Detecting Smoke; Introduction; Configuring And Monitoring A Smoke Control System - Simplex 4100U Application Manual

Detecting Smoke

Introduction

Configuring and
Monitoring a Smoke
Control System
Firefighter Smoke
Control Station
(FSCS)
The fire detection system is the system that is connected to the smoke or heat detectors. Every
smoke zone should have a Listed smoke or heat detector installed in it. The detectors should be
located so that they can detect the presence of smoke or fire before it spreads beyond the zone.
Once the fire control system detects the fire, it relays to the smoke control system the zone and the
type of alarm that was triggered. The smoke control system then takes action.
Never use manual pull stations to initiate specific zoned smoke control. There is no guarantee that
the person pulling the alarm is in the same smoke zone as the fire. The automatic smoke control
system should take only those actions that are common to all smoke strategies when a manual pull
station is activated. For example, the stairtower can be pressurized in response to a manual pull
box alarm. Implementing a specific smoke control strategy must wait until the smoke detectors
locate the fire zone.
The smoke control system should be able to act on its own in response to detecting smoke.
When it detects smoke, the system enacts the planned strategy of the designer. The automatic
smoke control should maintain the strategy to control smoke in the first zone that smoke is
detected in. It would be difficult for you to create strategies for controlling smoke in all possible
combination of zones.
The automatic smoke control system must have the highest priority over all other automatic
control systems in the building. It must override energy management, occupancy schedules, or
other controls. The only systems that should be able to automatically override the smoke control
system are such safety systems as high pressure limiters.
Considering how unpredictable smoke is, you must have a manual control panel from which the
smoke control system can be monitored and overridden. This panel, called a "Firefighter's Smoke
Control Station" (FSCS), allows fire-fighting personnel to take manual control of the smoke
control system.
The FSCS is a graphic annunciating control panel that gives firefighters information about the
state of the smoke control system, as well as manual control over all of its components. The FSCS
should be located in a secure room or cabinet to prevent unauthorized personnel from tampering
with it. The room or cabinet should be clearly marked so that firefighters can quickly locate the
FSCS.
The FSCS panel has a diagram of the building showing the entire smoke control system, along
with status lights and override switches for all of the system components. The diagram of the
building should include all smoke control zones, all of the ducts leading to and from the zones
with arrows indicating the direction of air flow in the ducts, and a clear indication of which zone
each piece of equipment serves.
The panel must have controls to activate all fans, dampers, and other equipment related to the
smoke control system. These manual controls must be able to override all automatic control of
smoke control equipment. In particular, the FSCS must be able to override:
•
Hand/off/auto switches.
•
Local start/stop switches on fan motor controllers.
•
Freeze detection devices.
•
Duct smoke detectors.
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