Fire Fighting Single Storey
Fire Fighting Single Storey
Fire Fighting Single Storey
INTRODUCTION INSURANCE
When a fire breaks out, the consequences Read the small print. Most insurance
can be devastating. A smoke control companies do not cover business
system will help to reduce the interruption or the legal costs related to a
consequences by preventing roof collapse fire claim.
and providing smoke clearance.
In many cases, this is often equal to
Occupants are provided with a clear or more than the original claim itself.
escape path, permitting them to exit the
building far more quickly and safely,
potentially allowing greater travel
distances to be accepted.
SVA Guide
BR 368
BS 7346 Parts 1,2, 3 & 4
BS EN 12101 Parts 1-10**
BS 7974
Fire Precautions Act
Local Government Acts
Building Regulations,
Approved Document B
Scottish Building Regulations,
Technical Standard D
BS 5588 Parts 1 - 11
page 3.
“If production is halted for even
just a few hours, it can cost us
millions in lost revenue”
Colt have supplied many automobile Many large commercial ‘superstores’ are
manufacturers throughout the world. The protected with a smoke control system.
very first UK smoke control ventilator was
installed by Colt at the Vauxhall Motors It is paramount in buildings that contain a
plant in Luton in 1956. large number of people that they can
escape quickly and safely.
The motor industry cannot afford to stop
a production line for long, since this can Allowance must be made for the elderly,
result in millions of lost revenue even disabled, and families with children.
after just a few hours. Everything is done
to ensure fires can be put out as early as Where ambient temperatures rise, the roof
possible with minimal clean up time. ventilators can provide natural ventilation,
reducing the cooling loads on air
Smoke control is a valued contributor to conditioning plant. With the use of
the overall fire safety system. transparent louvres, ventilators can
provide natural daylight entry to the
building.
When a fire starts in a large building, a The smoke can spread laterally at a In an unventilated situation, a building
warehouse for example, it is not like a velocity of up to 5m/s. An average person with a volume of 10,000m3 can become
fire at home. will walk at 1-2m/s and run at 7.5m/s. smoke logged in just a few minutes.
If a fire started at home you would close Once the building roof space is full, the Although the smoke is made up mainly
all the doors and windows and leave the smoke will start to build down. The rate of entrained air, it can contain sufficient
room. Generally this would cause the fire at which this occurs varies significantly toxic substances and asphyxiates to
to be suffocated and reduce rapid growth. with the nature of the combustibles and disorientate and disable within seconds
building geometry. and kill within minutes.
In a large industrial building, the amount
of oxygen available and the amount of This was proven at the Colt test facility in
natural leakage will mean that this would Ghent (with a volume of 13,000m3) where
not be effective. The fire cannot be it was shown that the test building became
sealed off. completely smoke logged in under two
minutes.
In the early stages, smoke from the fire
will quickly rise into the roof space.
1. In the early stages, smoke from the fire will 2. Smoke travels laterally beneath the roof, 3. Even large buildings can become totally smoke
quickly rise into the roof space. remote from the fire source. logged in minutes.
page 5.
Fires do happen!
page 6.
Design Considerations
Extract
DESIGN PARAMETERS
dl
All the items listed below need to be taken
into consideration when designing a
smoke control system for single storey
buildings.
y
Steady state, or
Growing fires FIRE SIZE HEAT OUTPUT
Ceiling jet The base dimensions of the largest fire Total heat generated by the fire source.
which a smoke ventilation system should The convective element of this heat output
Heat output of fire be expected to cope with. Calculations drives the smoke flow.
should be based on either steady state or
Clear layer required growing fires. CLEAR LAYER (y)
Smoke zones Steady state The minimum clear layer for industrial
buildings should be 3 m.
The effects of sprinklers The scheme design is based on the
anticipated largest fire size within the The clear layer depth is very important as
Air inlets / replacement air building and therefore the smoke control it permits the escape of personnel and the
scheme will be capable of entry of firefighters.
Depth of smoke layer accommodating any fire up to that size.
SMOKE ZONES
Ambient temperature Growing fires
Where the building is considered too large
Plugholing The scheme design is based on a fire it must be divided into separate zones by
changing size over a period of time use of smoke barriers.
depending on the contents of the
building. Smoke zones should not exceed
2000 m2 - 3000 m2 in plan area.
CEILING JET
Sainsbury’s, Chichester.
