Stairwell Pressurisation Systems
HC TS is an operating company of HC PS and specialises in stairwell pressurisation systems. HC TS designs, sells and installs pressurisation systems for stairwells and emergency routes. The combination of expertise of fire safety and the products available at the HC Groep means that HC TS is a total supplier of stairwell pressurisation systems and consultation partner for fire safety issues and safe escape. Stairwell pressurisation systems merge three disciplines into one system:
- Fire safety
- Air distribution technology
- Control technology
The purpose of a stairwell pressurisation system is to keep emergency routes (stairwells) free of smoke by creating pressure differences between the escape route and the area where the fire is raging. This pressure difference forces the smoke to be diverted through smoke ducts, allowing people to leave the building via a smoke-free escape route.
HC TS offers safety systems that integrate modern techniques – proven in practice – and that guarantee operational reliability.
Purpose of the system
The purpose of a stairwell pressurisation system is to keep emergency routes (stairwells) free of smoke by creating pressure differences between the escape route and the area where the fire is raging. This pressure difference forces the smoke to be diverted through smoke ducts, allowing people to leave the building via a smoke-free escape route. HC TS has found the best passive system in the market and has developed its own active system by themselves.
The stairwell pressurisation systems are designed in accordance with national and/or international regulations.
Operation of the system
Most important design criteria
The system will be turned on after a signal from the automatic fire detection system.
Pressure criteria
In case all doors are closed a pressure difference over all cracks and seams should be maintained between the stairwell and the connecting smoke compartment. An extra precondition is that the force to open a door (force on the heck) should not be higher than 100 Newton. So this means that the pressure on the door in the stairwell together with the force of the closer should not exceed 100 Newton. In general a design pressure of ca. 50 Pa can be selected.
Air velocity criteria
In case a door is opened on the level of the fire between the stairwell and smoke compartment, a minimum air velocity should be maintained. For evacuation purposes the design velocity varies between the 0.5 and 1.0 m/s (Depending on the applicable regulations) For repressive purposes a design velocity of 2.0 m/s is required.
