Smoke Control for Tall Buildings - An Integrated Approach to Life Safety

Smoke management systems have an important role in life safety programs for tall buildings. The 2009 Edition of the International Building Code (IBC) includes a comprehensive set of changes that affect the design of tall buildings. Examples include requirements for fire fighter elevators, post-fire smoke purging, and the possibility of including evacuation elevators. As buildings increase in size, designers are turning to international practices to supplement the IBC. These new concepts can significantly affect HVAC and emergency ventilation design. To be successful, emergency ventilation concepts need to be integrated into and work in concert with a coordinated life safety program. This paper presents these new requirements and concepts for developing smoke management systems that integrate into holistic life safety approaches for tall buildings.