EFFECTS OF SPRINKLERS AIR INLET / REPLACEMENT AIR DEPTH OF SMOKE LAYER (dl)
Sprinklers control the fire. They stop the Inlet or “make-up” air is important for the The smoke layer should not be designed
fire from growing and spreading to other efficient operation of a smoke ventilation to be less than one tenth of the
areas of the building, although it should system to replace air entrained into the floor-to-ceiling height.
be noted that sprinklers do not always smoke plume.
extinguish the fire fully. AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
Automatically opening ventilators, doors
Colt would always recommend the and windows can be used for inlet air. The ambient temperature for the UK is
combined use of sprinklers and smoke However it is important to consider the air conventionally set at 15oC.
ventilators. velocities since if these are too high they
can hinder escape. PLUGHOLING
CFD is used by Colt for building analysis. CFD can predict the temperature within a building (shown above),
or the smoke behaviour patterns. Indeed, CFD is considered so important in the design of effective smoke
control systems that Colt have their own CFD company, Colt Technology BV, based in Holland.
page 8.
Smoke Reservoirs
Smoke containment is critical to the Increases the time available for occupants Colt manufacture the Smokemaster range.
effectiveness of smoke ventilation to escape the building. Smokemaster comprises either fixed
systems. curtains, which are tailored to suit the
Cost effective solution to zoning a particular building structure, or automatic
If the lateral flow of the smoke is not building. drop curtains which are normally hidden
prevented, the ventilators in the fire zone and automatically lowered in an
will be less effective in releasing the hot Assists the emergency services by emergency.
smoke which may cool and fall back to containing or channelling the smoke
ground level, obscuring escape routes and into predetermined areas. SMOKEMASTER - FIXED CURTAIN
endangering life.
Limits travel and overcooling of smoke, When head room is not a requirement,
Acting much as safety curtains do in reducing the risk of cold smoke dropping then a fixed smoke curtain is an ideal
theatres, smoke curtains are now an to low level and obscuring vision. solution to zoning a large building.
established part of smoke control
installations. A single fixed smoke curtain can be
stitched together to provide one large
continuous length, ideal for warehouses
and large commercial units.
page 9.
Fires do happen!
The Colt Smokemaster is essentially a high If a solid mezzanine floor is to be Where a mezzanine floor is part of the
temperature roller blind incorporating heat installed within a building it can alter the building, it therefore becomes necessary
resistant fabric, similar to fixed smoke fire characteristic, as any fire underneath to provide additional elements to the
curtains. a mezzanine floor changes from a free smoke control system. Due to the nature
burning (bonfire type) to a compartment of the rising smoke plume compared with
The curtains are normally held retracted at fire. that of a simple fire on the floor, the
ceiling level and in the event of a fire, a amount of smoke ventilation required
signal allows the curtain to unroll at a The introduction of mezzanine floors or will be increased.
controlled rate and drop to a preset height. other structures within the building can
have a major impact on the smoke There are various options when dealing
Smokemaster is electrically controlled and ventilation requirement for the building. with the design of a smoke control
can be linked to a OPV control system or system in a building with a mezzanine
building management system. A fire occurring under a mezzanine floor floor. One option is to contain all the
or within a compartment which is open to smoke underneath the mezzanine and
the building will form a long plume of mechanically extract from source,
smoke as it spills out round the edge of another is to allow the smoke to spill
the structure and rises up in to the roof out from a limited width and flow into
level reservoirs. This smoke will not only a smoke zone in the roof of the building.
be greater in volume but will be cooler,
and therefore less buoyant.
page 10.
Extract Ventilation
Natural and mechanical ventilation each Natural smoke ventilators can offer the Mechanical ventilation requires very
have their own advantages and additional benefit of day-to-day reliable power supplies.
disadvantages: ventilation.
Mechanical systems are designed to
Natural smoke ventilation They are normally positioned on the roof extract a fixed volume of smoke
for smoke and heat extract, and at low regardless of fire size, unlike natural
Advantages level for fresh air inlet, although roof smoke ventilators.
Fail safe operation mounted ventilators in zones not affected
Self regulating by smoke can also be used for air inlet. Consideration should be given to the
Silent operation weight of the fans, as this may lead to
No time or temperature limits A natural ventilator can be designed to structural support issues. A mechanical
Lightweight operate in a fail safe manner, meaning extract system will require a dedicated air
that the ventilators always open when all inlet system.
Disadvantages control/power sources are removed.
Sensitive to wind effects Noise can be a major issue, especially if
For a natural ventilation system, if the fire voice alarm systems are used since the
Mechanical smoke ventilation grows larger than designed, the smoke noise of the fans can reduce intelligibility.
will be hotter and therefore more buoyant
Advantages making the ventilators more efficient. Associated products:
Not wind pressure sensitive
Suitable for ducting However, a natural system may be - Colt mechanical extract unit
Fixed extract volume affected by adverse wind pressure, in
which case mechanical ventilation should
Disadvantages be considered.
