The Impact of Outdoor Temperatures on the Efficacy of Natural Ventilation and Smoke Exhaust Systems

Arleta Bogusławska and Dorota Brzezińska
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Arleta Bogusławska: Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, 90-924 Lodz, Poland
Dorota Brzezińska: Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, 90-924 Lodz, Poland

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-19

Abstract: Natural smoke control systems in staircases are one of the available systems used for the protection of escape routes from smoke and are one of the most utilised for medium to high rise buildings. However, their effectiveness (as well as other ventilation systems) is strongly dependent on the weather conditions, especially the outdoor temperature. This paper describes the results of real-scale experiments of the airflow in a staircase’s natural smoke exhaust system. The experimental staircase was localised in a medium-high building, “LabFactor” at the Lodz University of Technology in Poland. The experiments were performed over a period of six months, from February to July 2019, and included measurements of external and internal air temperature as well as the airflow through the staircase. The results obtained enabled an evaluation of the effectiveness of the ventilation and natural smoke exhaust system in the staircase, in relation to external temperatures. It was found that natural smoke exhaust systems could operate below an acceptable level of effectiveness for nearly 25% of the year. The experimental results were confirmed with CFD simulations.

Keywords: fire ventilation of staircases; smoke damper; real-scale experiment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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