Leaflet PD 34 (10.

00)

Pressurisation

Pressurisation Systems

What is pressurisation?

Pressurisation is a technique for protecting escape routes against the ingress

of deadly smoke by maintaining the pressure within the escape route at a
higher pressure than that in adjacent spaces.

A pressurisation system consists of two main components:

Supply air (air injected into the area that is to be protected).

Air release (air and smoke is released from the adjoining fire area).

These two elements combined together create a positive pressure difference.

Benefits & Features

Pressure Protects means of escape
Relief
Damper Smoke Detectors for the buildings occupants.
Fan
Ideally suited for the
protection of corridors,
Air lobbies, stairwells and lift
Stairs Release shafts.
(Positive Vent
Pressure) Compliance with BS 5588:
Fire Floor Part 4 -‘Code of practice for
(reference pressure) smoke control in protected
Door escape routes using
pressurisation’.
10m
Distribution Compliance with BS 5588:
Ductwork
Part 5 -‘Code of practice for
fire fighting stairs and lifts’.

Flexible control methods

including OPV 2000.

Stairs Accommodation Stairs Accommodation Flexible design and

equipment to match building
Vertical requirements.
Shaft Powered Extract
Colt offer a total Package
including: Design,
Manufacture, Installation,
Natural Air Release Commissioning and
Demonstration to meet
British Standards.
Supply Air Example Air Release Options
General Description
The need for designers to comply with the statutory
requirements of the Building Regulations and other fire
safety guides, means that there is an ever-present
requirement to provide safe means of escape.
Pressurisation is provided to maintain safe conditions within
an area which could be used in the event of a fire for means
of escape/life safety and fire fighter access.
Venting for Accommodation Areas
This is required to release air to stop pressure building up on
the accommodation side for the open door condition. A path
of low resistance must be provided to enable supply air to
leave the un-pressurised side of the space. For example:
Windows (Automatically opening and evenly distributed
around the building).
Vents at building periphery (Evenly distributed around the
building).
Vertical Ducting (Damper to open automatically on fire
floor).
Mechanical Extraction (High temperature fans, shaft
compartmentated).
Example of Staircase, Lobby and Lift Shaft
+ve
Lift Accommodation
Air
Supply Lobby
Stairs
+ve
Typical Colt Pressurisation System
Colt offer a total Package including: Design, Manufacture,
Installation, Commissioning and Demonstration to meet
British Standards.
Inlet Fans
Required to provide air into the designated area. The run
and standby fans and control equipment should be housed in
a separate plant room or outdoors and the inlet should be
protected from smoke. Dual inlets with automatic smoke
dampers are required for high level inlet.
Ductwork and Outlet Grilles
Required to provide distribution of air exactly where it is
needed. The maximum distance between supply grilles is 3
storeys.
Pressure Relief Damper
Required to release excess air in the closed door condition
from the stair area.
This should be ducted to discharge directly to atmosphere
independent of wind direction.
Damper blades are set to start opening at 50 Pa pressure
differential.
Air Release
To prevent unwanted pressure build up in the adjacent spaces,
automatic air release ventilation is usually required.
Controls
The system should operate automatically from the smoke
detection system with a manual on/off switch also provided
within either:
Pressurisation plant room.
Near the building entrance (to suit fire service).
Or within the central building services control room.
Pressurisation Systems
Requirements Codes of Practice
There are two requirements to maintain within a BS5588 Fire Precautions in the design, construction
pressurisation system. These are: and use of buildings.

Maintaining a pressure difference for a closed door
condition.
Maintaining a velocity for a open door condition.
Getting the right balance for a pressurisation system needs
careful design in order for the system to work effectively.
Insufficient pressure difference across a closed door will
allow the passage of smoke into the protected space.
Excess pressure will impede door opening and hence
escape.
Note: Natural ventilation may be used instead
of a pressurisation system (see Colt Stairwell
Leaflet No. PD33)
Part 1 Code of practice for residential buildings
Part 4 Code of practice for Smoke Control in protected
escape routes using pressurisation
Pressure difference of 50 pa (Closed Door)
Velocity of 0.75m/s (Open Door)
(assumes intermittent use of door).

Closed Door Part 5 Code of practice for ‘fire fighting’ stairs & lifts

The pressure difference is required to overcome buoyancy 50 pa across stairs/accommodation door

pressure generated by the hot smoke layer, expansion of the 45 pa across lobby/accommodation door
gases in the compartment due to heating, stack pressure and Velocity of 2m/s for an open door condition
wind pressure.
(assumes door is opened continuously).
Closed door condition
Part 6 Code of practice for places of assembly

+ 50 Pa 0 Pa Part 7 Code of practice for atrium buildings

Pressure difference Part 10 Code of practice for shopping complexes

for a closed door
Part 11 Code of practice for shops, offices, industrial,
storage and other similar buildings

Accommodation Design Considerations

Layout of building.

Open Door Area to be pressurised.

Maintaining a velocity for a opened door is required to hold Leakage paths (through doors, lifts, vents etc).
back the smoke on the fire floor when the door onto the fire
floor is open. for further information on leakage, please consult table 3
from BS 5588 Part 4 or contact Colt International.

Open door condition Calculate required volume flow rates.

Calculate area of pressure relief dampers.

Stairs
Calculate area of air release ventilation.
Velocity for an
open door

Accommodation
Pressurisation Systems

Electrical Supply Equipment

Wiring must be protected. The main supply must be such A small selection of equipment that can make up a compete
that if the electrical supply to the building is switched off, pressurisation system which Colt can design, manufacture
the pressurisation fans continue to run from the main and install. All equipment can be demonstrated to meet
supply. British Standards.

Commissioning
Proper commissioning by experts is essential. The
performance of the system is as dependent upon the final
leakage characteristics of the escape route as upon the
pressurisation equipment. We recommend that our
specialist staff commission and certify the system.

Maintenance and Testing

BS 5588 recommends:
Natural Vents
Weekly testing of the system which includes smoke Powered Fans
detection, switching mechanisms for the fans, emergency Ducting
Fire Dampers
power supply and the automatic operation of the venting
Smoke Detectors
equipment. Control Panel

Annual measurements of pressures and flow rates to

maintain efficiency levels.

For further information on the testing, commissioning and Please contact Colt International Limited for further
maintenance of a pressurisation system, please consult Colt. information.

Colt Service Ltd

Part of the Colt Group of companies, Colt Service offers
a comprehensive range of maintenance packages
incorporating the maintenance and repair of all building
services equipment and providing 24 hour, 365 day
emergency cover.

Colt International Limited

New Lane Havant
Hampshire PO9 2LY
Telephone 023 9245 1111
Fax 023 9245 4220

E mail: info@coltgroup.com
www.coltgroup.com

© Colt International Licensing Limited 2000. Subject to Modification.

"Colt" and the Colt logo are registered trade marks of the Colt Group.
Publication No. PD34 / 26.09.00 Issue 1.