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Protection of evacuation routes using a

pressurisation systems to EN 12101-6
Pressurisation of evacuation routes
Goal: set a pressure differential so that the pressure in the escape route is
higher than the pressure in the fire affected space.
Goals for a pressurisation system

a) Means of escape: To maintain safe conditions in the protected areas

during evacuation.

b) Fire fighting: To allow the fire brigade to access the building in safe
conditions to locate victims and to locate the fire.

c) Protection of goods. It is important to avoid smoke getting into areas

where vunerable goods or equipment or goods is located.
 Features of a typical bottom fed stair
pressure differential system
Key
1 Alternative option to limit pressure to 60Pa
2 Pressure relief damper to operate at 60Pa (max.)
3 Pressurising oultlets distributed evenly vertically
throughout the stair for buildings greater than 11m high.
For buildings less than 11m, an outlet at the top of the
stairs is normally acceptable
4 Fire fighting stairs
5 Accommodation area
6 External leakage
7 Pressurising air discharged at every level
8 Maximum height between discharge is stairs to be no
greater than 3 floor levels
9 Fire fighting lobby access
10 Fire zone
11 Air release vents
12 Fire service access level
13 Single air intake position
14 Smoke detector
15 Motorised smoke damper
16 Fire officer’s over rideswitch
17 Duty standby pressurising units
18 Fans in plant room in fire rated compartment (2 hour)
 Key
1 Pressure relief damper to operate at 60Pa (max.)
2 Fans in plant room in fire rated compartment (2 hour)
3 Smoke detector
4 Air intakes on opposite facades with smoke detectors and
motorised dampers
5 Duty standby pressurising units
6 Alternative air intake
7 Motorised smoke damper
8 Air intake
9 Alternative option to limit pressure to 60Pa
10 Fire fighting stairs
11 Fire fighting lift well (if required)
12 Accommodation area
13 External leakage
14 Pressurising oultlets distributed evenly vertically
throughout the stair for buildings greater than 11m high.
For buildings less than 11m, an outlet at the top of the
stairs is normally acceptable
15 Fire fighting lobby
16 Pressuising air discharged at every lobby level
17 Maximum height between discharge is stairs to be no
greater than 3 floor levels
18 Fire zone
19 Air release vent
20 Fire fighting access
21 Fire officer’s over rideswitch
System class Examples of use
A For means of escape. Defend in place.

B For means of escape and firefighting.

C For means of escape simultaneous

evacuation
D For means of escape. Sleeping risk

E For means of escape phased evacuation.

F For firefighting and means of escape.

Class A System For means of escape. Defend in place.

The design conditions are based on the assumption that a building shall
not be evacuated unless directly threatened by fire.

The level of fire compartmentation is such that it is usually safe for

occupants to remain within the building.

Therefore, it is unlikely that more than one door onto the protected space
(either that between the stair and the lobby/corridor, or the final exit
door) will be open simultaneously.
 Class A System For means of escape. Defend in place.

1 Door open
2 Door closed
3 Air release path

Differential pressure cirteria Flow rate criteria

(all doors closed)
Class B System For means of escape and firefighting.

A pressure differential system can be used to minimise the potential for

serious contamination of firefighting shafts by smoke during evacuation and
fire fighting operations.

During firefighting operations it will be necessary to open the door between

the firefighting lobby and the accommodation to deal with a potentially
fully developed fire.
Class B System For means of escape and firefighting.

1 Fire fighting stair

2 Fire fighting lobbies
3 Door open
4 Door closed
5 Air release path
6 Door open (fire
fighting lobbies
7 Door closed (fire
fighting lobbies
8 Airflow from fire
fighting lift shaft

Differential pressure cirteria Flow rate criteria

(all doors closed)
Class C System For means of escape simultaneous evacuation

The design conditions for Class C systems are based on the assumptions that the
occupants of the building will all be evacuated on the activation of the fire alarm
signal, that is, simultaneous evacuation.

In the event of a simultaneous evacuation it is assumed that the stairways will be

occupied for the nominal period of the evacuation, and thereafter will be clear of
evacuees. Consequently, the evacuation will occur during the incipient stages of
fire development, and some smoke leakage onto the stairway can be tolerated.

The airflow due to the pressurisation system shall clear the stairway of this
smoke.

