Corridor ventilation: smoke and temperature control

Posted by Conor Logan on 03/09/20 14:00

When it comes to corridor ventilation, two things must be taken into consideration: effective smoke evacuation in the event of a fire and preventing overheating, for day-to-day comfort ventilation.

Read More

Topics: Smoke Control, Pressurisation, Residential Buildings, Fire Safety

The impact of door size on smoke control design

Posted by Conor Logan on 24/06/20 10:00

One of the biggest challenges in the design of smoke control and pressurisation systems currently is the relatively recent trend towards installing full height doors which extend all the way to the underside of the ceiling, and/or very wide single leaf doors.

Read More

Topics: Smoke Control, CFD, Pressurisation

Your guide to specifying and commissioning smoke control systems.

Posted by Conor Logan on 05/11/19 14:00

Smoke control is a ‘wide science’: it requires in-depth knowledge of the building layout, the technical aspects and the bewildering array of regulations in force. Each type of building has its own peculiarities and some have specific regulations and guidance on smoke control.

Read More

Topics: Smoke Control, Pressurisation, Smoke shafts

Q&A from 'smoke control versus pressurisation' webinar

Posted by Paul Compton on 16/02/16 12:00

I received some excellent questions during the Q&A section during the recent webinar that I presented. Here you can see my answers to these questions, slightly edited for clarity.

There is also a recording of the webinar available.

Read More

Topics: Webinar, Pressurisation, Smoke shafts, CPD

What are the options for smoke control when changing the use of a building?

Posted by Paul Compton on 09/02/16 12:00

Owing to the different types of occupancy patterns, the Building Regulations rightly provide differing guidance for commercial and residential buildings.

So, when a building changes use, assuming that the developer is not prepared to alter the layout of the stair, it is likely that Building Control will insist on a fire engineered solution leading to the highest degree of protection in terms of the smoke control system

Read More

Topics: Webinar, Pressurisation, Smoke shafts, Residential Buildings

Protecting escape routes: Smoke shafts v pressurisation webinar Q&A

Posted by Paul Compton on 28/04/15 11:30

At our recent webinar on smoke shafts v pressurisation, I received some excellent questions during the Q&A section. Here you can see my answers to these questions, slightly edited for clarity. 

There is also a recording of the webinar available.

Read More

Topics: Smoke Control, Webinar, Pressurisation, Smoke shafts

Seven good practices for pressurisation systems

Posted by Paul Compton on 14/04/15 11:30

As a designer or specifier, you want to be sure that your smoke ventilation system will provide fire safety in all situations.  If your design includes a pressurisation system, there are a few pitfalls to avoid. Here are seven good practices that will help you avoid them and design an effective pressurisation system:

Read More

Topics: Pressurisation, Smoke shafts

Q&A from 'Protecting Escape routes: Smoke shafts v pressurisation' webinar

Posted by Paul Compton on 03/07/14 11:30

During my recent webinar on smoke shafts v pressurisationI received a large number of questions. Here you can see my answers to these questions, slightly edited for clarity. 

If you missed the live webinar, then a recorded version is available here.

Read More

Topics: Smoke Control, Webinar, Pressurisation, Smoke shafts, Corridor ventilation

Pressurisation systems webinar: Q&As

Posted by Paul Compton on 17/12/13 11:30

At Colt’s recent oversubscribed CPD accredited pressurisation webinar, we received some interesting questions in the Q&A session at the end. I’d like to share some of them. They are edited to make the questions clearer and to reduce my ramblings.

Q: Do all buildings that operate a stay put policy have to have a Class A pressurisation systems?

A: No, if you have a residential building then certainly in the UK that would normally have a stay put policy and, if you choose to have pressurisation, then it would be designed as a Class A system. In a residential building in theUKyou are permitted AOV or shaft systems instead so the fact that you have a stay put policy in a residential building doesn’t mean that you need pressurisation.

Read More

Topics: Smoke Control, Webinar, Pressurisation, CPD

Colt CPD: Pressurisation Systems

Posted by Paul Compton on 19/11/13 11:30

Read More

Topics: Smoke Control, Regulations, Smoke ventilation, Pressurisation

Questions and answers from Paul Compton's pressurisation webinar

Posted by Paul Compton on 23/04/13 10:11

First of all a big thank you to those who attended my webinar last Friday on 'Pressurisation Systems in residential and commercial buildings'. If you missed it or would like to watch it again a recorded version is available here. Many questions were asked after the presentation and I decided to post the most interesting ones up here for everybody’s benefit.

Could a "pressure relief damper" or "air release" be fitted to an external window/fixed pane of glass at the end of a corridor?

Read More

Topics: Webinar, Pressurisation, CPD

Is pressurisation really necessary for fire fighting stairs above 30m?

Posted by Paul Compton on 02/08/12 09:00

The publication of BS 9999 and BS 9991 has been a breath of fresh air in some ways, but of course not everything new is perfect.

Read More

Topics: Smoke Control, Regulations, Smoke ventilation, Pressurisation, Smoke shafts

Seven good practices for pressurisation systems

Posted by Paul Compton on 19/07/12 09:53

As a designer or specifier, you want to be sure that your smoke ventilation system will provide fire safety in all situations. If your design includes a pressurisation system, there are a few pitfalls to avoid. Here are seven good practices that will help you avoid them and design an effective pressurisation system:

Read More

Topics: Smoke Control, Regulations, Smoke ventilation, Pressurisation