Noise and weight
Maintained electrical supply Associated products:
Dedicated air inlet supply
- Seefire
- Meteor
- Condor
COLT MECHANICAL EXTRACT UNIT METEOR NATURAL VENTILATOR CONDOR NATURAL VENTILATOR
A wide range of fan sizes and The Colt Meteor is a flap ventilator which A sliding lid ventilator which has similar
specifications are available from Colt. can be manufactured with aluminium, performance properties to the Colt
translucent polycarbonate or glass flaps. Meteor. In addition, the Condor provides
As with natural ventilators, mechanical weathered ventilation even in the closed
extract units can be linked into the Colt Meteors have large unobstructed position.
sophisticated Colt OPV 2000 control openings producing high performance
system. levels and high ‘U’ values. The Colt Condor can be attenuated to
provide sound insulation.
SEEFIRE NATURAL VENTILATOR The Colt Meteor can be attenuated to
provide sound insulation. Fixing is horizontal/inclined.
The Colt Seefire is a louvred ventilator
with a low profile. The louvres can be Fixing is horizontal/inclined.
aluminium or translucent polycarbonate
to allow daylight to enter the building.
In order for a smoke ventilation system to Inlet air should be designed as low as
work effectively and efficiently, a supply possible within the building, generally at
of inlet air is required. least 1.5 m below the designed smoke
layer. If this is unachievable due to the
An inlet air supply will basically create height of the smoke layer, then smoke
a ‘chimney effect’ within the building curtains should be considered.
allowing a steady stream of air flow.
Air and gases that are removed by the There are two main solutions for
extract ventilators are replaced by providing inlet air:
the inlet ventilators. This is sometimes
referred to as ‘make up air’. Utilising adjacent non fire zones to
provide inlet (roof level) and/or by
Ventilators are an ideal solution in large automatically opening ventilators,
single storey buildings when doors and windows and doors to provide inlet
windows are at a minimum. ventilation.
Replacement air
via roof mounted
ventilators and
ventilators installed
at low level.
Replacement air
installed at low
level with
mechanical extract
at high level.
page 13.
Fires do happen!
Sainsbury’s, Cheshire.
page 14.
High Bay Warehouses
The potential for fire growth within a Most modern day high bay warehouses
high bay warehouse can be much greater will contain an ‘in rack’ sprinkler system
than normal due to the rapid growth of to control the fire growth.
the fire travelling up the vertical racking.
In sprinklered warehouses, the smoke
For any fire safety strategy to be effective control system objectives must be clearly
it is essential that sprinklers are understood for a design to work
incorporated to control the fire. effectively.
page 15.
“Its reassuring to know that
we are protected by a Colt
smoke control system”.
Edwards High
Vacuum International
page 16.
Sprinklers
Below
The clearing up process.
page 17.
B&Q - SPRINKLER TESTS
Most sprinkler systems are not designed to Unfortunately, there has been technical Sprinklers
extinguish fires, they are intended purely controversy for many years regarding the
to control them. interaction of sprinklers and smoke Will limit fire spread and control growth
ventilators.
Sprinklers cannot prevent the building Will not reduce smoke damage
from becoming smoke logged, nor extract The main arguments are that the removal
the huge amount of heat generated from of heat by the smoke vents could delay the Will reduce temperature increase
fires. Indeed, it has been shown that due operation of the sprinkler heads and that within the building
to the drag down of the smoke in by maintaining the oxygen content of the
un-ventilated buildings, sprinklers can building the fire could be allowed to Ventilation
accelerate the rate of smoke logging in burn more fiercely.
the building. Will prevent smoke logging
Now even some of the most sceptical
about ventilation have agreed that its Will reduce building temperature
presence has virtually no impact upon
the performance of standard sprinkler Will assist escape
systems, a fact which has been
demonstrated by research in the UK and Will aid firefighting
USA.
page 18.
OPV Control System
Temperature
As life safety equipment, all OPV 2000 Sensor
components meet the most stringent
manufacturing and test procedures. TS
CONTROL FAULT
* VENT STATUS
Open / Close
Configure
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
This panel is for the day to day control of
ventilators. Use the arrow keys to choose
from the menu the function required.
CANCEL SELECT Press the SELECT key to carry out this
function. To return back through the menu
FIRE SIGNAL press the CANCEL key. Use the diagram
below to guide you.
MAIN STRUCTURE
SUPPLY HEALTHY
Main Menu
7 8 9
Vent Status Open / Close Configure
4 5 6
S/W Channel
Open Close
1 2 3 Time Control
Set Points
page 19.
Fires do happen!
Automatically
AUTO AUTO
AUTO AUTO
AUTO
AUTO AUTO
AUTO AUTO
Controlled Smoke
AUTO
AUTO AUTO
AUTO
AUTO
Curtains
page 20.