The occupants being evacuated are assumed to be alert and aware, and
familiar with their surroundings, thus minimising the time they remain in the
building
 Class C System For means of escape simultaneous evacuation

1 Door open
2 Door closed
3 Air release
path
Differential pressure criteria Differential pressure Flow rate criteria
(all doors closed) criteria
Class D System For means of escape. Sleeping risk.

Class D systems are designed in buildings where the occupants may be sleeping,
eg. hotels, hostels and institutional-type buildings. The time for the occupants to
move into a protected area prior to reaching the final exit can be greater than
that expected in an alert or able-bodied environment, and occupants may be
unfamiliar with the building or need assistance to reach the final exit/protected
space.

Class D systems are also appropriate when the presence of a pressure

differential system has served to justify the absence of a discounted stairway
and/or lobbies that would normally be required under the national
regulations.
 Class D System For means of escape. Sleeping risk.

1 Door open
2 Door closed
3 Air release
path
Differential pressure criteria Differential pressure Flow rate criteria
(all doors closed) criteria
Class E System For means of escape phased evacuation.

Systems used in buildings where the means of escape in case of fire is by phased
evacuation.

a) In the “phased evacuation” scenario it is considered that the building would still
be occupied for a considerable time whilst the fire is developing, creating greater
amounts of hot smoke and gas. (This can vary greatly according to the type of
materials, fire load involved and the geometry of the fire load).

b) In the “phased evacuation” situation, the protected staircases shall be

maintained free of smoke to allow persons to escape in safety from floors, other
than the fire floor, at a later stage in the fire development
 Class E System For means of escape phased evacuation.

1 Door open
2 Door closed
3 Air release
path
Differential pressure criteria Differential pressure Flow rate criteria
(all doors closed) criteria
Class F System : For fire fighting and means of escape

The system of differential pressure class F applies to minimise the chances of

serious pollution by smoke in lobbies used by the fire brigade, both during the
process of evacuation of people, and during the performance of such fire services.

During Fire-fighting operations, the door between the area where the operations
are being carried out and the accommodation area will need to be opened, to deal
with a potential fire.

In some situations it may be necessary to connect hoses to a riser outlet below the
fire floor, and up through the stairs to the lobby of the fire floor. Therefore it is
often not possible to close the doors between these lobbies and staircase, during
the operation of fire extinguishing. If main exits to the stairs are found only in the
interior of the Hall, or in the accommodation area in front of the halls, the door
between the lobby and corridor or area of accommodation on the floor of the fire
must stay open, during the operation of extinguishing.
Class F System : For fire fighting and means of escape

1 Stair 6 Air release

2 Lobby 7 Over pressure
3 Accommodation release vent
4 Supply air 8 Accommodation
5 Leakage through 9 Lift lobby
doors etc 10 Lift car
Airflow differences between systems

Pressure difference Pressure difference Airflow

criterion criterion criterion
50 Pa 10 Pa 0,75 m/S

CLASS A
Defend in place 1,24 m3/s ----------- 1,83 m3/s

CLASS C
Simultaneous evacuation 1,24 m3/s 5,99 m3/s 2,10 m3/s

CLASS D
Sleeping risk 1,24 m3/s 11,42 m3/s 7,51 m3/s
FANS

Both situations (door closed and door open) should be considered

Airflow with doors closed

In order to determinate the total airflow rate through leackages:

Q  1,5 0,83Ae  P1/ 2

DO
Air leakage data (door closed condition):

Type of door Leakage area

Single-leaf opening into a 0,01 m2

pressurized space

Single-leaf opening outwards 0,02 m2

from a pressurized space

Double-leaf 0,03 m2

Lift landing door 0,06 m2

Air leakage data (door closed condition):
PRESSURIZATION

Air leakage data (door closed condition):

Calculation of the effective flow areas: Ae

Door closed between stair and accomodation areas

Ae = 8 x 0,01 = 0,08 m2

Calculation of the air leackage trouhg door closed ((QDC):

QDC = 0,83 x Ae x P1/2 = 0,83 x 0,08 x 50 ½ = 0,469 m3/s

Safey margin to consider other leackages k1 = 1,5

Safety margin to consier leackages on ducts k2 = 1,15

Calculation of airflow at door closed condition

QSDC = 1,5 x 1,15 x 0,469 = 0,809 m3/s = 2,912 m3/h

FANS

Airflow through the open door in the fire floor:

Symplified method

- Airflow trough the open door in the fire level

Q  1,15 v  A
D D

- Airflow to blow in the stair in the door open condition:

