exit door open (Fig. 8a) Open 0.75 m/sec

Open

Staircase Accom.

Fig. (8a) -Velocity Criterion

(b) To maintain a pressure difference of

Fire Floor
+ 10 Pa +10Pa across the closed fire door with the
final exit door open (Fig. 8b)

Open

Staircase Accom.
Fig. (8b) - Pressure Criterion

13
 CLASS "E" SYSTEMS - ESCAPE
PHASE - (MODE 2)

(a) To generate an air velocity of 0.75m/

sec through the open door(s) out of the
pressurised space onto the fire floor with
the final exit and one other door open Open

(Fig. 9a) Fire Floor

Open 0.75 m/sec

Open

Staircase Accom.

(Fig 9a) - Velocity Criterion

Open

Open
To maintain a pressure difference of
+10Pa across the closed fire door with the
final exit and two other doors (Fig. 9b)
Fire Floor
+ 10 Pa

Open

Staircase Accom.

Fig. (9b) - Pressure Criterion

14
3.3 EXHAUST AIR SYSTEM the size of duct (cross-sectional area) can
cause problems.
The EXHAUST AIR system must be de- d) Mechanical, powered extract from the
signed to provide a LOW RESISTANCE unpressurised space. This can be
route for the supply air to leave the building achieved by either:-
via the fire floor. i) Providing the vertical duct Fig 10 with an
exhaust fan selected to both overcome
This can be achieved by one of four methods:- the resistance of the duct work and han-
dle the hot smoke. The size of the duct
a) Via the leakage provided by the window can then be reduced.
cracks on the outside of the building.
ii) By utilising any existing mechanical ex-
In practice this is unrealistic. The area pro- haust system from the unpressurised
vided is unlikely to be sufficient. spaces.
A powered exhaust system from the fire
b) Through automatically opened windows room could provide two incremental advan-
or vents around the perimeter of the tages.
building.
This is a possibility where the area con- 1) The exhaust fan would be selected to
cerned has sufficient outside wall space to overcome any resistance from the exhaust
accommodate the vent area necessary. vent or grill. The residue pressure in the
Operating Mode 2 would require almost 0.5 staircase, when the doors are open, would
m2 of vent area on every floor for each pres- be reduced, and with it the quantity of air
leaving the building via the final exit door -
surised staircase. on systems where this is specified as
OPEN. The result would be a reduced
c) The provision of a vertical duct through quantity of supply air to the system (see
the building with a damper arranged to also paragraph 5.6)
open automatically on the FIRE FLOOR.
See Fig 10.
2) The system can be designed to remove
This method is often the best solution more air than the pressurisation system is
although to ensure a low resistance path
supplying. This would tend to create a
negative pressure, in the fire area, relative
to the rest of the building ensuring that all
Powered Vent airflow through the building is towards the
fire area. Smoke will thereby be prevented
from entering unaffected parts of the build-
Natural Vent ing via unidentified leakage paths.
Mechanical exhaust may be the only way of
dealing with the high volumes of air exhaust
demanded by Class B, D and E System.
Damper 3.4 OPERATING LEVELS
The operating status of a pressurisation
system can be organised at 2 levels.
LEVEL 1
Plant OFF - except in an emergency
(SINGLE STAGE PRESSURE SYSTEM)

LEVEL 2
Plant ON - running continuously at RE-
DUCED capacity - except in an emergency.
Fig 10 - Exhaust System by Vertical Duct (TWO STAGE PRESSURE SYSTEM).

15
3.5 SPACES TO BE PRESSURISED

a) STAIRCASE ONLY
The SMOKE CONTROL system will provide
protection to the vertical part of the escape Accom.
route only. It should only be used when the
STAIRCASE is entered direct from the ac-
commodation or via a simple lobby (i.e. a Stairs
lobby without LIFTS, TOILETS or other pos-
sible air escape routes) Fig 11. Simple Lobby

Fig 11 - Staircase With Simple Lobby

b) STAIRCASE & LOBBY Lift Lift

Two duct systems, from a common fan, re- Lobby
quired both for STAIRCASE and LIFT Accom.
LOBBY, used where the LOBBY provides
outlets from LIFTS, contains TOILETS or
other ancillary rooms Fig 12.

