Smoke is a dangerous mixture of gases that can be much more harmful than fire during a fire. It is from carbon monoxide poisoning and fumes of toxic substances that people most often die. The law spells out the basic rules for equipping buildings, workers' enterprises, production sites with specialized smoke protection systems. The main task of such devices is to protect people from smoke that spreads around the room during a fire. The smoke protection system in the building is installed on evacuation routes, as well as in safe rooms.
What functions should the system perform?
Depending on the functionality of the enterprise, its architectural differences and certain conditions, smoke protection can have different mechanisms, as well as functions:
- limiting the spread of smoke, as well as combustion products that poison the body;
- prevent the spread of fire beyond its source;
- smoke and gas removal from the premises;
- creation of favorable conditions for the work of firefighters.
Where are they installed?
Installation of smoke protection systems of a building is carried out in:
- Hotels
- in public places;
- in residential buildings with a large number of floors;
- in medical institutions, boarding schools and schools;
- in dormitories;
- shops and office premises.
Next, we consider the features of their service.
Smoke protection for fire extinguishing systems
Correctly creating and installing such a system is only part of the way. Only the proper maintenance and care of the automatic smoke protection system will help maintain it in constant working condition.
Procedures for conducting a technical inspection of smoke control devices include a monthly inspection, external inspection, and the launch of the system every week. This will help ensure that everything is functioning properly in it.
When operating an automatic smoke protection system, attention is paid to the following factors:
- the speed and efficiency of smoke exhaust fans;
- alarm response rate;
- the quality of the valves designed to remove smoke.
Inspection of the system and verification of its functioning are carried out by employees at the enterprise every week. The schedule of inspections is drawn up by the management itself, which is responsible for the work carried out.
Monthly check
Checks every month include:
- analysis of the functioning of switchboards, circuits and other power components;
- analysis of the quality of the operation of fan gate valves and valves responsible for smoke removal;
- control of the fire system as a whole.
Once a quarter, you need to carry out the following operations:
- visual inspection of the nodes that make up the system, checking the integrity of the coating, determining the presence or absence of damage in the system;
- state monitoring.
Testing and maintenance of the smoke control system
The following specialists check the protection of objects by smoke protection systems:
- housing and communal services workers, when the check is carried out in a multi-storey residential building;
- separate units if the quality of service of the system is checked at an industrial enterprise;
- special organizations for buildings of various purposes.
It is recommended to draw up an agreement to conduct an annual technical inspection of the anti-smoke system with one company that has been fulfilling its duties qualitatively and has a good reputation for several years.
Maintenance Requirements
Maintenance is a prerequisite for the effective and high-quality operation of the remote sensing system. It is carried out in accordance with an agreement with an organization that carries out installation and commissioning work monthly and quarterly with the registration of results.
The requirements for smoke protection systems are as follows:
- Depending on the space-planning and structural solutions, systems of supply and exhaust anti-smoke ventilation of enterprises should be carried out by a mechanical or natural method. Regardless of the method used, the system of supply and exhaust anti-smoke ventilation should have an automatic and remote manual drive with an actuator and devices that are responsible for the ventilation of smoke during a fire. Space-planning decisions of enterprises should prevent the process of distribution of combustion products to neighboring rooms, fire sections and compartments.
- Depending on the architectural features of the structure and its purpose, the supply and exhaust or exhaust smoke ventilation should be built in it.
- It is forbidden to use forced ventilation to displace gases and products of combustion outside the enterprise where the fire occurred, without natural or mechanical exhaust. It is also strictly forbidden to use common systems in order to protect rooms with different classes of functional fire hazard.
- The hood, which is responsible for removing combustion products from the room during a fire, should work properly. Its main purpose is to eliminate smoke from the halls, corridors and rooms in which there was a fire along the escape routes.
- Fresh-air ventilation for smoke protection of structures and enterprises should ensure the supply of fresh air and the creation of excess pressure in rooms located near the source of ignition, on landings, in elevators and vestibule locks.
- The design and structural features of all smoke protection elements, depending on the purpose of their use, must necessarily ensure the effective functioning of the supply and exhaust ventilation throughout the entire period of time for evacuating people from the danger zone or for the entire burning time.
- Automatic activation of all actuators in the equipment should occur when the fire extinguishing installation is triggered.
- The manual drive of execution mechanisms operating remotely must work from triggers located near evacuation exits and in rooms intended for dispatching personnel and fire stations.
- During the activation of the supply and exhaust ventilation at the enterprise, there must be a mandatory shutdown of the general exchange and technological ventilation systems, as well as air conditioning (this rule does not apply only to installations that are responsible for technological safety at the facility).
- The simultaneous operation of automatic installations of powder, aerosol or gas fire extinguishing and smoke ventilation according to the rules is prohibited.
Alert system for people and fire source detection
Warning systems in case of fire at the enterprise and evacuation process management must comply with the following standards:
- give sound and light signals to all parts of the building;
- provide reproduction of voice messages, which will contain detailed information about the evacuation;
- transmission to certain places of the building of a message about a site with a source of ignition, evacuation routes and actions to ensure personal safety;
- in case of a sudden power outage, emergency lighting must be activated;
- providing communication with all rooms and departments in which the personnel responsible for the proper evacuation of people from a burning building work.
The warning system includes the following mechanisms:
- fire detectors, which are activated when the temperature changes, the appearance of smoke and fire;
- unit responsible for broadcasting messages;
- digital storage media with recorded messages;
- notification mechanisms (microphones, screens, speakers, sound alarm.
How to equip a building with a smoke control system?
From the very beginning, a design of the fire safety system for the building should be developed. It is important to remember that any structure, even of a typical nature, has its own distinctive features, which are important to consider during design.
When installing the system will have to prepare special documents for the construction, reconstruction, overhaul of the facility. Only legal entities that are members of a self-regulatory organization and have a certificate of admission are allowed to provide design services for a fire protection system.
Design and calculation of smoke protection systems
The design of smoke protection facilities consists of the following:
- the main part, which includes a description of the objects and schemes responsible for the technical solution and layout;
- set of documents;
- applied devices and materials;
- estimate, which will determine the total cost of all work and materials used in the work;
- explanatory requirements for each individual project item.
Only specialists licensed by the Ministry of Emergencies are allowed to install fire protection systems.
Security
It is important to remember that in case of unlicensed installation administrative responsibility may be imposed on the head of the enterprise or organization, and criminal offense (illegal business) upon receipt of large income.
The choice of a system for ensuring fire safety should take into account all the characteristics of the object - the number of floors, its area, ceiling height, as well as functionality.
It is also important to determine the risks of fire at the enterprise, its possible type and technical conditions, for example, the availability of fire fighting water and the temperature that remains in the building throughout the working day. The complete fire protection scheme includes several points.