Pressurisation ductwork

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Pressurisation ductwork is a fire protection system. It is used to supply a steady stream of fresh air to any area of refuge or designated emergency evacuation or egress route.

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[edit] Purpose

  • To ensure a positive pressure environment of clean outside air, free from smoke to enable people to either hold out until rescued or to escape with a minimum of dangerous smoke exposure.

[edit] Requirements

Typically, pressurisation ductwork is subject to demonstrable product certification on the basis of fire testing (for eampmple, ISO 6944). In the United States, additional hose-stream testing is required to achieve product certification, as the system includes not just a section of ductwork tested in a full scale floor furnace, but also a firestop, which must survive the hose.

Pressurisation systems are evaluated for exterior fire exposure. Grease ducts, on the other hand, are evaluated for interior fire exposures.

[edit] Systems

There are two means of providing fire-resistance rated ductwork:

or

[edit] History

[edit] Grandfathering

The use of drywall shaftwall systems has been common for many years. 3-D full scale fire testing (e.g., ISO 6944) resulted in the first certification listing for an inherently fire-resistant duct. Drywall systems were tested as flat walls and a three-dimensional solution surrounding a real duct with four corners was never done, but are currently accepted in construction.

In Europe, where ISO 6944 originated, rockwool systems, calcium silicate and sodium silicate bound and pressed vermiculite as well as the proprietary DuraSteel systems, have been in use for decades .

[edit] See also

[edit] External links