Stairs
Fig 12 - Staircase With Lift Lobby

Lift
Lift
c) STAIRCASE, LOBBY & CORRIDOR Lobby
Extending the LOBBY pressurisation sys- Corridor
tem into the CORRIDOR using additional
outlets in the corridor Fig 13. Used only
where the construction of the corridor has a
fire resistance of 30 minutes or more. Stairs
Fig 13 - Stairwell With Lift Lobby & Corridor

d) LIFT SHAFT
Generally only used in Fire Fighting
(BS5588 Part 5). The LIFT LOBBY then
effectively becomes a simple lobby as far as
the staircase pressurisation system is con-
cerned. With the lift shaft pressurised there
is no escape path for the air via the lift shaft.
The STAIRCASE and LIFT SHAFT can be
pressurised using a common fan with sepa-
rate ducting.
16
 CHAPTER 4

Air Requirements of a Pressurisation System

4.1 DESIGN BACKGROUND

The design of any air movement system in- This established the DESIGN PRESSURE
volves an answer to the question:- levels of 50 Pa for operating MODE 1 - All
Doors Closed - of a system although re-
“How do I establish the AIR VOLUME duced pressures would be acceptable on
required to make this system work?” buildings of lower height.
With a Pressurisation System designed for
SMOKE CONTROL there is an initial ques- 4.3 SUPPLY AIR VOLUME
tion to be answered.
Having established the PRESSURE LEVEL
“What PRESSURE (or VELOCITY) do I required to hold back the smoke, the AIR
need to develop in the escape routes to VOLUME to be supplied to the escape route
hold back the smoke?” to develop this pressure can be calculated.
The answers to both these questions were Again, the formula for doing this comes from
provided as a result of research work by P.J. the work by HOBSON and STEWART.
Hobson and L. J Stewart in the U.K. during 1
n
the 1960’s and 1970’s (Ref 6). This work Q = 0.83 AEP
led directly to the publication of the U.K. Q = The volume of air required (m3/sec)
code of Practice for Pressurisation Systems AE = Leakage area from the space (m2)
- BS5588 Part 4 in 1978 (Ref 7), now super- P = Pressure differential (Pa)
seded by the current code of practice in n = Leakage factor
BS5588 Part 4:1998 (Ref 8).
For large leakage areas - Doors etc - n = 2
4.2 PRESSURE LEVELS For small leakage areas - Window cracks -
n = 1.6
Stewart and Hobson studied the factors
which can cause smoke to spread around a For the purpose of a Pressurisation System
building. As a result they were able to sug- designed to hold the smoke behind doors
gest guidelines for a Pressurisation System the formula becomes,
1
designed for SMOKE CONTROL. TABLE 3 Q = 0.83 AEP 2
details these guidelines.

Building Height Fire Pressure Wind/Stack Effect Design Pressure

(m) (Pa) (Pa) (Pa)

5 8.5 8.0 25
25 8.5 10.5 25
50 8.5 13.0 50
100 8.5 19.5 50
150 8.5 29.5 50
Table 3 - Design Pressures
17
4.4 DOOR LEAKAGE AREA

The effective door leakage areas can be estimated by using the values given in TABLE
4 (Ref 7). These values only apply to the door types and sizes shown.

Type of Door Size Crack Leakage

Length (m) Area (m2)

Single Leaf in Frame Opening 2 m x 800 mm 5.6 0.01

into Pressurised Space

Single Leaf in Frame Opening 2 m x 800 mm 5.6 0.02

Outwards

Double Leaf with or without 2 m x 1.6 m 9.2 0.03

Central Rebate

Lift Door 2 m High x 8.0 0.06

2 m Wide
Table 4 - Typical Leakage Areas Around Doors

For single openings, one door, AE = nett free area of the opening.

For several openings, or doors, situated in PARALLEL around a pressurised space Fig 11.

AE = A1 + A2 + A3 + A4 ...

Lift Lift
A4 A3
Accomodation
Accomodation

A2 Lift A1
Lobby
+VE

Stairs +VE

Fig 14 - Doors In Parallel

18
For several opening - or Doors - situated in SERIES along an escape route - Fig 12.
-1/2
AE = 1 + 1 + 1 + 1
(A1)2 (A2)2 (A3)2 (A4)2 ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

For two doors in series more typical of a pressurisation system this simplifies to

AE = (A1 x A2) Accom.

1 A4
(A12 + A22) 2

Stairs

+VE A1 A2 A3

Fig 15 - Doors In Series

Although we can estimate the effective area Fig. 7 to 9 inclusive detail this later require-
for an escape route in this way, there are al- ment.
ways, in any building, other ‘leaks we are
not aware of’.
This pressure criterion is likely to produce
To accommodate these, the air supply vol- the highest demand for supply air on Class
ume calculated should be increased by at C systems, and occasonially on Class E & F
least 50%, stipulated by the CODE OF systems using power exhaust from the Fire
PRACTICE. Floor.

