Pressurisation
duct work is a
passive fire protection
Passive fire protection (PFP) is components or systems of a building or structure that slows or impedes the spread of the effects of fire or smoke without system activation, and usually without movement. Examples of passive systems include floor- ...
system. It is used to supply fresh
air to any
area of refuge, designated
emergency evacuation
Emergency evacuation is the urgent immediate egress or escape of people away from an area that contains an imminent threat, an ongoing threat or a hazard to lives or property.
Examples range from the small-scale evacuation of a building due to ...
or egress route.
Purpose
The purpose of pressurisation ductwork is to maintain
positive pressure in building spaces to prevent smoke from entering from other spaces in which a fire is occurring. It is typically used in exit stairways, corridors, and lobbies.
Requirements
Pressurisation ductwork is
certified
Certification is the provision by an independent body of written assurance (a certificate) that the product, service or system in question meets specific requirements. It is the formal attestation or confirmation of certain characteristics of a ...
on the basis of
fire test
A fire test is a means of determining whether fire protection products meet minimum performance criteria as set out in a building code or other applicable legislation. Successful tests in laboratories holding national accreditation for testing and ...
ing such as
ISO 6944.
Systems
There are two means of providing fire-resistance rated ductwork:
*Inherently fire-resistant, or
proprietary factory assembled ducts which are made of
sheet metal
Sheet metal is metal formed into thin, flat pieces, usually by an industrial process. Sheet metal is one of the fundamental forms used in metalworking, and it can be cut and bent into a variety of shapes.
Thicknesses can vary significantly; ex ...
shells filled with mixtures of
rockwool, fiber and
silicon dioxide
Silicon dioxide, also known as silica, is an oxide of silicon with the chemical formula , most commonly found in nature as quartz and in various living organisms. In many parts of the world, silica is the major constituent of sand. Silica is one ...
*Sheet metal duct with exterior
fireproofing
Fireproofing is rendering something ( structures, materials, etc.) resistant to fire, or incombustible; or material for use in making anything fire-proof. It is a passive fire protection measure. "Fireproof" or "fireproofing" can be used as a ...
materials such as blanket rockwool, ceramic fiber, or
in-tumescent paint
Paint is any pigmented liquid, liquefiable, or solid mastic composition that, after application to a substrate in a thin layer, converts to a solid film. It is most commonly used to protect, color, or provide texture. Paint can be made in many ...
.
See also
*
Heat and smoke vent
*
Fire protection
Fire protection is the study and practice of mitigating the unwanted effects of potentially destructive fires. It involves the study of the behaviour, compartmentalisation, suppression and investigation of fire and its related emergencies, as we ...
*
Smoke exhaust ductwork
*
Emergency evacuation
Emergency evacuation is the urgent immediate egress or escape of people away from an area that contains an imminent threat, an ongoing threat or a hazard to lives or property.
Examples range from the small-scale evacuation of a building due to ...
External links
ISO 6944-1:2008 Fire containment -- Elements of building construction -- Part 1: Ventilation ducts
{{HVAC, state=collapsed
Active fire protection
Pressure
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning