This self-paced online course covers the principles and practices of designing smoke control systems for large interior spaces like atriums, covered malls, and indoor stadiums. In these types of spaces smoke can accumulate and potentially endanger occupants even if the open space is remote from the fire origin. Smoke control systems can alleviate this danger.

Upon completion you should be able to:

• Identify common examples of large volume spaces that require smoke control systems
• Identify the principles of fire plumes and smoke filling
• Recognize smoke control methods available for large volume spaces
• Be familiar with principles of automatic detection used to activate smoke control systems
• Identify factors that are important to consider in smoke control system design
• Be aware of available design tools
• Be comfortable in applying algebraic design equations to a simple smoke control system design

Who Will Benefit

Anyone whose job involves designing, reviewing, evaluating or installing fire protection systems, including: designers, installers, engineers, electrical contractors, technicians, project managers, fire marshals, and architects

Course Summary

• Large volume spaces are commonly seen in atriums, covered mall buildings, and enclosed stadiums.
• Fire plumes generated from fires in large volume spaces may be either axisymmetric, balcony spill plumes, window plumes, or wall plumes. Axisymmetric and balcony spill plumes are the most common scenarios used in design.
• Smoke filling of large volumes occurs when a ceiling jet contacts walls or when the width of the plume contacts walls of an open space. For design calculations, it is often conservatively assumed that filling begins instantly
• Factors such as smoke stratification and plume lag can have a notable effect when ceiling detection methods are used in tall spaces.
• Outdoor conditions such as temperature and wind have the potential to impact natural ventilation systems. Mechanical smoke exhaust systems must be designed to prevent plugholing and to provide adequate makeup air.
• Design fires must be defined in terms of growth, steady burning, and decay. Fire properties used for design purposes must be carefully selected to ensure a design is adequately conservative.
• Smoke exhaust systems may be designed using algebraic design equations, scale modeling, or fire models. The applicability and limitations of each method must be carefully considered.