4.5 OPEN DOOR VELOCITY b) Fire Fighting

During fire fighting the Fire Brigade need to
When a large opening, eg the opening of a open doors on the fire floor to gain entry
door occurs, then these design pressures without themselves being engulfed in
cannot be maintained. smoke. The code of practice specify that an
In this situation smoke can be held back Air Velocity of 2.0m/sec is needed to
from the escape routes if the AIR VELOC- achieve this.
ITY through the open door, out of the pres-
surised space, is sufficiently high.
The air supply for all these cases is usually
There are two possible occasions when the greater than that required to develop the
Pressurisation System has to control the 50Pa pressure requirement of the detection
smoke by VELOCITY. Both these are
specified in the U.K. Code of Practice. phase (Mode 1).

a) Means of Escape Therefore, to prevent the Pressure in the

Whilst people are escaping the building it is staircase etc. rising to a level where it be-
inevitable that doors will be open, albeit in- comes difficult or impossible, for occupants
termittently. BS5588: Part 4: 1998 specifies to open doors onto the escape route, the air
an air velocity of 0.75m/sec through the supply system must be capable of air vol-
open door(s) onto the fire floor for all ume variation.
classes of escape systems (velocity
criteron). In addition the requirements of The maximum allowable door opening force
Class "C","D" and "E" Systems demand a is limited by the new Code of Practice to 100
minimum pressure difference of +10Pa Newton applied at the door hand. To
across the closed door(s) onto fire floors achieve this maximum design pressure of
(pressure criteron). +60Pa is recommended.

19
4.6 REQUIREMENTS OF A
PRESSURISATION SYSTEM

a) A Pressurisation System designed to c) A Pressurisation System must include

protect an escape route used only for a low resistance path to enable the
MEANS OF ESCAPE is required to de- pressurising air to escape from the
velop 50 Pa Pressure in the escape unpressurised areas of the building -
route when all the doors are closed, discussed in 2.3.
and up to 0.75 m/sec VELOCITY
through the open door on the fire floor, If mechanical exhaust is used then the
OR a pressure, difference of +10PA FANS must be capable of handling the
across the closed fire floor door, which hot smoke involved and comply with
ever is greater, under conditions, illus- the requirements of BS7346 Part 2.
trated Figs 5, 7 8 and 9.

b) A Pressurisation System designed to Here then are the simple tools which allow
protect an escape route which is to be us to establish the AIR SUPPLY and EX-
used both for MEANS OF ESCAPE HAUST requirements of a PRESSURISA-
and FIRE FIGHTING is required to TION SYSTEM for SMOKE CONTROL.
achieve a VELOCITY of 2 m/sec They will apply to any combination of
through the open door on the fire floor PRESSURE or DOOR VELOCITIES
under the conditions illustrated by Fig SPECIFIED IN THE VARIOUS NATIONAL
6, in addition to the requirements Codes of Practice.
specified in (a) above.

20
 CHAPTER 5

Fan Selections
5.1 WORKED EXAMPLE

The best method for establishing the re- a) The addition of 50% to the calculated air-
quirements of SUPPLY FANS for pressuri- flows at MODE 1.
sation systems is to select the fans for a b) Assuming that, when the door(s) as
typical pressurised staircase. specified, are open (MODE 2 AND
The example chosen is perhaps the sim- MODE 3), the pressure of 50 Pa is main-
plest form of a Pressurised Staircase for tained in the staircase and lift lobbies.
Smoke Control, and as such may be unreal. However, buildings in general, and stair-
However, using a simple example, it is cases in particular are notoriously ‘leaky’.
easier to determine and highlight the fan Equally, incorrect and ill-fitting doors would
requirements. increase the airflow demands. Over sizing
Example: A Staircase, Fig 16 serves 6 the supply fan at the design stage can prove
floors. There is a double door to outside beneficial during commissioning.
at ground level and single doors into the This highlights one of the requirements
accommodation on each floor. of a supply air fan - that it’s air volume
output be easily adjustable on site. Axial
5.2 CALCULATION PROCEDURE flow fans with variable geometry
impellers meet this requirement.
A complete and detailed calculation proce-
dure, with worked examples, is outlined in 5.3 EXHAUST AIR FANS
BS5588 Part 4:1998. Designers should fol-
low this approach when seeking approval The sizing of any EXHAUST AIR FANS will
for their schemes. also be determined from the system calcula-
tion procedure. These fans must be capable
With the possible exceptions outlined in of handling hot air smoke and comply with
paragraph 4.5(a) the size of the supply fan BS7346 - Part 2 (Ref 2) or similar testing
for pressurisation system is determined by standard.
the velocity through the open door (s) -
MODE 2 or MODE 3. The airflow
requirments of MODE 1 and are then BS5588 - Part 4: 1998 recommends that
achieved by either:- exhust air fans be capable of surviving
a) Wasting the excess air to atmosphere or 600°C for 2 hours in unsprinklered buildings
300°C for 2 hours in sprinklered buildings.
b) Reducing the volume flow of the fan.

