DESIGN, RATIONAL ANALYSIS & CONTAM MODELING

Smoke Control Services

Get expert consulting and design of atrium smoke control, smoke-protected seating, zoned smoke control, high-rise, and stairwell/elevator pressurization systems.

Let’s Solve Your Problem
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Protect Occupants, Structural integrity & equipment

Trust Decades of Experience.

Performance BasedFire Protection Engineering has helped design hundreds of smoke control systems. Our team – including our founder, an active-duty firefighter – pairs this rich expertise with specializations in modern computer modeling and simulation software. The result? Highly effective and efficient smoke control systems, well-documented rationales for AHJ approval and seamless special inspections and system commissioning.

Employee with hard hat
blueprints

It All Starts with the Smoke Control Rational Analysis.

Mandated by IBC Section 909, smoke control rational analysis (SCRA) is the bedrock of our smoke control practice. Each type of smoke control system (exhaust, air flow or pressurization) has unique design criteria, options and requirements. These are addressed in the SCRA, helping our partners ensure code compliance and overall efficacy by documenting design conditions, system performance parameters, and system commissioning requirements.

MULTIZONE AIRFLOW NETWORK MODELING

CONTAM: The Missing Link.

For complex applications, advanced airflow modeling becomes necessary. That's where CONTAM comes in. CONTAM modeling is an advanced technique that requires expertise in fire protection engineering, fluid dynamics, and computer modeling. It helps engineers and designers create safer buildings by understanding how contaminants spread during fires and guiding the development of effective strategies to protect occupants and property.

the missing link
nist-developed technology

Design Better Smoke Control Systems With CONTAM.

Our team of licensed FPEs utilizes the NIST-developed technology to help design and integrate stairwell pressurization systems, elevator pressurization systems and floor-to-floor (zoned) smoke control systems to ensure individual and combined system performance. CONTAM modeling involves several important steps for the best results:

  • Data collection
  • Model creation
  • Scenario definition
  • Simulation
  • Documentation
  • Optimization
essential CONTAM resources
fds: small details

FDS: Small Details. Big Results.

Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) is a powerful Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling tool that allows our fire protection experts to make informed decisions when it comes to the design of smoke control systems. Most commonly, we leverage FDS in the deign of atrium smoke control systems to determine the capacity and locations of exhaust fans, evaluate makeup air conditions that drive efficient designs.

Egress Modeling: The Other Side of the Story.

Smoke control systems are designed to maintain tenability. Fire modeling is used to evaluate the amount of time it takes before conditions become untenable (RSET: Required SafeEgress Time). Egress modeling is used to evaluate the amount of time required for the occupants to evacuate (ASET: Available Safe Egress Time). The goal of the smoke control system is to demonstrate that ASET > RSET.

egress modeling. the other side of the story
Commissioning & Special Inspections

Commissioning & Special Inspections of Smoke Control Systems.

An efficient design is only the beginning. Our licensed fire protection engineers serve as special inspectors to examine, compare, test, and document the installation and performance of a smoke control system to ensure that it functions in accordance with the approved design.

Protect Occupants, Structural integrity & equipment

Trust Decades of Experience.

Performance Based Fire Protection Engineering has helped design hundreds of smoke control systems. Our team – including our founder, an active-duty firefighter – pairs this rich expertise with specializations in modern computer modeling and simulation software. The result? Highly effective and efficient smoke control systems, well-documented rationales for AHJ approval and seamless special inspections and system commissioning.

Employee with hard hat

It All Starts with the Smoke Control Rational Analysis.

Mandated by IBC Section 909, smoke control rational analysis (SCRA) is the bedrock of our smoke control practice. Each type of smoke control system (exhaust, air flow or pressurization) has unique design criteria, options and requirements. These are addressed in the SCRA, helping our partners ensure code compliance and overall efficacy by documenting design conditions, system performance parameters, and system commissioning requirements.

blueprints

MULTIZONE AIRFLOW NETWORK MODELING

CONTAM: The Missing Link.

For complex applications, advanced airflow modeling becomes necessary. That's where CONTAM comes in. Our team of licensed FPEs utilizes the NIST-developed technology to help design and integrate stairwell pressurization systems, elevator pressurization systems and floor-to-floor (zoned) smoke control systems to ensure individual and combined system performance.

the missing link

Design Better Smoke Control Systems With CONTAM.

Our team of licensedFPEs utilizes the NIST-developed technology to help design and integrate stairwell pressurization systems, elevator pressurization systems and floor-to-floor (zoned) smoke control systems to ensure individual and combined system performance. CONTAM modeling involves several important steps for the best results:

  • Data collection
  • Model creation
  • Scenario definition
  • Simulation
  • Documentation
  • Optimization
smoke control rational analysis
contam resources

FDS: Small Details. Big Results.

Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) is a powerful Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling tool that allows our fire protection experts to make informed decisions when it comes to the design of smoke control systems. Most commonly, we leverage FDS in the deign of atrium smoke control systems to determine the capacity and locations of exhaust fans, evaluate makeup air conditions that drive efficient designs.

fds: small details

Egress Modeling: The Other Side of the Story.

Smoke control systems are designed to maintain tenability. Fire modeling is used to evaluate the amount of time it takes before conditions become untenable (RSET: Required SafeEgress Time). Egress modeling is used to evaluate the amount of time required for the occupants to evacuate (ASET: Available Safe Egress Time). The goal of the smoke control system is to demonstrate that ASET > RSET.

egress modeling. the other side of the story

Commissioning & Special Inspections of Smoke Control Systems.

An efficient design is only the beginning. Our licensed fire protection engineers serve as special inspectors to examine, compare, test, and document the installation and performance of a smoke control system to ensure that it functions in accordance with the approved design.

Commissioning & Special Inspections

SMOKE CONTROL SYSTEM CONSULTING & DESIGN

Applications of CONTAM and FDS Modeling

Our team provides design services including:

  • Smoke control systems for atria and large spaces
  • Smoke control systems for arenas
  • Smoke control systems for correctional facilities
  • Smoke control systems for special amusement buildings
  • Smoke protected seating
  • Stage smoke exhaust
  • Heat and smoke vents
  • Post-fire smoke removal
  • Stairwell pressurization
  • Elevator pressurization
  • Zoned smoke control systems
  • Rational analysis of smoke control systems
  • Code consulting & review services
  • CONTAM modeling
  • Computational fluid dynamics (CFD)& fire dynamics simulation (FDS) modeling

Smoke Control FAQs

What is smoke control?
Who needs smoke control services?
What is a smoke control system?
How does a smoke control system work?
How do you know which type of ventilation system is best for your building?
What is a smoke control rational analysis?
Who needs a smoke control rational analysis?

CONTAM Modeling FAQs

What is CONTAM modeling?
How does CONTAM modeling work?
How is CONTAM modeling different from CFD modeling or FDS?
Who uses CONTAM modeling?
How long does CONTAM modeling take?
How much does CONTAM modeling cost?

Special Inspection FAQs

What is a smoke control special inspection?
When is special inspection testing for smoke control necessary?
What is tested during smoke control special inspections?
How often is smoke control testing required?
When is a smoke control special inspector required?
What qualifications does a smoke control special inspector need?
What is air testing and balance (TAB)?
Can the Engineer of Record (EOR) serve as the smoke control special inspector?
When does the smoke control special inspector get involved?
What documentation does the smoke control special inspector need to prepare?
How much should smoke control special inspections cost?
Who hires the special inspectors?
What is the most common issue in special inspections?
Who are the key players in the special inspections process?

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