Smoke and fire curtains are important safety features in buildings because they play a crucial role in containing smoke and fire, limiting their spread and providing occupants with valuable time to evacuate.
Here are a few reasons why these curtains are important:
Smoke and fire curtains act as barriers, preventing the rapid spread of fire within a building. They are designed to descend automatically during a fire incident, compartmentalising the affected area and preventing the fire from spreading to other parts of the building.
Smoke curtains are specifically designed to restrict the movement of smoke, preventing it from spreading to other areas of the building. By containing and controlling the smoke, these curtains help create clear escape routes and improve the chances of a successful evacuation.
By slowing down the spread of fire and smoke, these curtains create safe zones and clear pathways, allowing people to exit the building more easily. This additional evacuation time can be critical in saving lives, especially in larger buildings or during emergency situations where rapid evacuation is challenging.
In addition to safeguarding human life, these curtains help protect property by limiting the damage caused by fire and smoke. By confining the fire to a specific area, these curtains reduce the potential for extensive structural damage, minimising repair and reconstruction costs.
These curtains are essential safety measures that help contain fire, control smoke, provide clear evacuation routes, and protect both lives and property. They are an integral part of building fire safety systems and significantly contribute to mitigating the risks associated with fires.
Natural smoke ventilation systems are an essential component of fire safety strategies in buildings. These systems, along with mechanical smoke ventilation, are part of a building's "Life Safety Systems". Life Safety Systems are designed to save lives in the event of a fire. Their primary purpose is to facilitate the safe evacuation of occupants and enable early firefighting efforts.
The main objective of natural smoke ventilation systems is to control the movement of smoke during a fire incident. By effectively managing smoke and heat, these systems ensure that escape routes remain clear and accessible for occupants. This includes areas such as corridors and staircases. This allows for the safe and compliant evacuation of buildings and provides firefighters with suitable access points.
As dedicated members of the Smoke Control Association, G.S Stothers Smoke Ventilation Specialists are at the forefront of promoting and enhancing the design, supply, installation, and commissioning of these systems. We prioritise the use of independently tested and certified products, ensuring the highest standards of quality and reliability in all our installations.
Evaporating cooling systems are a type of air conditioning system that cools the air through the process of evaporation. Unlike traditional air conditioners that use refrigerants and compressors, evaporative cooling systems use the natural cooling properties of water.
Compared to other climate control systems available, evaporative air cooling provides the most energy efficient temperature relief for commercial or industrial environments of any scale.
Up to 80% more economical than conventional air conditioning systems, our evaporative cooling systems have delivered cost reductions and operational returns throughout many industries.
The basic principle of an evaporative cooling system involves drawing warm outside air through moistened pads or filters, typically made of materials like cellulose. As the warm air passes through these pads, the water on the surface evaporates, extracting heat from the air and lowering its temperature. The cooled air is then circulated into the desired space.
Evaporative cooling provides an ideal solution for a large number of applications, particularly where regular air changes are a requirement:
Mechanical smoke ventilation systems are crucial role in ensuring the safety of occupants and protecting buildings during a fire incident. These systems are designed to control the movement of smoke and heat, allowing for the safe evacuation of occupants and aiding firefighting efforts.
These systems, along with natural smoke ventilation systems, are commonly referred to as SHEVs. They form part of a building's "Life Safety System". This term is used to describe essential things put in place in order to save lives. These systems are designed to facilitate the safe escape of occupants in the event of a fire and also enable the fire to be fought in its early stages.
By keeping escape routes such as corridors and staircases clear, mechanical smoke ventilation systems allow for the safe and compliant evacuation of buildings. They provide suitable access into the building for the fire services.
We are dedicated members of the Smoke Control Association. G.S Stothers Smoke Ventilation Specialists are at the forefront of promoting and enhancing the design, supply, installation, and commissioning of these systems. We prioritise the use of independently tested and certified products. We also ensure the highest standards of quality and reliability in all our installations.
Car park heat and fume exhaust systems play a crucial role in ensuring the optimal environment within enclosed car park areas. These ventilation systems are specifically designed to control temperature levels and eliminate harmful gases and fumes. Typically comprising fans, ductwork, and strategically positioned exhaust outlets throughout the car park, these systems effectively manage air quality.
The primary objective of car park heat exhaust systems is to extract hot air generated by vehicles. This prevents excessive heat accumulation and enhancing the overall comfort and safety of the parking facility. By efficiently removing heat, these systems contribute to maintaining a more pleasant environment for both drivers and pedestrians.
In cases where natural ventilation alone is insufficient due to the car park's design, the installation of a mechanical ventilation system becomes necessary. This system operates independently from other ventilation mechanismss. It is specifically engineered to provide a minimum of 10 air changes per hour in the event of a fire. All components employed in these systems must adhere to the rigorous standards. These are outlined in BS EN 12101-3:2015 , which ensures compliance with the specification for powered smoke and heat exhaust ventilators.
Smoke ventilation systems are designed to provide clear smoke-free access for fire fighters to tackle the seat of the fire or to protect means of escape from the car park. These ventilation systems exceed the requirements of the Building Regulations and are often more complex. They are generally used as compensating features when other requirements of the regulations are not met.