Flakt Woods applies innovation to fire safety engineering
Flakt Woods has developed an all-in-one solution for fire safety in residential buildings. It is a single-shaft system for buildings from three to 20 storeys and is easy to install. Commonly used as a smoke-control measure for high-rise buildings such as hotels, offices and apartment blocks, mechanical smoke shafts are simple ventilation systems designed to extract any smoke leaking into communal areas and entrances, protecting the escape stairs.
The Smoke Shaft Vent incorporates high-efficiency extract fans mounted on the roof and connected to the ducting to extract smoke.
A ventilator that opens automatically is mounted at the top of the stairwell. The complete system has a control system that provides automatic operation of the ventilation by interfacing with the fire-alarm system or smoke detectors.
Systems are custom designed to meet the requirements for a building.
A system comes in pre-assembled parts, ready to fit into position on site. The rooftop plant can be installed after just three palletised lifts for fan assembly, riser duct assembly and the head-of-stair vent — making the roof watertight as soon as possible. The pre-programmed HMI can be configured on site.
A Smoke Shaft Vent system can be operated to provide on-demand daytime ventilation to extract hot air from corridors and stairwells during the summer. The extract fans used meet ErP criteria and have inverter control.
Ross Barritt of the company’s fire-safety division, explains, ‘Our tailor-made pre-fabricated solutions allow for minimal plant lifts to the building’s roof, reduced wiring on site and co-ordination from separate suppliers of fans, controls, ductwork and dampers. All of the custom-design systems are configured using an easy-selection tool — making our expertise accessible to specifiers, building owners and installers alike.’