The worked example in this paper employs

a much simplified method of calculation de- At the time of writing neither of these specifi-
veloped and used by Mr C. H. Moss (Ref cations are in line with the high temperature
categories specified in BS7346 Part 2 or the
10). This method is very useful when sizing
Hence designers are recommended to seek
and selecting the supply air fan (s). It will al-
clarification from Building Control.
ways over estimate the air supply require-
ments by:-

21
5.4 PRESSURISED STAIRCASE ONLY a) To calculate pressure required in
stairwell to exhaust 1.2 m3/sec to atmos-
MODE 1 (B5588 Part 4 - 1998) phere via fire floor (see fig 17).
ALL SYSTEMS ALL DOORS CLOSED
Area of single leaf door = 2.0 x 0.8 = 1.6 m2
Area of exhaust vent = 1.2/2.5 = 0.48 m2
Double Exhaust
Doors Vent
Accomodation
--1/2 --11/2/2
Stairs AE = 1 + 1 = 1 + 1
6 Floors
A12 A22 1.62 0.482
Fig 16- Plan of Staircase
= 0.46 m2
A = 1 x double door at 0.03 = 0.03 m2
6 x single doors at 0.01 = 0.06 m2 2 2
P1 = Q = 1.2
0.09 m2 0.83 x AE 0.83 x 0.46
1/
Q = 0.83AEP 2
= 0.83 x 0.09 x 50 /2
1
= 0.53m3/sec = 10.01 Pa
Increase by 50% + 0.26 m3/sec This is more than covered by 50 Pa assumed.
0.79 m3/sec b) To calculate area of Pressure Relief.
Say 0.80 m3/sec
MODE 2 (BS5588 Part 4 - 1998) Quantity of air to be wasted = (2.0 - 0.8)
CLASS A SYSTEMS ESCAPE = 1.2m3/sec

Area of Pressure Relief = Q

1/
2
0.83 x P
= 1.2
1/
Exit vent 2
A= Q 0.83 x (50)
V = 0.75 m/sec 2.5 = 0.204 m2
P0 P1

P0
MODE 2 CLASS E SYSTEM ESCAPE
PRESSURE CRITERION

Door
Closed Open

Staircase Accomodation Open

Fig 17

A= Area of single leaf door

10 Pa
= 2.0 m x 0.8 m = 1.6 m2
V= Velocity through door = 0.75 m/sec
Door
Q= V x A = 0.75 x 1.6 = 1.20 m3/sec Open
Add MODE 1 = 0.80 m3/sec
2.00m3/sec Staircase Accomodation
Fig 18

