On Evaluating Static Smoke Exhaust System in an Atrium Available to Purchase

Many atria are built in the Far East. Fire Safety is a concern and providing smoke management systems in atria is essential. For tall atria having difficulties to allocate space for air ductwork and fans of a dynamic smoke exhaust system, a smoke exhaust system with a ceiling vent is provided. The performance of the system should be evaluated and a two-layer zone model has been designed for such propose. The smoke layer temperature and interface height for a static smoke exhaust system in a tall space will be predicted. Based on the empirical formula derived from the entrainment rate of an axisymmetric plume and flow rate at a vent, a simplified calculation procedure of a static smoke exhaust in an atrium fire is proposed. Experiments were carried out at a full-scale burning facility of 27 m high, the USTC/PolyU Atrium, for verifying the results. It is found that the predicted smoke layer temperature and interface height agreed well with the experimental results. Therefore, the procedure is recommended to the authority as a tool in evaluating the performance of static smoke exhaust systems.