Q  Q Q
DO D DC
Airflow throuhg the open door in the fire floor:

Symplified method

Airflow in the open door on the fire level QDO

QD = 1,15 x 0,75 x 1,6 = 1,38 m3/s

Airflow in the door closed condition: QDC

QDC = 0,809 m3/s QDO

Airflow in door open condition: QSDO

QSDO = QDO + QDC = 1,38 + 0,809 = 2,189 m3/s = 7.880 m3/h

FANS

Airflow throuhg the open door in the fire floor:

Prescriptive method

 
2  
2
Q  Q   Q 
Q  v A AVA  D p   DO 

p p   DO 

 0,83 A
LOB US
 0,83 A
D D US
2,5  VA   door 

 1 
    1
   2 
Q  0,83  Arem  
1

1   p 2 Q 1,15 Q
LOB    LOB SDO LOB
 
 A2 A2  
  VA door  
 
 
Airflow throuhg the open door in the fire floor:
Prescriptive method

Airflow in the open door on the fire level QDO

QDO = 0,75 x 1,6 = 1,2 m3/s

Area of the air release AVA

AVA = QDO / 2,5 = 0,48 m2

QDO PUS
Pressure in the accomodation area PUS AVA
2
 QDO   1,2 
2

PUS        9,07 Pa
 
 0,83xAVA   0,83x0,48 
Area of the open door in the fire level: Adoor
Adoor = 1,6 m2

Pressure in the stair: PST

Arem
2
 QDO 
PST  PUS   
 0,83xAdoor  PST
2
 1,2 
PST  9,07     9,07  0,81  9,88 Pa Adoo
 0,83 x1, 6 

Leackage area of doors closed: Arem

Arem = 0,08 m2
Airflow leackage trouhg doors closed

Qrem = 0,83 x Arem x (PST)2 = 0,83 x 0,08 x (9,88)1/2 = 0,209 m3/s

Airflow to blow in the stair QST

QST = QDO + Qrem = 1.2 + 0.209 = 1.409 m3/s

Airflow to blow in the stair considering leackages on ducts: QSDO

QSDO = 1,15 x QST = 1,15 x 1,409 = 1,62 m3/s =5,832 m3/h

Example: EN 12101-6
 FANS

To control the differential pressure in the pressurised areas, one of the following
methods should be used:

- Dampers opening to the outside, to vent excess airflow (the airflow rate of the fan
remains steady )

- Dampers in ducts, to create a by-pass.

- Inverter to control the fan speed, to maintain a setpoint of

50 Pa via signal from a pressure sensor.

Situation Pressure Fan speed Airflow

Doors closed 50 Pa Modulated Modulated
Door open Resulting 50 Hz Maximum
STANDBY FANS
When standby fans are required to maintain continuity in the event of a
failure, the system should have either two fans and/or two motors to
operate as duty/standby.
STANDBY FANS

The standby fans should be of the same type and capacity as the duty fans.

The switch between the duty fan and the standby fan should be automatic.
AIR INLETS

Should be installed in a position where they will not be affected by a potential fire
or by smoke.

Usually fans, with the proprietary ductwork, if necessary.

AIR INLETS

In case of risk of smoke entering the air inlet, two dampers provided with smoke
sensors has to be installed so that if smoke is detected in one of the air inlets this
is closed and the alternative one is open.
 Installation options

ROOF GROUND LEVEL LOBBIES

Installation options

ROOF
 Test chamber

MOTORIZED DAMPER
To simulate opening/closing of
doors, and leackages.

RF DOORS
FAN
USE OF CFD

• Dimensions STAIRCASE
(High/Width/Depth): 30 x 6 x 4 metros

• Dimensions LEVEL
• High/Width/Depth): 3 x 10 x 12 metros

• Doors: 1,62 m2

• Air release: 0,48 m2

• LEAK: 0,11 m2

• FIRE: HRRPUA=500 kW/m2

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• SMOKE

T= 0 a 100 s (Cerrada) T= 100 a 600 s (Abierta)

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• OVERPRESSURE

T= 0 a 100 s (Cerrada) T= 100 a 600 s (Abierta)

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• AIR VELOCITY

T= 0 a 100 s (Cerrada) T= 100 a 600 s (Abierta)

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• TEMPERATURE

T= 0 a 100 s (Cerrada) T= 100 a 600 s (Abierta)

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• VISIBILITY

T= 0 a 100 s (Cerrada) T= 100 a 600 s (Abierta)

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