22
a) To calucluate the airflow through a) To calculate airflow through open fire
open door to outside with 10Pa floor door.
pressure in stairwell.
A = Area of single leaf door
1/
Q = 0.83 AE P 2 = 2.0 x 0.8 m = 1.6 m2
V = Velocity through door = 0.75 m/sec
= 0.83 x 1.6 x 10 = 4.20 m3/sec Q = A x V = 1.6 x 0.75 = 1.20m3/sec
b) To calculate airflow through open
b) To calculate pressure required in
accommodation door with 10Pa pres- stairwell to exhaust 1.2 m3/sec to atmos-
sure in stairwell an assumed and phere via fire floor. (Fig 18)
0.22m2 area of leakage from each floor.
Area of single leaf door = 1.6 m2
(see Fig 17 and note below).
Area of exhaust vent from fire floor = 0.48 m2
-1/2 -1/2
AE = 1 + 1 = 1 + 1
2 2
-1/2 -1/2
A 1
2
A2
2
1.6 0.22 AE = 1 + 1 = 1 + 1
A12 A22 1.62 0.482
= 0.217 m2 = 0.458 m2
1
Q = 0.83 AE P /2 2 2
1/
2 P1 = Q = 1.2
= 0.83 x 0.217 x 10 0.83 x AE 0.83 x 0.458
= 0.57 m3/sec
= 10.01 Pa
Note: The accommodation on each floor is assumed to (Say 10 Pa)
be an open plan office - 900 m2 in area x 3m high. From
Table D3 in BS5588 - Part - 1998, using average c) To calculate airflow through open
leakage via the floors and loose leakage walls, the door to outside with 10Pa Pressure in
leakage area from the accommodation on one floor
would be 0.22m2.
stairwell.
1/
c) To calculate airflow required to Q = 0.83 AE P 2 1/2
= 0.83 x 1.6 x 10 = 4.20 m3/sec
maintain the Pressure Criterion.
Through open exit door = 4.20 m2/sec d) Airflow through open accommodation
door with 10Pa pressure in stairwell -
Through (2 off) open (from PRESSURE CRITERION as above)
accommodation doors = 1.14 m3/sec = 0.57 m3/sec
Add MODE 1 = 0.80 m3/sec
e) To calculate airflow required to main-
6.14 m3/sec tain the VELOCITY CRITERION
2. VELOCITY CRITERION
Through open fire floor door = 1.20m3/sec
Through open exit door = 4.20m3/sec
Through open accommodation door
= 0.57m3/sec
Open Add MODE1 = 0.80m/sec
= 6.77m3/sec
Exit vent
A= Q
V = 0.75 m/sec 2.5 Note Velocity Criterion dominates
P0 P1
f) To calculate area of Pressure Relief
P0 Quantity of air to be wasted
= (6.767-0.800) = 5.97m3/sec
Area of Pressure Relief
= Q = 5.97
Door 1/ 1/
Open 0.83 x (P) 2
0.83 x (50) 2
= 1.02m2
Staircase Accomodation

Fig 19
23
 MODE 3 - CLASS B SYSTEMS - FIRE c) To calculate volume air required to
FIGHTING maintain 2.0 m/sec through open door
(BS5588 Part: 4 - 1998) on fire floor.

A = Area of single leaf door Q = Through open door on fire floor

= 2.0 m x 0.8 m = 1.6 m2 = 1.6 x 2.0 = 3.20 m3/sec
V = Velocity through door = 2.0 m/sec
Through open door to outside 5.14 m3/sec
Q = Through open door on fire floor Add MODE 1 0.80 m3/sec
= 1.6 x 2.0 = 3.20 m3/sec
9.14 m3/sec
a) To calculate pressure required in stair-
well to exhaust 3.2 m3/sec to atmos-
phere via fire floor (Fig 20). d) To calculate area of Pressure Relief.

Quantity of air to be wasted =

(9.14 - 0.8) = 8.34 m3/sec
Exit vent
A= Q Area of Pressure Relief = Q
V = 2.0 m/sec 2.5 1
P0 P1
0.83 x (50) /2
= 8.34
P0
1
0.83 x (50) /2
= 1.421 m2

Door 5.5 SUMMARY OF FAN DUTY

Open
REQUIREMENTS
Staircase Accomodation
Fig 20 Supply (with Natural Exhaust)
Area of single leaf stair/fire room door Escape Only Staircase - Class A System
= 1.6 m2. 2.0 m3/sec at 50 Pa + System Losses
Area of exhaust vent from fire room 0.204 m2 of Pressure Relief.
= 3.2/2.5 = 1.28 m2
Escape only stair - Class E system
-1/2 -1/2 6.769 m3/sec at 50 Pa + system losses
AE = 1 + 1 = 1 + 1
A1 2 A22 1.62 1.282 1.02m2 of Pressure Relief

= 1.0 m2 Fire Fighting and Escape Staircase -

Class B system
2 2 9.14 m3/sec at 50 Pa + System Losses
P = Q = 3.2 1.43 m2 of Pressure Relief.
0.83 x AE 0.83 x 1.0
Exhaust
= 14.8 Pa (SAY 15 Pa)
b) To calculate volume air flow through Escape Only Staircase -
open door to outside with 15 Pa pres- 1.2 m3/sec at exhaust system losses
sure in stairwell. or 0.48 m2 of Natural Vent per Floor.
1
Q = 0.83 AEP /2 Fire Fighting and Escape Staircase -
1
3.2 m3/sec at exhaust system losses
/2 or 1.28 m2 of Natural Vent per Floor.
= 0.83 x 1.6 x 15 = 5.14 m3/sec

