If you own a building, you know that you need smoke control to not only protect your building in the event of a fire but to ensure that smoke is properly ventilated for the safety of others inside of the building. This gives them more time to get out of the building quickly because they will be able to see better, as well as not be inhaling excessive amounts of smoke that could cause them to pass out. Here are four specific reasons you need to have your smoke control system regularly tested:
- Check for Damage to Dampers and Fans: The dampers and fans that move the smoke up and out need to be checked for possible damages. There's a chance that they could be stuck in place by something, which means that your smoke control system design is not effective. They will also check that these things are still in the proper place since building modifications may have made certain spots less effective for smoke control, thus leading to need to move the fans or dampers elsewhere.
- Test What Triggers the Smoke Control System: Your smoke control system is going to be triggered by something before it turns on. For example, many buildings have the smoke control system to turn on once the smoke detector has gone off or once the fire sprinklers have been turned on. It's important that this is tested to ensure that the smoke control system is always going to turn on at the right time and start working right away once it's needed.
- Test the Force and Pressure: The force of the doors that lead smoke out and the pressure of flow rates will also be tested to ensure that the smoke is going to properly leave the building. Otherwise, smoke can build up too quickly for the smoke control system to move it out if the right pressure and force are not in place. This then leads to the smoke control system being completely ineffective.
- Write Up a Report: Finally, you need regular testing in order to meet city codes. If a formal report is not written up on a regular basis, you put yourself in jeopardy.
Check with your city's codes to determine how often you need to have your smoke control system inspected and tested. From here, schedule them to happen on a regular and consistent basis so that you don't have to stress about it.
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