Performance verification and enhancement of mechanical smoke exhaust system in full-scale hot smoke test for a large space

Abstract

Full-scale hot smoke test standards have been issued in a number of countries, but the common method of judgment is a visual determination. As Marine Museum K has used a performance-based fire safety design and a numerical simulation during its design stage, this study employs instruments to measure and obtain quantitative comparisons, while enhancing the performance of the smoke exhaust system in different vent-opening modes. The results prove that the measured performance is consistent with the simulation results. The existing model observed that light attenuation is slight at less than 2%, 6% and 10% on the third, fifth and seventh floors, respectively. The effects of the open state of the front and rear vents on the first floor and the vent on the third floor are also discussed. The open mode of the upper and lower vents in Case 2 created a better performance than the other cases due to the excellent flow pattern. In Cases 3 and 4, the fire plumes were significantly disturbed by makeup-air through the vents on the lower floor after all fans were actuated, and the smoke diffused everywhere in the lower floors. This paper also found the disadvantages caused by the makeup air.