24
5.6 POWERED EXHAUST
Curves Pa-1, Pa-2 and Pa-3, also shown
The air duty requirements detailed at Para- on the FAN CHARTS, are the system
graph 5.5 are calculated with the pressuris- resistance curves for MODES 1, 2 and 3
ing airflow exhausting from the fire floor respectively.
through a natural vent. This results in an 5.7.1 Pressurised Staircase - Escape Only
increased airflow through the open fire door
to outside. CHART 1 illustrates a fan engineering solu-
tion to this problem viz:-
Fan powered exhaust would eliminate the a) The supply air fan size is determined by
need for this increase in the supply fan duty. the air duty requirements of MODE 2 (2.0
The exhaust air fan could be selected to m3/sec). Fan selected is Woods JM Aerofoil
produce zero pressure on the fire floor. - 40 JM/16/2/28. At 2.0 m3/sec this fan will
Hence, for the example shown, the supply develop a pressure of 250 Pa, leaving 200
air fan would be sized to deliver 7.2 m3/sec Pa available to overcome the resistance of
for MODE 3 (reduced from 9.14 m3/sec). the air system.
The exhaust air fan would need to handle b) Without a PRESSURE RELIEF
3.2 m3/sec. DAMPER, the fan selected would develop
about 360 Pa, (Point A) in the staircase with
The amount of air to be wasted via the pres-
all doors closed (MODE 1). This is well
sure relief damper would fall to 6.4 m3/sec,
above the 60 Pa allowable and would be
thereby reducing the size of the PRES-
unacceptable.
SURE RELIEF DAMPER from 1.43 m2 to
1.09 m2. c) The calculations show that to maintain 50
Pa maximum, 1.2 m3/sec of the supply air
5.7 SUPPLY FAN UNIT SELECTIONS has to be wasted through a pressure relief
(Natural Exhaust) damper 0.204 m2 in area (Dimension X).
However to allow for the change in the fan
These take the form of fan performance
working point, (Point B), when all doors are
charts onto which the calculated airflow re-
closed the air wasted will increase to 2.25
quirements have been plotted.
m3/sec requiring a damper 0.256 m2 in area
(Dimension X + Y).
600 Woods JM Aerofoil
40JM/16/2/28

500

Pa - 1

400
Static Pressure (Pa)

Point A

Pa - 2
Chart 1 300

MODE 2 - CLASS A

200

100 Point B
MODE 1
50 50
X Y

0 1 2 3
Volume Flow (m3/sec)

25
This excess becomes of increased impor- d) To achieve a reduction in the area of the
tance on system with high resistance Pressure Relief Damper the FAN SPEED
ductwork systems, and demonstrates the could be reduced to 695 rpm providing more
need for supply fan to have steep VOL- than sufficient airflow to meet the Dectection
UME/PRESSURE performance charac- Phase (Mode 1) requirement.
teristics (Axial Flow Fans in preference
As Chart 2 shows, at this lower speed the
to Centrifugal).
fan will develop a much reduced pressure,
and there could be situations when this
5.7.2 Pressurised Staircase - would be insufficient to meet the require-
Fire fighting & Escape ments of the system.

CHART 2 illustrates one solution to this

problem:-

600 Woods JM Aerofoil

Pa - 2
80JM/25/4/32

500
Pa - 1

14
400

40
Static Pressure (Pa)

Pa - 3
Chart 2 rpm
MODE 2
300 (CLASS E) MODE 3
(CLASS B)

200
69
5
rp

100 MODE 2
m

MODE 1 (CLASS A)
50 50
X Y

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Volume Flow (m3/sec)

