Table of Contents
Advertisement
separate alarm signal should be initiated to ensure that
proper automatic activation occurs.
With the elevator shaft pressurization system activated,
measure and record the pressure difference across each
shaft or lobby door with all doors closed.
If an elevator door is held open due to recall, measure
and record the pressure difference across each
remaining closed door. Use an established procedure to
record data throughout the entire test. The local code
and contract documents should be followed regarding
the elevator recall door to be opened or closed for this
test.
With the elevator shaft system activated, determine and
record the direction of airflow through each of the shaft
or elevator lobby doors. This can be done by using a
small amount of smoke at the doors.
Additional considerations
Other test methods
The test methods presented in this chapter provide an
adequate means to evaluate a smoke management
system's performance. Historically, other test methods
have been used in instances where the authority having
jurisdiction requires additional testing. These test
methods have limited value in evaluating certain system
performance, and their validity as a method of testing a
smoke management system is questionable.
As covered in the Chapter 1 of this manual, the
dynamics of the fire plume, buoyancy forces, and
stratification are all major critical elements in the design
of the smoke management system. Therefore, to test the
system properly, a real fire condition would be the most
appropriate and meaningful test. There are many valid
reasons why such a fire is usually not practical in a
completed building. Open flame or actual fire testing
might be dangerous and should not normally be
attempted. Any other test is a compromise. If a test of
the smoke control system for building acceptance is
mandated by the authority having jurisdiction, such a test
condition would become the basis of design and might
not in any way simulate any real fire condition. More
importantly, it could be a deception and provide a false
VM-1 Smoke Management Application Guide
Chapter 4: Smoke control acceptance and testing
sense of security that the smoke control system would
perform adequately in a real fire emergency.
Smoke tests do not provide the heat, buoyancy, and
entrainment of a real fire and are not useful in evaluating
the real performance of the system. A system designed
in accordance with this manual and capable of providing
the intended smoke control might not pass smoke tests.
Conversely, it is possible for a system that is incapable
of providing the intended smoke control to pass smoke
tests. Because of the impracticality of conducting real
fire tests, the acceptance tests described in this manual
are directed to those aspects of smoke control systems
that can be verified and are consistent with current
research and testing in the fire protection field.
Examples of other test methods that have been used
with limited effectiveness are chemical smoke tests,
tracer gas tests, and real fire tests.
VM-1 SCS owner's manual and
instructions
Information should be provided to the owner that defines
the operation and maintenance of the smoke control
system. Basic instruction on the operation of the smoke
control system should be provided to the owner's
representatives. Since the owner may assume beneficial
use of the smoke control system upon completion of
acceptance testing, this basic instruction should be
completed prior to acceptance testing and the owner's
representative who will have a maintenance
responsibility should also be present.
Partial occupancy
Acceptance testing should be performed as a single step
when obtaining a certificate of occupancy. However, if
the building is to be completed or occupied in stages,
multiple acceptance tests may have to be conducted in
order to obtain temporary certificates of occupancy.
Modifications
All operational and acceptance tests should be
performed on the applicable part of the system upon
system changes and modifications. Documentation
should be updated to reflect changes or modifications.
61
Advertisement
Table of Contents
