Stairwell Pressurization and the Movement of Smoke during a High-Rise Fire

摘要

A smoke movement program is used to determine the influence of open fire escape doors on the distribution of smoke inside a high-rise building during afire. Open doors are simulated on the fire floor and on fioors above and below the stairway neutral pressure plane. The volume flow rates of the stairwell pressurization fans necessary to maintain smoke-free conditions are estimated when various stairwell doors are opened throughout the building. The size of the pressurization fans is shown to be influenced by the location of open stairwell doors. If fans are inadequately sized to overcome the pressure on the fire floor, the process of pressurizing the fire escapes may cause an increase in the amount of smoke that reaches the upper floors and degrade the air quality in the stairwells, particularly if the open stairwell doors are on the upper floors in the building.