a) The supply air fan size is determined by This highlights a possible danger of us-
the air duty requirements of MODE 3 ing speed control as a means of meeting
(9.14 m3/sec). Fan selected is Woods JM the demands of a pressurisation system
Aerofoil - 80JM 25/4/9/32. At 9.14 m3/ and should be used with care.
sec this fan will develop a pressure of
CHART 3 illustrates a second solution to the
about 300 Pa,, leaving 250 Pa available
problem described under paragraph 4.7.2.
to overcome the system resistance.
Here the size of the Pressure Relief Damper
b) Without a PRESSURE RELIEF DAMPER
is reduced by operating two Woods JM
the fan would stall when all the doors
Aerofoils 50 JM/20/2/6/30, (smaller fans), in
were closed resulting in an indetermi-
parallel. Both fans would run to provide the
nable pressure in the staircase but a
requirements of Mode 3 - (9.14 m3/sec).
pressure likely to be above 60 Pa
One fan only would be run during the
maximum.
Dectection Phase (Mode 1)
c) To maintain 50 Pa Maximum, 8.34 m3/
The amount of air to be wasted would now re-
sec (Dimension X) needs to be wasted
duce to 4.8 m3/sec (Dimension X + Y) demand-
through a damper 1.43 m2 in area. This
ing a pressure relief damper 0.82 m2 in area.
will increase to 1.75 m2 when allowance
is made for the change in the fans work- The fan speed is maintained eliminating the
ing point (Dimension X + Y). dangers inherent with speed reduction.

26
 600 Woods JM Aerofoil
Pa - 2
50JM/20/2/6/30
Two fans in parallel
Pa - 1
500

400 One fan

Two fans

Static Pressure (Pa)

running
running Pa - 3
MODE 2 MODE 3
(CLASS E) (CLASS B)
300
Chart 3

200

100 MODE 2
MODE 1 (CLASS A)
50 50
X+Y

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Volume Flow (m3/sec)

CHART 4 illustrates a third possible solution the example shown the air to be wasted
to the problem described in Paragraph 4.7.2 would be 2.0 m3/sec (Dimensions X + Y)
and would demand a damper 0.34 m2 in
The 9.14 m3/sec required for MODE 3 is met by area.
using a Woods Varofoil - variable pitch in motion
fan - 80KG40A-4-6. The air duty requirements of Again the fan speed is maintained elimi-
MODES 1 and 2 are then achieved by reducing nating the dangers inherent with fan
the pitch angle of the fan. speed reduction. As an added advan-
tage, using Varofoil, the fan will tend to
The size of the Pressure Relief Damper is correct for any unidentified leakage etc
now greatly reduced, but not eliminated. In in the staircase and system.

700
Pa 1
Pa 2

600

500 Pa 3
p sf - Fan Static Pressure

Chart 4
400

300 Mode 3
CLASS B

Mode 2
CLASS E
200

100 Mode 2 - CLASS A

Mode 1
50 50
0° 4° 8° 12° 16° 20° 24° 28° 32°
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
x+y Volume flow m3/s

27
 CHAPTER 6

Fans for Pressurisation Systems

6.1 REQUIREMENTS OF A 6.2 PROVIDING FOR VARIABLE

PRESSURISATION FAN AIR DUTY

The requirements of both SUPPLY and EX- Within the limits imposed by the general re-
HAUST fans in Pressurisation Systems can quirements of a supply air fan, providing for
be listed as follows:- variable air duty can best be achieved by
a) Supply Air Fans must be capable of vol- one of the following methods.
ume variation to meet the demands of a) A Constant Speed - Single fan with
all three operating modes of the system.
pressure relief damper.
This is discussed in more details under
paragraph 6.2 b) Constant Speed - Twin fan with pres-
b) Supply Air Fans must be capable of duty sure relief damper - varying the number
changes on site, to compensate for any of fans operating.
under or over sizing inherent in the de-
c) Variable Speed Fans.
sign procedure.
c) Supply Air Fans should have a steep d) Constant Speed - Variable pitch in mo-
volume/pressure curve to limit the air tion fans (Varofoil).
wastage through the pressure relief
Constant speed fans ensure that the maxi-
damper - and hence its size.
mum pressure capability of the fan is avail-
d) Supply Air Fans should maintain a high able at all three operating modes of the
pressure capability ensuring that suffi- system.
cient pressure is always available to the
system. The use of variable speed fans
to obtain the air volume changes needs With variable speed fans this will not be
expert advice.
thecase. The pressure developed by the
e) Exhaust Air Fans must be capable of fan varies with the speed squared. If the
handling the hot fire smoke at 600 °C in speed of the fan is halved to achieve the
unsprinkerled, and 300°C in sprinkerled
lower air duty requirements of MODES 1
buildings. They should comply with
and 2, then the pressure development is re-
BS7346 Part 2 or similar testing
standard. duced by four times.

f) Fans should be lightweight, vibration The result could be insufficient pressure

free and easy to install. being available at the lower speed to pro-
g) All fans must be reliable in operation vide for the 50 Pa Mode One requirement
and be provided with complete and ad- and to overcome the resistance of the sys-
equate maintenance instructions. They tem ductwork. This could lead to the fan
should be manufactured by companies operating in an unstable stall condition.
who are certified to Quality Assurance
System BS EN ISO 9001 or equal.