Fire Compartments
As well as fixed or controllable smoke Fire curtains stop the spread of fire to The basic principle behind fire curtains is
curtains which are purely used to contain other areas within the building. They to seal off an area to contain the fire and
or channel smoke to specific areas, Colt act like a solid fire wall but with the prevent it from spreading to other areas.
also manufacture and supply fire advantage that the Colt FirePath can be
compartmentation curtains. retracted to allow unobstructed movement An example of this could be an
around the building. unsprinklered shop unit that needs to be
separated from the mall during a fire
The curtains automatically descend upon condition.
receipt of a signal from the fire-alarm
panel, and automatically retract when the Another example is access routes through
signal has stopped. compartment walls. The curtains must
close to seal off the access route, keeping
Fire curtains are ideal for entrances the integrity of the whole wall in a fire
which need to retain fire integrity in an condition.
emergency but will allow daily operation
to continue.
page 21.
“Colt FirePath curtains
prevent the spread of
fire to other areas”.
COLT FIRE PATH
The Colt FirePath is an automatic fire Metal side guides with a fabric retaining
curtain, tested to BS476: Part 22. system provide a seal between the curtain
fabric and the building. Due to the
Wire inserted woven glass fibre fabric is positive or negative pressures created by
wound onto a steel tube, which the fire, it is imperative that this seal
incorporates a motor and an electronic remains in place at all times.
control circuit.
The complete product has been tested in
The roller assembly, incorporating the accordance with BS476: Part 22: 1987,
fabric, is housed in a galvanised mild-steel clause 8 and achieved an integrity rating
head box which is normally bolted to the to BS 476: Part 20: 1987 of 270 minutes. Colt FirePath fire curtains installed at Tate Gallery,
London.
building.
The curtains automatically descend upon For further information on the Colt
receipt of a signal from the fire-alarm FirePath, please see leaflet PD 50,
panel, and automatically retract when the Smoke & Fire Curtains.
signal has stopped. During ascent the
motors are controlled via a synchronised
speed circuit to ensure all curtains are
raised at similar rates. The curtains
descend by gravity at all times, including
total mains and battery back up failure.
page 22.
SOME RECENT UK PROJECTS REST OF THE WORLD COLT SERVICE
ASDA, 64 Stores throughout UK BAT, Nigeria Part of the Colt Group of companies,
Homebase - 8 Stores throughout UK VW Autocity, Germany Colt Service offers a comprehensive
B&Q - 35 Stores throughout UK Deutsche Bahn, Krefeld, Germany range of maintenance packages
Sainsbury’s - 53 Stores throughout UK Centre of Distribution, Slovak Republic incorporating the maintenance and
Co-op, 20 Stores throughout UK Singapore Expo, Singapore repair of all building services
Tesco, 42 Stores throughout UK Toyota Parts Centre, Belgium equipment including non Colt products.
Allied Carpets, 7 Stores throughout UK BMW Manufacturing Centre, Bavaria
Pfizer, 8 Buildings throughout the UK Volvo, Holland Colt Service provide a 24 hour, 365 day
Ikea, 13 Stores throughout UK Daimler Chrysler, Hanover, Germany emergency cover as standard.
Safeway, Over 48 Stores throughout UK Daimler Chrysler, Fürth, Germany
BOC, 13 Buildings throughout UK Daimler Chrysler, Düsseldorf, Germany MAINTENANCE
BAe, Over 17 Buildings throughout UK Daimler Chrysler, Cologne, Germany
Vauxhall Motors, Ellesmere Port Toyota, France Maintenance of a smoke control system
Landrover T5 Building, Solihull Dinosaur Museum, China is essential. Regular maintenance
Toyota, Derby Zamil Steel, Bahrain protects your investment and brings
BMW, Hams Hall Sony Warehouse, Argentina peace of mind that the system will
Hyundai, Dunfermline Schiphol Airport Buildings, Holland operated effectively in an emergency.
Kelloggs, Manchester Ikea, Czech Republic
BAT, Southampton Opel, Rochum, Germany British Standards, BS 7346,
Tibbett and Britten, Dublin Opel, Rüsselsheim, Germany recommends that smoke control
Lidl Distribution Warehouse, Livingston Coca Cola, Kuwait systems should be serviced at least
Booker Warehouse, Dundee Dong Guan Exhibition Centre, China once a year and tested weekly.
construct a shed.com®
Big W, Glasgow Philips, Holland
Bookers, Reading Quelle, Germany
Honda, Swindon Qatar General Petroleum Corp, Qatar
Allsports, Manchester Aldi, Holland Colt is a member of construct-a-shed,
ERF Trucks, Middlewich Aldi, Mortfelden, Germany the worlds first website devoted to
Argos Superstore, Manchester Aldi, Langenfeld, Germany warehouses and distribution centres.
JCB, Wrexham Aldi, Wittlich, Germany
Carlsberg Tetley, Wigan www.constructashed.com