Analysis of Smoke Shafts for Control of Smoke Movement in Buildings

A computer analysis of stack effects in a large multi- storey building was performed, comparing the air flow (and consequent hypothetical smoke concentrations at higher floors) with and without a smoke shaft. Additionally, tests were performed on one building using one of two stairwells as a smoke shaft. Results indicate that a smoke shaft can be effective in limiting smoke movement to upper stories, as long as the fire floor is not open to outside air (such as by a broken window), or the smoke shaft is not open to a floor higher than the fire floor.