28
6.3 STAND-BY FANS Since 1984 Quality Control throughout the
British fan manufacturing industry has im-
The need for STAND-BY FANS in a Pres- proved with the introduction of a BS EN ISO
surisation System is a function of two con- 9001 (formally BS5750) registered firm
siderations. scheme. One of the important require-
ments of all fan equipment used in FIRE
a) The degree of fire risk. SAFETY systems is that it should be manu-
b) The reliability of the fan equipment. factured by companies who are registered
and certified to BS EN ISO 9001. Building
The degree of fire risk must of course be Control Authorities should insist on these
determined by the relevant fire and building STANDARDS.
control authorities.

The reliability of the fans is under the control BS5588: Part 4: 1998 Specifies that
of fan manufacturers and building owners, STANDBY FANS and equipment be pro-
the latter having responsibility for ensuring vided on all pressurisation systems de-
correct and adequate maintenance. signed for smoke control - both Supply
Fans and Exhaust Fans.
Hobson and Stewart investigated the reli-
ability of fan equipment as part of their re- Axial flow fans can be mounted in SERIES
search (Ref 6). In 1972 they found that or PARALLEL to provide this STAND-BY
AXIAL FLOW FANS - direct driven - had a requirement.
failure rate of 0.052 per year and a reliabil-
ity of 94.9%. A system using STAND-BY 6.4 CONCLUSIONS
FANS to provide 100% backup would in-
crease this reliability to 99.8%. For com- Smoke control using pressure differential
parison the same figures for belt driven has been described as -
CENTRIFUGAL FANS were 0.5 failures per
year! 50% and 91% reliability respectively. Simply in Concept but Difficult in Practice
(Ref 11).
They concluded that direct driven AXIAL
FLOW FANS were more reliable, and the The discussion in this paper shows that cur-
need for STAND-BY FANS was not objec- rent fan engineering technology is well able
tively necessary to achieve a high level of to provide the requirements of both SUP-
plant reliability in the event of a fire. PLY and EXHAUST AIR FANS of a PRES-
SURISATION SYSTEM for SMOKE
However, in spite of these findings, they rec-
ognised that, in FIRE SAFETY SYSTEMS,
‘“RELIABILITY is of PARAMOUNT IMPOR-
TANCE” and warranted the provision of
STAND-BY FANS.

29
 APPENDIX ONE

References
1. J.A. Wild Fans for Fire Smoke Venting Woods Air Movement Ltd
Technical Paper WTP20
June 1989 (revised Nov. 1990)

2. J.H. Klote An overview of Smoke National Bureau of Standards.

Control Technology Paper NBSIR 87-3626 1987.

3. P.H. Thomas Movement of Smoke in Institution of Fire Engineers

Horizontal corridors Vol. 30 No. 72 1970.
against an airflow.
4. G.A.C. Courtier The development of Axial Flow Institution of Mechanical
J.A. Wild Fans for the venting of Engineers Paper C401/016
hot fire smoke. March 1990.

5. BS7346 Part 2 Specification for powered smoke British Standards Institution

and heat exhausters. 1990.

6. P.J. Hobson Pressurisation of Escape Routes Fire Research Note 958

L.J. Stewart in Buildings. December 1977.

7. BS5588 Part 4 Fire Precautions in the design of British Standards Institution

buildings. Smoke control in prote- 1978
cted escape routes using
pressurisation.

8. BS5588 Part 4 Fire Precautions in the design, British Standards Instiution

contruction and use of buildings. 1998
Code of practice for smoke control
using PRESSURE DIFFERIENTIALS.

9. BS5588 Part 5 Fire Precautions in the design, British Standards Institution

construction and use of buildings. 1991.
Code of Practice for Fire
Fighting stairs and lifts.

10. C.H. Moss Pressurisation Systems using air Seminar at Woods of

movement technology as a Colchester Ltd.
Fire Safety Measure. February 1993.

11. E.G. Butcher Pressurisation - Fire Surveyors October 1993.

A.C. Parnell Simple in Concept
Difficult in Practice.

This document has been produced as a general guide and its contents should not be construed as any
representation on our part as to the quality or fitness of our products for any particular purpose, nor as
providing advice on the design of fire and smoke control systems. You are recommended to consult your
professional advisers on matters relating to the design and installation of any such systems.

30
Ref: WTP 41 31