Pressurisation of staircases: the importance
of correctly selecting the system class and
controlling the degree of overpressure
Authors:
Santos Bendicho Alonso (Special Projects Director, Sodeca & Member of CEN TC191 SC1
WG 6, WG 5 & WG 9) & Mark Newcombe (Product Engineer, Axair Fans UK Limited)
A
pressurisation system is intended to prevent smoke leaking through closed doors into stairs by injecting clean air into the stairwell.
The intent is to have the highest pressure in the stairwell and a reducing pressure in the accommodation area to facilitate pedestrian
escape route and firefighting access. ince the publication of the relevant standard,
12101 6, familiarity has increased along with
understanding of pressurisation systems. owever, there are some aspects of the standard which are not taken into account. g selecting
the correct class of pressurisation and recognising the purpose of the system.
What is EN 12101-6?
The standard describes six differential pressure systems based on their function, ranging from facilitating a safe evacuation in the fire affected area
only through to keeping firefighting access smoke free while evacuation takes place.
System Classes:
Class A system: For means of escape: The design conditions are based on the assumption that the building will not be evacuated unless it is directly
threatened by fire. The level of compartment means that it is normally safe for the occupants to remain inside the building.
Class B system For means of escape and firefighting This pressure system may be used to minimise the possibility of serious smoke contamination
during evacuation and while fire fighters are extinguishing the fire.
Class C system: For means of escape via simultaneous evacuation: These systems are designed for all of the occupants of the building to be
evacuated when the fire alarm is activated.
Class D system: For means of escape. Risk to personnel that are sleeping: These systems are designed for buildings where the occupants may be
sleeping.
Class system For means of escape via evacuation in phases These systems are installed in buildings where evacuation is carried out in stages or
phases.
Class F system: Fire protection system and escape means: These pressure systems are used to minimise the possibility of serious smoke
contamination of staircases used by fire fighters at the same time that the building is being evacuated.
Current standard
12101 6 is being reviewed by the C
TC1 1 C1 W 6 and the next review will only include 2 types of pressurisation systems
for evacuation and firefighting. It is not yet known if the revised document will be adopted as a British tandard.
What performance is required?
For all possible systems, at least two evacuation situations are considered that may occur
a With all the doors of the evacuation route closed
differential pressure of 0 a must be
maintained between the protected route and the non pressurised areas where the fire has broken
out. In some cases there is an additional requirement where a differential pressure of 10 a has to
be maintained between the protected route and the non pressurised areas when the exit door to the
outside of the evacuation route is open. In the latter, the difference between class systems lies in the
number of doors that are open inside the staircase whilst the exit door to the outside is also open.
b When a door is opened to the fire one In this case a minimum air velocity through the open door
must be maintained. This is 0.
m s for systems designed for evacuating personnel and 2 m s for
systems designed for assisting firefighters. The difference between the class systems is based on the
air velocity through the open door to the fire affected area as well as the number of doors that are
open inside the staircase.
electing the class of the pressurisation system will determine the design flow rate of the installation. This affects all the elements of the
pressurisation system. It is essential to determine the correct si e and system class in order to ensure correct operation of the fire protection
pressurisation system.
The table right lists the airflows required for each situation and the
design flow based on the ystem Class.
Pressurisation System Control
A system must be installed which is capable of automatically and
safely supplying the two air flows. t the same time, excessive air
flow to the staircase must be prevented so that children or less
able occupants can open the access door to the staircase during an
evacuation.
Although several types of systems
are available for controlling excess
pressurisation of the staircase, the most commonly used system is the latter. This consists of a fan controlled by a
frequency inverter, which takes signals from a differential pressure sensor that measures the pressure difference between
the pressurised evacuation route and the non pressurised area. This maintains the desired pressure, normally 0 a,
and subsequently controls the pressure during situations where the doors in the evacuation route are closed. In the case
where a door is opened, the pressure in the staircase drastically decreases and so the fan speed increases to regulate the
pressure. The fan then supplies the maximum design airflow for the installation when an evacuation route door is open or
when the exit door to the outside is open.
Axair Fans UK Limited
www.axair-fans.co.uk
Issue 23 PECM
9